Guadeloupe (gwädəlōpˈ) [key], overseas department and
administrative region of France (2005 est. pop. 449,000), 687 sq
mi (1,779 sq km), in the Leeward Islands, West Indies. The
department comprises the neighboring islands of Basse-Terre and
Grande-Terre (Guadeloupe proper) as well as Marie-Galante and
Îles des Saintes to the south and La Désirade to the east.
Saint-Barthélemy ("Saint Barts") and the French portion of Saint
Martin were part of Guadeloupe politically until 2007. Basse-
Terre, on the island of the same name, is Guadeloupe's capital;
Pointe-à-Pitre, on Grande-Terre, is the chief port and
commercial center. The islands have a mild, humid climate and
are subject to hurricanes. Tourism is the major industry, and
the majority of people are employed in the service sector.
Agriculture and sugar and rum production are also important.
Basse-Terre, volcanic in origin and extremely rugged, is settled
along the coasts and produces bananas, other tropical fruits and
vegetables, coffee, cacao, and vanilla bea