Basse-Terre (island)

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Basse-Terre
Anse à la Barque on the west coast
Anse à la Barque on the west coast
Waters Caribbean Sea
Archipelago Lesser Antilles
Geographical location 16 ° 9 ′  N , 61 ° 40 ′  W Coordinates: 16 ° 9 ′  N , 61 ° 40 ′  W
Basse-Terre (island) (Guadeloupe)
Basse-Terre (island)
length 46.1 km
width 27.6 km
surface 848 km²
Highest elevation La Soufrière
1467  m
Residents 186,000 (2006)
219 inhabitants / km²
main place Basse-Terre
Fort Delgrès in the southwest
Fort Delgrès in the southwest

Basse-Terre is the western and larger of the two main islands of the French overseas department of Guadeloupe in the Caribbean . The eastern main island is called Grande-Terre . On the island is the capital of Guadeloupe, which is also called Basse-Terre .

This island is of volcanic origin, with the Grand-Découverte Soufrière volcanic complex (GDS) on Basse-Terre said to be 200,000 years old. The complex with its 1467 m high La Soufrière is still classified as active. Around this volcanic complex, the outgassing sulfur fumes created a forest-free zone, which is unique on the otherwise heavily forested island.

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