Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Physical Geography

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island nation in the Windward Islands of the eastern Caribbean, made up of the main island of Saint Vincent and the northern two-thirds of the Grenadines, a chain of more than two dozen small islands stretching south toward Grenada. The country's total land area is about 390 square kilometers, most of it concentrated on Saint Vincent itself, which accounts for roughly 343 square kilometers. The remaining southern Grenadines, including islands such as Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, and Union Island, are scattered across open water and vary widely in size, from populated settlements to a few privately held cays.

Saint Vincent is volcanic in origin and overwhelmingly mountainous, leaving the country with very little level ground. The island's windward, Atlantic-facing coast is rugged and rocky, while its leeward, Caribbean-facing side is gentler, with sandy beaches and sheltered bays. The highest point in the country is La Soufrière, an active stratovolcano with a crater lake that rises to about 1,234 meters and ranks among the more hazardous volcanoes in the Caribbean. La Soufrière has erupted repeatedly over the past century, most recently in April 2021, when a series of explosive eruptions sent ash across the island and forced the evacuation of thousands of residents.

The climate is tropical, with a rainy season running roughly from May through November and generally warm, humid conditions year-round. Forest and woodland cover more than a third of the country's land, and agriculture, mainly cropland used for bananas and other export crops, makes up a further share, alongside hydropower drawn from the islands' steep, water-rich terrain. Hurricanes are the most common natural hazard, and La Soufrière's continued activity remains a standing risk for communities living on Saint Vincent's slopes.