Due to its archi-pelagic nature, Guadeloupe reveals landscapes that are as varied as they are contrasting on an archipelago made up of 1,628 km2 of emerged land, and includes a multitude of islands, six of which are inhabited. Covering an area of 1,434 km2, “Continental Guadeloupe” is made up of two distinct islands, which are separated by an arm of the sea not exceeding 200 meters wide, called “la Rivière Salée”.
La GRANDE TERRE to the east, 586 km2 (triangle of about 40 km side), is flat and arid. Fresh water for consumption is brought there from the island of Basse-Terre by pipes under the bridge crossing the Rivière Salée which separates the two islands. On a limestone substrate (like the neighboring islands of Antigua or Barbados), it is made up of a plain bordered by a mangrove in the southwest, an irregular succession of hills called "the great depths" in the center, and of an arid plateau jagged with rocky and wild coasts to the north. The large seaside resorts are concentrated on the southern coast of Grande-Terre, dotted with white sand beaches sheltered by coral reefs; this coastline is called the “Riviera”. The Rivière Salée flowing on a north-south axis according to the tidal currents crosses the east of an isthmus connecting the two islands. The configuration and position of the latter on either side of this arm of the sea means that they are often compared to the wings of a "butterfly" deployed on the sea.
La BASSE TERRE to the west, 848 km2 (oval massif of 45 km by 20), is mountainous and covered with a very dense tropical forest from north to south, where many rivers and waterfalls abound.
Of volcanic origin (like certain neighboring islands of Dominica, Martinique and Saint Lucia), its highest peak is the active volcano of La Soufrière culminating at 1,467 meters, the highest altitude in the Lesser Antilles. As in most volcanic islands, there are also many black sand and red sand beaches.
Guadeloupe enjoys a tropical climate tempered by maritime influences and trade winds. There are two seasons in Guadeloupe and the neighboring islands:
• A dry season called "Lent" which goes from January to June
• A wet season called "wintering", which lasts from July to December.
In terms of temperature, with an average of 27°C, there is little difference between the hottest months (from 25°C to 32°C) and the coldest months ( from 23°C to 29°C).
The specific geography of the archipelago, the contrast between Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre, also leads to a specific climate on each of these islands.
La Grande -Terre and its limestone plateaus regularly experience severe droughts, while at the same time, the relief perpendicular to the flow of the trade winds of Basse-Terre regulates the rain regime. The average sea water temperature is 28 degrees Celsius.
JANUARY
25° I 98 Pmm
FEBRUARY
25°C I 55 Pmm
MARCH
26°C I 64 Pmm
APRIL
27°C I 119 Pmm
MAY
27°C I 156 Pmm
JUNE
27°C I 130 Pmm
SAINT-FRANCOIS
A seaside town par excellence, Saint-François is one of the most important tourist centers in the Guadeloupe Archipelago. Located at the extreme southeastern tip of Grande Terre, the parish of Saint-François was not founded until the end of the 17th century (1688). Most of the territory is occupied by the cultivation of cotton until the beginning of the 19th century. Then sugar cane is essential and Saint-François is in third place in this industry.
After the abolition of slavery, the owners brought in Indian workers under contract to replace the slaves who had deserted the plantations.
Today this community is an important component of the population. The municipality of Saint-François at the closing of the last sugar factory, Sainte-Marthe, focused its economic policy mainly on tourism.
With its hotels, its restaurants, its International Golf course designed by Robert TRENT JONES, its regional aerodrome, its casino, its market, its marina, its natural sites including the famous Pointe-des-Chateaux classified by the ONF, Saint- François offers visitors a wide range of activities and many opportunities for development.
The town has obtained the nautical station label. It is the only labeled municipality in Guadeloupe for its nautical activities for sports and tourism purposes. With a 220-berth marina, a unique nautical base, 150 hectares of lagoon, 35 km of coastline open to the ocean, St François offers a large number of nautical services: scuba diving, windsurfing, canoeing, traditional sailing, surfing, kite-surfing, jet skiing, big game fishing, boat rental...