Editing Guadeloupe (section)

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Guadeloupe}}
{{Cleanup split|Geography of Guadeloupe|date=August 2022}}
[[File:Guadeloupe NASA 61.42577W 16.17142N.jpg|thumb|Satellite photo of Guadeloupe]]
[[File:Panorama Chutes du Carbet.jpg|thumb|right|Lush forest on Basse-Terre]]
[[File:Guadeloupe2021OSM.png|thumb|right|Detailed map of Guadeloupe]]

Guadeloupe is an archipelago of more than 12 islands, as well as [[islet]]s and rocks situated where the northeastern [[Caribbean Sea]] meets the western Atlantic Ocean.<ref name="britannica.com" /> It is located in the [[Leeward Islands]] in the northern part of the [[Lesser Antilles]], a partly volcanic [[island arc]]. To the north lie [[Antigua and Barbuda]] and the [[British Overseas Territories|British Overseas Territory]] of [[Montserrat]], with [[Dominica]] lying to the south.

The two main islands are Basse-Terre (west) and [[Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe|Grande-Terre]] (east), which form a butterfly shape as viewed from above, the two 'wings' of which are separated by the {{ill|Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin|ceb||fr|Grand Cul-de-sac marin|nl||sv}}, [[Rivière Salée (Guadeloupe)|Rivière Salée]] and {{ill|Petit Cul-de-Sac Marin|ceb||fr|Petit Cul-de-sac marin}}. More than half of Guadeloupe's land surface consists of the 847.8&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> Basse-Terre.<ref name="britannica.com" /> The island is mountainous, containing the peaks of [[Mount Sans Toucher]] ({{cvt|4,442|ft|m|disp=semicolon|order=flip}}) and [[Grande Découverte]] ({{cvt|4,143|ft|m|disp=semicolon|order=flip}}), culminating in the active volcano [[La Grande Soufrière]], the highest mountain peak in the [[Lesser Antilles]] with an elevation of {{convert|1467|metres|feet|abbr=}}.<ref name="britannica.com" /><ref name=factbook /> In contrast Grande-Terre is mostly flat, with rocky coasts to the north, irregular hills at the centre, mangrove at the southwest, and white sand beaches sheltered by [[coral reefs]] along the southern shore.<ref name=factbook /> This is where the main tourist resorts are found.<ref name="gag" />

[[Marie-Galante]] is the third-largest island, followed by [[La Désirade]], a north-east slanted [[limestone]] plateau, the highest point of which is {{convert|275|metres|feet|abbr=}}. To the south lie the [[Îles de Petite-Terre]], which are two islands (Terre de Haut and Terre de Bas) totalling 2&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="gag" />

[[Les Saintes]] is an archipelago of eight islands of which two, [[Terre-de-Bas]] and [[Terre-de-Haut Island|Terre-de-Haut]] are inhabited. The landscape is similar to that of Basse-Terre, with volcanic hills and irregular shoreline with deep bays.

There are numerous other smaller islands.

=== Geology ===
Basse-Terre is a [[volcanic island]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mathieu |first1=Lucie |last2=van Wyk de Vries |first2=Benjamin |last3=Mannessiez |first3=Claire |last4=Mazzoni |first4=Nelly |last5=Savry |first5=Cécile |last6=Troll |first6=Valentin R. |date=5 March 2013 |title=The structure and morphology of the Basse Terre Island, Lesser Antilles volcanic arc |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-013-0700-y |journal=Bulletin of Volcanology |language=en |volume=75 |issue=3 |pages=700 |doi=10.1007/s00445-013-0700-y |bibcode=2013BVol...75..700M |s2cid=129467145 |issn=1432-0819 |access-date=8 November 2020 |archive-date=13 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213042707/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00445-013-0700-y |url-status=live}}</ref> The Lesser Antilles are at the outer edge of the [[Caribbean Plate]], and Guadeloupe is part of the outer arc of the [[Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc]]. Many of the islands were formed as a result of the [[subduction]] of [[oceanic crust]] of the [[Atlantic Plate]] under the [[Caribbean Plate]] in the [[Lesser Antilles subduction zone]]. This process is ongoing and is responsible for volcanic and earthquake activity in the region. Guadeloupe was formed from multiple volcanoes, of which only La Grande Soufrière is not extinct.<ref name="jussieu">{{cite web |title=Guadeloupe |url=http://www.ipgp.jussieu.fr/~beaudu/download/2004_Komorowski_VHA.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061120120412/http://www.ipgp.jussieu.fr/~beaudu/download/2004_Komorowski_VHA.pdf |archive-date=20 November 2006 |url-status=live |website=Institut de physique du globe de Paris |publisher=Universite de Paris |access-date=17 April 2019}}</ref> Its last eruption was in 1976, and led to the evacuation of the southern part of Basse-Terre. 73,600 people were displaced throughout three and a half months following the eruption.

