Basse-Terre

Basse-Terre is the western island of the pair of islands that make up the principal land mass of Guadeloupe. It is full of waterfalls, rivers and streams, thermal springs, beaches of golden or black sand and a tropical rain forest covering its mountain range.

Understand
"Basse-Terre" means "lowland", but it is in fact mountainous, containing such peaks as Mount Sans Toucher (4,442 feet; 1,354 metres) and Grande Découverte (4,143 feet; 1,263 metres), culminating in the active volcano La Grande Soufrière, the highest mountain peak in the Lesser Antilles with an elevation of 1,467 metres (4,813 ft). The island was named "Basse-Terre" because it is on the leeward south-west side and sheltered from the winds.

In contrast to the rolling hills and flat plains landscape of Grande-Terre, Basse-Terre (the western wing of the island) has a rough volcanic relief. With fertile volcanic soils, heavy rainfall and a warm climate, vegetation on Basse-Terre is lush. The island's forests have mahogany, ironwood and chestnut trees. Mangrove swamps line the Salée River.

Get in
See Guadeloupe article.

See

 * , the administrative capital of Guadeloupe, is home to a range of colonial buildings. Furthermore, there are the 19th century Cathedral of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, the main square and adjoining Jardin Pichon.
 * is the industrial and commercial zone of Guadeloupe, nothing special to do or see. It has the biggest shopping mall of the island.