Getting to Know St. Lucia ([year] Fun Facts)

Getting to Know St. Lucia (2024 Fun Facts)

As the English/French-speaking Caribbean destination of St. Lucia, this island is a beautiful paradise. The small island has spectacular landscapes and is home to many natural attractions. Keep reading and getting to know St. Lucia…

The St. Lucia Tourism Authority highlights some of the unique sites you can visit, including Pigeon Island National Landmark, Botanical Gardens, and Saint Lucia Chocolate Company.

Where is St. Lucia Located?

Saint Lucia lies at approximately 13º north of the equator in the middle of Windward Islands chain. Our nearest neighbors are:

  • Martinique 21 miles to the north
  • St. Vincent 26 miles to the south

(both are easily seen on a clear day)

St. Lucia Time

The island lies within the Eastern Standard Time Zone which is 4 hours behind London (GMT) and 1 hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time during the winter months and the same as EST during Daylight Savings Time.

Geography

Saint Lucia is 27 miles long and 14 miles wide at its widest point with an area of 238 square miles (616 sq. kms.).

The island boasts a great variety of terrain but is dominated by the interior mountains. The highest point is Mount Gimie which is 3,120 feet above sea level. Easterly trade winds blow in off of the Atlantic and are forced up over the mountains; the air cools and drops its moisture creating large areas of central rain forests.

The island is volcanic in origin and boasts active volcanic features, the Sulphur Springs, and the Caribbean’s most famous landmarks, the Pitons, as majestic remnants of St. Lucia’s geologic past.

Population

The island’s population is approximately 180,000 with the greatest concentration found in the capital, Castries, and to the north of the city.

Language

English is the official language and is spoken well by nearly everyone. Most residents also speak a French based Creole Patois.

Demographics

Saint Lucia is proud of its interesting and appealing mix of heritages and cultures. St. Lucia population is:

  • 82.5% of African descent
  • 11.9% mixed minority
  • 2.4% East Indian
  • The remaining 3.1% coming from European, North American, Lebanese, Syrian and Chinese backgrounds

Driver’s Licenses

Visiting drivers must purchase local temporary driving permits which are effective for 3 months. A foreign or international license is also required. Permits can be obtained from Immigration offices at the airports, car rental agencies or local Police Stations.

Water

Municipal water in Saint Lucia is considered safe and reliable. For those who prefer it, bottled water is readily available at hotels, stores, restaurants and bars.

Electricity

Our electricity is produced at 220 volts, 50 cycles AC. Transformers and adapters are required for appliances and electronic equipment which operate on 110 volts.

Currency and Banking

The unit of currency used in Saint Lucia is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) but a wide range of currencies such as United States Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Euro and British Pound are readily exchanged in local banks. The value of the EC dollar is approximately US$1.00 = EC$2.70.

St. Lucian banks offer a full range of services including currency exchange and cashing of travelers cheques. Cash in local currency can be obtained by credit cards or bank cards through the ATM machines located at most branch offices. Normal banking hours are from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Monday through Thursday and 8:00 am to 5: 00 pm on Friday.

Churches

Local churches readily welcome visitors to their services and events. Saint Lucia is a predominately Roman Catholic nation with 67.5% of the population belonging to the Church.

Other denominations include Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist, Evangelical, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Church of the Later Day Saints and Pentecostal.

A Final Fun Fact About St. Lucia

Saint Lucia boasts the highest ratio per capita of Nobel laureates in the world. Two winners have come from Saint Lucia – Sir Arthur Lewis won the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1979, and Derek Walcott received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1992. Check out more famous St. Lucians here.

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