Windward Islands

Windward Islands

English: Windward Islands French: Îles du Vent
Geography
Location	Caribbean Sea North Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates	14°N 61°W / 14°N 61°W / 14; -61
Total islands	90+
Major islands	Carriacou Dominica Grenada Martinique Petite Martinique Saint Lucia Saint Vincent
Area	3,232.5 km2 (1,248.1 sq mi)
Highest elevation	1,447 m (4747 ft)
Highest point	Morne Diablotins, Dominica
Administration
Dominica
Largest settlement	Roseau
Grenada
Largest settlement	St. George's
Martinique
Largest settlement	Fort-de-France
Saint Lucia
Largest settlement	Castries
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Largest settlement	Kingstown
Demographics
Population	c. 854,000
Pop. density	227/km2 (588/sq mi)

The Windward Islands are the southern, generally larger islands of the Lesser Antilles. Part of the West Indies, they lie south of the Leeward Islands, approximately between latitudes 10° and 16° N and longitudes 60° and 62° W.

The name was also used to refer to a British colony which existed between 1833 and 1960 and originally consisted of the islands of Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent. Today these islands constitute three sovereign states, with the latter now known as Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The island of Dominica was traditionally considered a part of the Leeward Islands until 1940 when it was transferred from the British Leeward Islands colony to the British Windward Islands. It now composes the fourth sovereign state in the group.

Barbados (until 1885) and Tobago (until 1889) were also part of the British Windward Islands colony, but are not today regarded as being part of the Windward Islands grouping.