[[K–Ar dating]] indicates that the three northern [[massif]]s on [[Basse-Terre Island]] are 2.79&nbsp;million years old. Sections of volcanoes collapsed and eroded within the last 650,000 years, after which the Sans Toucher volcano grew in the collapsed area. Volcanoes in the north of Basse-Terre Island mainly produced [[andesite]] and [[basaltic andesite]].<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.epsl.2007.03.030 |title=Timing of effusive volcanism and collapse events within an oceanic arc island: Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe archipelago (Lesser Antilles Arc) |journal=Earth and Planetary Science Letters |volume=258 |pages=175–191 |year=2007 |last1=Samper |first1=A. |last2=Quidelleur |first2=X. |last3=Lahitte |first3=P. |last4=Mollex |first4=D. |issue=1–2 |bibcode=2007E&PSL.258..175S}}</ref> There are several beaches of dark or "black" sand.<ref name="gag">{{cite web |title=Geography and geology |url=https://www.leguideguadeloupe.com/en/geography-and-geology/ |website=Le Guide Guadeloupe |access-date=17 April 2019 |archive-date=18 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418022256/https://www.leguideguadeloupe.com/en/geography-and-geology/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[La Désirade (commune)|La Désirade]], east of the main islands, has a [[Basement (geology)|basement]] from the [[Mesozoic]], overlaid with thick [[limestones]] from the [[Pliocene]] to [[Quaternary]] periods.<ref name="brgm">{{cite web |last1=Bourdon |first1=E |last2=Bouchot |first2=V |last3=Gadalia |first3=A |last4=Sanjuan |first4=B |title=Geology and geothermal activity of the Bouillante Volcanic Chain |url=http://calamar.univ-ag.fr/cgc2011/images/stories/ft-bouillante.pdf |access-date=18 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419001006/http://calamar.univ-ag.fr/cgc2011/images/stories/ft-bouillante.pdf |archive-date=19 April 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Grande-Terre and Marie-Galante have basements probably composed of volcanic units of [[Eocene]] to [[Oligocene]], but there are no visible outcrops. On Grande-Terre, the overlying [[carbonate platform]] is 120 metres thick.<ref name="brgm" />

=== Climate ===
The islands are part of the [[Leeward Islands]], so called because they are downwind of the prevailing [[trade wind]]s, which blow out of the northeast.<ref name="britannica.com" /><ref name=factbook /> This was significant in the days of [[sailing ship]]s. Grande-Terre is so named because it is on the eastern, or [[windward]] side, exposed to the Atlantic winds. Basse-Terre is so named because it is on the [[leeward]] south-west side and sheltered from the winds. Guadeloupe has a [[tropical climate]] tempered by maritime influences and the [[Trade Winds]]. There are two seasons, the dry season called "Lent" from January to June, and the wet season called "winter", from July to December.<ref name="britannica.com" />

