Saint Lucia, independent island state, one of the Windward Islands, West Indies, southeastern Caribbean Sea, betweenMartinique on the north and Saint Vincent on the south. It has anarea of 616 sq km (238 sq mi).

Land andPopulation Of volcanic origin, Saint Luciais traversed from north to south by a forested mountain rangethat culminates in Mount Gimie (959 m/3145 ft). In the south, Soufrière,a volcanic crater with hot sulfur springs, offers a potentialsource of geothermal energy. The mountains contain many streamsand fertile valleys. Saint Lucia has a tropical climate, with anaverage annual temperature of 26° C (79° F). The average annual rainfall rangesfrom about 1524 mm (about 60 in) on the coast to more than 2540 mm(more than 100 in) in the mountains. The rainy season lasts fromMay to August.

SaintLucia had a total population (1989 estimate) of 150,000. Most of thepopulation is black, and about 90 percent is Roman Catholic. English isthe official language, but a French patois is widely spoken. Thecapital and largest city is Castries (population, 1988 estimate, 52,900);it is also the principal port and has an excellent harbor.

Economyand Government Theeconomy of Saint Lucia is largely dependent on agriculture. Bananasare the most important crop and principal export; about 123,000metric tons are harvested annually. Other products includecoconuts and mangoes. The manufacturing sector produces cardboardboxes, electric parts, apparel, plastics, and beverages. Tourismis important and has been steadily expanding since the late1960s. The island has a good network of about 750 km (about 465mi) of roads linking all towns and villages. Two airports alsoserve the island. The national currency is the East Caribbeandollar (2.69 E.C. dollars equal U.S.$1; 1990). The annual budgetin the late 1980s included $71.7 million in revenue and $79.3 millionin expenditure.

Executivepower is nominally vested in the British monarch, who isrepresented by a governor-general. Actual executive power iswielded by a cabinet, consisting of a prime minister and otherministers who are appointed by the prime minister. Legislativepower is held by a parliament. The 17 members of its lower house,the House of Assembly, are elected by general suffrage; the 11members of the Senate are appointed on the advice of the primeminister, the leader of the opposition, the governor-general, andothers.

History Saint Lucia was probably firstvisited by Europeans about 1500. The first successful colony was establishedin 1635 by the French, who signed a treaty with the indigenous Carib people in 1660. England heldthe island between 1663 and 1667, and the island changed handsbetween England and France several more times before it wasfinally ceded to the British in 1814. Representative governmentwas introduced in 1924. From 1958 to 1962 Saint Lucia was amember of the Federation of the West Indies. In 1967 it became amember of the West Indies Associated States with full internalself-government. On February 22, 1979, Saint Lucia became an independentstate within the Commonwealthof Nations.In 1992 the poet Derek Walcott, a native of Castries, won theNobel Prize for literature.