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The island nation of St.Lucia is situated between the islands of Martinique and St.Vincent in the Eastern Caribbean Sea. The second largest of the Windward Island group of the West Indies. The island covers an area of 238 square miles (616 square kilometers). Castries is the capital city and the main port. Roughly oval in shape, the island is volcanic in origin. The volcano Qualibou in the southwest emits steam and gases and is a major tourist site. The climate is tropical with heavy rain fall and a mean temperature of 80° F (27° C).
St.Lucia was settled first by the Arawaks Indians around 200 AD. Numerous archeological sites on the island have produced specimens of their well-developed pottery. By 800 AD their culture was superseded by that of the Caribs. These early Amerinidian cultures called the island "Louanalao" and "Hewanorra" which means "Island of Iguanas".
St.Lucia maybe a small island but it worldwide contributors are quit large. This little island has produced not one but two Nobel Prizewinners. In 1979 St.Lucia's first Nobel Laureate, Sir. W. Arthur Lewis, was honored with a Nobel Prize in Economics. Just 12 years later St.Lucia gave bith to another Nobel Laureate. Derek Walcott was honored with a Nobel Prize for Literature.
Through the intermingling of different groups of people that have participated in the history of the island, St.lucia evolved greatly. Each group of people has brought about their own tradition and beliefs, all of which are intertwined into the island's life today. From our British roads through our French communtites youwill be greeted with our unique Language of Creole Patois.
St.Lucia is well known for its fertile lands which yields an enormous supply of produce. The leading banana exportong island throughout the Caribbean, with six different varieties available.
Every year there are three Major Events that take place in St.Lucia which is known World Wide..St.Lucia Jazz Festival,Cricket and Carnival.
Antillean Creole is a French-lexified creole language spoken primarily in the Lesser Antilles. Its' grammar and vocabulary are both made up of elements from the Carib and African Languages. This language is very similar to Haitian Creole but has a number of distinctive features which set it apart.
Example:
English to Kwéyòl
I = mwen
You = ou
Woman = fanm
Man = nonm
Child = ti mamay
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