{{Weather box
| width = auto
| location = Guadeloupe
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| collapsed = Yes
| Jan high C = 29.1
| Feb high C = 29.1
| Mar high C = 29.4
| Apr high C = 30.1
| May high C = 30.7
| Jun high C = 31.3
| Jul high C = 31.5
| Aug high C = 31.6
| Sep high C = 31.5
| Oct high C = 31.2
| Nov high C = 30.5
| Dec high C = 29.6
| year high C = 30.5
| Jan mean C = 24.5
| Feb mean C = 24.5
| Mar mean C = 24.9
| Apr mean C = 25.9
| May mean C = 26.9
| Jun mean C = 27.5
| Jul mean C = 27.6
| Aug mean C = 27.7
| Sep mean C = 27.4
| Oct mean C = 27.0
| Nov mean C = 26.3
| Dec mean C = 25.2
| year mean C = 26.3
| Jan low C = 19.9
| Feb low C = 19.9
| Mar low C = 20.4
| Apr low C = 21.7
| May low C = 23.1
| Jun low C = 23.8
| Jul low C = 23.8
| Aug low C = 23.7
| Sep low C = 23.3
| Oct low C = 22.9
| Nov low C = 22.1
| Dec low C = 20.9
| year low C = 22.1
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 84
| Feb precipitation mm = 64
| Mar precipitation mm = 73
| Apr precipitation mm = 123
| May precipitation mm = 148
| Jun precipitation mm = 118
| Jul precipitation mm = 150
| Aug precipitation mm = 198
| Sep precipitation mm = 236
| Oct precipitation mm = 228
| Nov precipitation mm = 220
| Dec precipitation mm = 137
| year precipitation mm = 1779
| Jan precipitation days = 15.0
| Feb precipitation days = 11.5
| Mar precipitation days = 11.5
| Apr precipitation days = 11.6
| May precipitation days = 13.6
| Jun precipitation days = 12.8
| Jul precipitation days = 15.4
| Aug precipitation days = 16.2
| Sep precipitation days = 16.6
| Oct precipitation days = 18.1
| Nov precipitation days = 16.6
| Dec precipitation days = 15.7
| year precipitation days = 174.6
| unit precipitation days = 
| Jan sun = 235.6
| Feb sun = 229.1
| Mar sun = 232.5
| Apr sun = 240.0
| May sun = 244.9
| Jun sun = 237.0
| Jul sun = 244.9
| Aug sun = 248.0
| Sep sun = 216.0
| Oct sun = 217.0
| Nov sun = 207.0
| Dec sun = 223.2
| year sun = 2775.2
| source 1 = [[Hong Kong Observatory]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/s_america/mx_cam/guadeloupe_e.htm |title=Climatological Information for Guadeloupe |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403033951/http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/s_america/mx_cam/guadeloupe_e.htm |archive-date=3 April 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| date=September 2011}}
[[File:Plage de la Grande Anse à Deshaies 2.jpg|thumb|Grande Anse Beach]]

=== Tropical cyclones and storm surges ===
Located in a very exposed region, Guadeloupe and its [[Dependent territory|dependencies]] have to face many [[cyclones]]. The deadliest hurricane to hit Guadeloupe was the Pointe-à-Pitre hurricane of 1776, which killed at least 6,000 people.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492–1996 |url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastdeadlyapp1.shtml |access-date=10 June 2021 |website=nhc.noaa.gov |archive-date=15 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200315153605/https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastdeadlyapp1.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1989, [[Hurricane Hugo]] caused severe damage to the islands of the archipelago and left a deep mark on the memory of the local inhabitants. In 1995, three hurricanes (Iris, Luis and [[Hurricane Marilyn|Marilyn]]) hit the archipelago in less than three weeks. Other notable hurricanes include [[1928 Okeechobee hurricane|Okeechobee]] in 1928, [[Hurricane Betsy|Betsy]] in 1965, [[Hurricane Cleo|Cleo]] in 1964, [[Hurricane Inez|Inez]] in 1966, and [[Hurricane Irma|Irma]] and [[Hurricane Maria|Maria]] in 2017.

=== Flora ===
[[File:Pic de la Guadeloupe.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Guadeloupe woodpecker]] is endemic to the islands.]]
With fertile volcanic soils, heavy rainfall and a warm climate, vegetation on Basse-Terre is lush.<ref name="britannica">{{cite web |title=Guadeloupe |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Guadeloupe |website=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=12 December 2018 |archive-date=12 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212151457/https://www.britannica.com/place/Guadeloupe |url-status=live}}</ref> Most of the island's forests are on Basse-Terre, containing such species as [[mahogany]], [[ironwood]] and [[chestnut tree]]s.<ref name="britannica.com" /> [[Mangrove swamps]] line the Salée River.<ref name="britannica.com" /> Much of the forest on Grande-Terre has been cleared, with only a few small patches remaining.<ref name="britannica.com" />

