World  > Caribbean  > Saint Lucia
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General Information Area: 616.3 sq km (238 sq miles). Population: 153,703 (official estimate 1999). Population Density: 249.4 per sq km. Capital: Castries. Population: 61,823 (official estimate 1999). GEOGRAPHY: St Lucia is the second largest of the Windward Islands. It has some of the finest mountain scenery in the West Indies, rich with tropical vegetation. For such a small island, 43km (27 miles) by 23km (14 miles), St Lucia has a great variety of plant and animal life. Orchids and exotic plants of the genus anthurium grow wild in the rainforests and the roadsides are covered with many colourful tropical flowers. Flamboyant trees spread shade and blossom everywhere. Indigenous wildlife includes a species of ground lizard unique to St Lucia, and the agouti and the manicou, two rodents, common throughout the island. The Amazon versicolor parrot is another, though more elusive, inhabitant of the deep interior rainforest. The highest peak is Mount Gimie at 950m (3117ft). Most spectacular are Gros Piton and Petit Piton, ancient, volcanic forest-covered cones which rise out of the sea on the west coast. Soufri (vents in a volcano which exude hydrogen sulphide, steam and other gases) and boiling waterpools can be seen here. The mountains are intersected by short rivers which in some areas form broad fertile valleys. The island has excellent beaches and is surrounded by a clear, warm sea. Government: Constitutional monarchy. Gained independence from the UK in 1979. Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor General Pearlette Louisy since 1988. Head of Government: Prime Minister Kenny Anthony since 1997. Language: English and local French patois. Religion: Seventy-eight per cent Roman Catholic, also Anglican, Methodist, Seventh Day Adventist and Baptist. Time: GMT - 4. Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Communications:   Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 1 758. Outgoing international code: 011. Mobile telephone TDMA network, system A is operated by Caribbean Cellular (website: www.caribcell.com). Internet ISPs include Cable & Wireless (website: www.candw.lc). Public access is available at the Internet kiosk at Pointe Seraphine. Three Internet cafes are also run by Cable & Wireless. Fax Available to the public in Castries at the offices of Cable & Wireless and at some hotels. Telegram Facilities limited to main towns, hotels and Cable & Wireless. Post Airmail to Western Europe takes up to a week. Poste Restante mail will only be released on presentation of suitable identification. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1630, Sat 0900-1330. Press The main newspapers are The Voice of St Lucia, The Star, The Mirror and The Crusader. Visions Magazine is published by the St Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.19 12.10 6.195 5.975 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 13.79 9.455 6.130 5.995 From www.columbusguides.com, Copyright © 2004 Highbury Columbus Travel Publishing Terms and Conditions apply.