Location
The three-island nation of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique in the Eastern Caribbean is one of the most southerly of the Windward Islands, located between St. Vincent and the Grenadines to the north and Trinidad and Tobago to the south. Highest point is Mount St. Catherine at 840 meters ((2,756 feet) above sea level. The tiny island of Carriacou is a 20-minute flight from Grenada or 90 minutes by power catamaran. Petite Martinique can be reached by boat from Carriacou and the crossing takes approximately 20 minutes.

Size
Grenada is 34 km (21 miles) long and 19 km (12 miles) wide, with a land area of 345 sq. km (133 sq. miles). Carriacou has an area of 34 sq. km (13 sq. miles), while Petite Martinique is 20 hectares (486 acres).

History
The islands, once the homes to Arawaks, Ciboneys and Caribs, were sighted by Christopher Columbus on his third voyage in 1498. In subsequent colonization, these races did not survive. Following colonial wars of the eighteenth century when France and Britain traded the island back and forth, it became solely under British control in 1783. Grenada achieved independence on February 7, 1974.

Population
110,000 people made up of African, East Indian and European descent.

Capital
St. George's with its picturesque horseshoe-shaped harbour is located on Grenada's southwest coastline.

Government
The tri-island state is an independent nation as part of the British Commonwealth. The Governor General represents her Majesty the Queen. A 13-member Senate and a House of Representatives govern the country, with a Speaker and 15 members, each representing a constituency. Grenada is a full and participating member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)

Language
English but it is not uncommon to hear a French-African patois spoken.

Climate
Daily temperature ranges from 24 to 30 degrees Celsius (75 to 87 degrees Fahrenheit) moderated by cooling trade winds. Nights are cooler and readings are low in higher elevations. January to May is considered the dry season, as opposed to the remainder of the year when brief showers of under an hour may occur (not every day)

Tourism Activities & Sightseeing
Popularly known as 'The Spice Isle' because of an abundance of locally grown spices and a culture of music, dance and food built into the image of 'spice of life', Tourist appeals include more than 40 stunning white coral sand beaches including the famous Grand Anse Beach and 9 black volcanic sand beaches, national parks, spectacular waterfalls, museums, shopping, historical landmarks and open-air markets. All forms of sports from sailing, fishing, tennis, golf and hiking give visitors a wide array of choices. Grenada boasts the largest shipwreck in the Caribbean - the Bianca C - a 600-foot Italian ocean liner. A troop of Mona monkeys, imported from Africa 360 year ago, live in treetops in Grand Etang National Park. Humpback whales are frequently sighted off Grenada from January to March. Fort Frederick. Fort George. Old Georgian Buildings on the Carenage. Yellow Poui Art Gallery. The colorful Market (Saturday a specialty). National Museum. Bay Gardens. Annandale Falls. Levera National Park. Nutmeg Processing Station and Dougaldston Estate at Gouyave. Grand Etang National Park. Leapers Hill in Sauteurs. Laura Herb and Spice Garden. Concord Falls, Woodlands Sugar Factory, Westerhall Estate Rum Distillery and River Antoine Rum Distillery. La Sagesse Natural Works. Morne Gazo Trail. Bon Accord Estate. Mt. Edgecombe Estate/Soap and Candle Production.

Airports
Point Salines International Airport is located on the southwestern tip five miles from the capital of St. George's and a short drive to the main hotel areas. Lauriston Airport in Carriacou can only accommodate light aircraft.

Currency
Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD)
Current conversion rate is EC $2.67 for US$1 cash.

Electricity
Voltage is 220-volts - 50 cycles. Appliances rated at 110 volts (North American standard) normally work with a transformer.

Time zone
Atlantic Standard Time zone, one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time (except when Eastern daylight Savings time is in effect then it's the same) GMT-4

Driving
On the left.

Flag

The Official Tourism Website of the Grenada Board of Tourism
www.grenadagrenadines.com