Between {{convert|300|and|1,000|m}} of altitude, the [[rainforest]] that covers a large part of the island of Basse-Terre develops. Vegetation there includes the white gum tree, the [[acomat-boucan]] or chestnut tree, the marbri or bois-bandé or the oleander; shrubs and herbaceous plants such as the mountain palm, the balisier or ferns; many epiphytes: [[bromeliads]], philodendrons, [[orchids]] and [[lianas]]. Above {{cvt|1,000|m}}, the humid savannah develops, composed of mosses, [[lichen]]s, sphagnum or more vigorous plants such as mountain [[mangrove]], high altitude violet or mountain thyme.

The [[dry forest]] occupies a large part of the islands of Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, Les Saintes, [[La Désirade]] and also develops on the leeward coast of Basse-Terre. The coastal forest is more difficult to develop because of the nature of the soil (sandy, rocky), [[salinity]], sunshine and wind and is the environment where the sea grape, the [[Hippomane|mancenilla]] (a very toxic tree whose trunk is marked with a red line), the icaquier or the [[Coconut]] tree grow. On the [[cliffs]] and in the [[Arid]] zones are found cacti such as the cactus-cigar (Cereus), the prickly pear, the chestnut cactus, the "Tête à l'anglais" cactus and the aloes.

The [[Mangrove]] forest that borders some of Guadalupe's coasts is structured in three levels, from the closest to the sea to the farthest. On the first level are the [[Optediceros breviculum|red mangroves]]; on the second, about {{convert|10|metres}} from the sea, the [[black mangrove]]s form the shrubby mangrove; on the third level the white mangroves form the tall mangrove. Behind the mangrove, where the tide and salt do not penetrate, a swamp forest sometimes develops, unique in Guadeloupe. The representative species of this environment is the Mangrove-medaille.[[File:Artibeus jamaicensis.jpg|thumb|right|alt=A Jamaican fruit bats hanging from a tree|The [[Jamaican fruit bat]] can be found throughout the [[department of France|department]]. | 310x310px]]

=== Fauna ===
Few terrestrial mammals, aside from bats and [[raccoons]], are native to the islands. The [[introduced species|introduced]] [[Javan mongoose]] is also present on Guadeloupe.<ref name="britannica.com" /> Bird species include the [[endemism|endemic]] [[purple-throated carib]] and the [[Guadeloupe woodpecker]].<ref name="britannica.com" /> The waters of the islands support a rich variety of marine life.<ref name="britannica.com" />

However, by studying 43,000 bone remains from six islands in the [[archipelago]], it was found that 50 to 70% of snakes and lizards on the Guadeloupe Islands became extinct after European colonists arrived; they had brought with them mammals such as cats, mongooses, rats, and raccoons, which might have preyed upon the native reptiles.<ref>{{cite news<!--|authors=Corentin Bochaton; Emmanuel Paradis; Salvador Bailon; Sandrine Grouard; Ivan Ineich; Arnaud Lenoble; Olivier Lorvelec; Anne Tresset; and Nicole Boivin-->|author=Corentin Bochaton|display-authors=etal|title=Large-scale reptile extinctions following European colonization of the Guadeloupe Islands|publisher=Science Advances|year=2021|volume=7|issue=21|doi=10.1126/sciadv.abg2111}}</ref>

=== Environmental preservation ===
In recent decades, Guadeloupe's natural environments have been affected by hunting and fishing, forest retreat, urbanization and suburbanization. They also suffer from the development of intensive crops (banana and [[Sugarcane|sugar cane]], in particular), which reached their peak in the years 1955–75. This has led to the following situation: seagrass beds and [[reefs]] have degraded by up to 50% around the large islands; mangroves and [[Mantidae|mantids]] have almost disappeared in [[Marie-Galante]], Les Saintes and La Désirade; the [[salinity]] of the fresh water table has increased due to "the intensity of use of the layer"; and pollution of agricultural origin (pesticides and nitrogenous compounds).<ref>Un rapport s’alarme de « la dégradation généralisée » des masses d’eau en Guadeloupe, ''Le Monde'', 10 septembre 2019</ref>

In addition, the ChlEauTerre study, unveiled in March 2018, concludes that 37 different [[Climate change|anthropogenic]] molecules (more than half of which come from residues of now-banned pesticides, such as chlordecone) were found in "79% of the watersheds analyzed in Grande-Terre and 84% in Basse-Terre." A report by the Guadeloupe Water Office notes that in 2019 there is a "generalized [[Environmental degradation|degradation]] of water bodies."

