Many travelers and just curious people, having first heard the name of this island, ask themselves: “Where is Guadeloupe?” This is a region that belongs to France, and at the same time, the overseas department of this country. It is located among a group of Caribbean islands, otherwise called the West Indies. Every year a significant event takes place in this place - the Guadeloupe Carnival, which attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world.
Geographical position
Guadeloupe is the overseas department of France, that is, located outside the territory of this state. The group of islands was previously a French colony. It is significantly remote from the borders of the country, the closest states are Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of Dominica and the Dominican Republic. Guadalupe includes about eight large islands. The total area is approximately 1630 square kilometers. The largest in the archipelago is called the island of Guadeloupe. The smaller ones are Basse Ter, Grand Ter, La Desirade and others.
In the center, island groups are separated by the Salt River Strait. On the map of Guadeloupe, it is practically invisible; several bridges cross it, allowing you to easily cross from one part of the archipelago to another. Bas-Ter is considered the administrative center of the region, but the largest city is Pointe a Pitre.
General information
The people of Latin America are more aware of where Guadeloupe is located: their continent is closer to the islands than Eurasia. The shores of the islands are washed by the Caribbean Sea and on the opposite side of the Atlantic Ocean. The population is approximately 400 thousand people. Most residents are blacks or mulattos. There are also white people, Chinese, Arabs, but in general there are no more than 10 percent of the total. As for religion, Catholicism is more common.
French authorities are authorized to appoint the prefect of Guadeloupe. A separate elected body, the General Council, also participates in the adoption of decisions important for the region. The climate in these parts is marine tropical, in summer and autumn there are frequent rains and in general it is very humid. The air temperature practically does not drop below 17 degrees Celsius, even in winter. Hurricanes are a common occurrence for these places. It is also worth noting that the level of humidity depends on the specific location. On the Grand Tour, for example, places are more arid than the western territories of the archipelago.
Time in Guadeloupe
The time zone accepted in the region is the same as in Bolivia and Venezuela. It is called Atlantic time, designated as UTC-4. Consequently, in France, the day comes 5 hours earlier. Such a time zone is used throughout the year and does not change depending on whether it is winter or summer.
The island of Guadeloupe on the map looks like a butterfly, in its eastern part there is a pronounced elongated cape. There are not many rivers in these parts, but here and there you can see waterfalls. Some of the islands are of volcanic origin. The relief here is quite hilly, there are mountains, significant elevations.
Flora and fauna
Due to the island location and remoteness from the mainland of Guadeloupe, France, the vegetation and wildlife are not very diverse. Distributed tropical trees, ferns. Of the birds you can find a unique species that is not found anywhere else - the Guadalupe melanerpes, belonging to the order of woodpeckers. The animal is small in size, feeds mainly on termites.
In the 19th century, rats began to breed on the islands, which destroyed sugarcane in the fields. In order to exterminate rodents, mongooses were introduced into the overseas department of France. Now their number in the territories has also increased significantly. As for other types of animals, you can also see rabbits, iguanas. In some areas, there are especially many birds.
Island territories, like other similar ones in the world, are rich in fish and other inhabitants of the seas: mollusks, crustaceans.
sights
Tourists often come to see the capital of Guadeloupe, Bas-Ter, as there the area is famous for interesting landscapes, amazing nature with waterfalls, rivers and tropical forests.
Nearby is the national park of the region, an excellent area for walking. There are other places recommended for visiting. Knowing where Guadeloupe is located, its main island, you can easily find the island of Marie Galant, which is located a little off. This is a quiet place with gorgeous beaches, wildlife, and it is here that residents produce the best rum in the region.
From local cuisine, you should definitely try dishes from turtles, crabs or sea urchins. Awesome cuisine famous for its unusual combination of products. In traditional dishes there are features of French, Mexican and some others. In addition to seafood, guests of the archipelago should try fresh fruits, which are abundant here.
activity
A costume carnival has been held in the region since the beginning of January and for several weeks. Its main event is city parades. On some days, you can see people dressed in pajamas or chic colorful clothes on the streets. Music plays everywhere, it’s customary to have fun and sing. Those wishing to attend the winter carnival are especially often wondering about where Guadeloupe is and how to get there.
Russian citizens will need to apply for a visa at the French Embassy. You can get there by plane, most flights in this direction follow with transfers. You can fly to Guadeloupe from the Dominican Republic or from Saint Martin. There is also the opportunity to get there by water. This can be done from the ports of Dominican Republic or Martinique.