Despite everything, there is a will to preserve these [[Natural environment|environments]] whose vegetation and [[landscape]] are preserved in some parts of the islands and constitute a sensitive asset for tourism. These areas are partially protected and classified as ZNIEFF, sometimes with nature reserve status, and several caves are home to protected chiropterans.
[[File:Sommet de la Soufrière.jpg|thumb|La Soufrière Volcano crater and its fumaroles]]
The Guadalupe [[National Park]] was created on 20 February 1989. In 1992, under the auspices of [[UNESCO]], the [[Biosphere Reserve]] of the Guadeloupe Archipelago (''Réserve de biosphère de l'archipel de la Guadeloupe'') was created. As a result, on 8 December 1993, the marine site of Grand Cul-de-sac was listed as a wetland of international importance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin de la Guadeloupe {{!}} Service d'information sur les Sites Ramsar |url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/fr/ris/642 |access-date=10 June 2021 |website=rsis.ramsar.org |archive-date=23 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523195307/https://rsis.ramsar.org/fr/ris/642 |url-status=live}}</ref> The island thus became the [[Overseas departments and regions of France|overseas department]] with the most [[protected area]]s.

=== Earthquakes and tsunamis ===
The archipelago is crossed by numerous [[Fault (geology)|geological faults]] such as those of la Barre or la Cadoue, while in depth, in front of Moule and [[La Désirade]] begins the Désirade Fault, and between the north of Maria-Galante and the south of Grande-Terre begins the Maria Galante Fault. And it is because of these geological characteristics, the islands of the department of Guadeloupe are classified in zone III according to the seismic zoning of France and are subject to a specific risk prevention plan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guadeloupe |first=DEAL de |date=26 November 2014 |title=Les plans de prévention des risques naturels – Présentation générale |url=http://www.guadeloupe.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/les-plans-de-prevention-des-risques-naturels-a382.html |access-date=10 June 2021 |website=guadeloupe.developpement-durable.gouv.fr |language=fr |archive-date=26 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526001319/http://www.guadeloupe.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/les-plans-de-prevention-des-risques-naturels-a382.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[1843 Guadeloupe earthquake|1843 earthquake]] in the [[Lesser Antilles]] is, to this day, the most violent earthquake known. It caused the death of more than a thousand people, as well as major damage in Pointe-à-Pitre.

On 21 November 2004, the islands of the department, in particular [[Îles des Saintes|Les Saintes]] archipelago, were shaken by a violent earthquake that reached a magnitude of 6.3 on the [[Richter magnitude scale|Richter scale]] and caused the death of one person, as well as extensive material damage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Séisme ressenti en Guadeloupe |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2011/03/16/97001-20110316FILWWW00323-seisme-ressenti-en-guadeloupe.php |access-date=10 June 2021 |website=Le Figaro |date=16 March 2011 |language=fr |archive-date=26 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526001319/https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2011/03/16/97001-20110316FILWWW00323-seisme-ressenti-en-guadeloupe.php |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Waterfalls ===
Guadeloupe is home to 100 [[waterfall]]s and cascades.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Waterfalls |url=https://www.lesilesdeguadeloupe.com/tourism/en-us/nature/waterfalls |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Les îles de Guadeloupe (Guadeloupe Islands) |publisher=Comité du Tourisme des Îles de Guadeloupe (Guadeloupe Islands Tourism Board) |language=en-US |publication-date=}}</ref> Some of the most well-known or visited include [[Acomat Falls]] (''Saut de l'Acomat''), [[Carbet Falls]] (''Chutes du Carbet''), [[Crayfish Waterfall]] (''Cascade aux Écrevisses''), and [[Lézarde (Guadeloupe)|Lézarde]] Falls (''Saut de la Lézarde''). All of the waterfalls are located on the island of Basse-Terre.<ref name=":8" />