Saint Lucia: The island that is smaller than Chios and now has an Olympic stadium – 2024-08-04 18:57:33

Saint Lucia has been experiencing historic moments since Saturday night. The reason is none other than Julien Alfred. The 23-year-old sprinter won the gold medal in the 100m. which was also the Caribbean island nation’s first in Olympic history in any sport.

Saint Lucia is an island with approximately 184,000 inhabitants and an area of ​​616 square kilometers. In order to better understand its size, it is sufficient to mention that there are six Greek islands which are larger than it.

Its name is due to Saint Lucia of Syracuse and according to legend it got that name because the French sailors who discovered it reached it on December 13, the day it celebrates. So, they chose to name the island in her honor.

The 10 things you should know about Saint Lucia

1. The first proven inhabitants of the island were the Arawaks who came from countries located in the northern part of South America. In fact, they had named the island “Iouanalao”, that is, “Land of the iguanas”.
2. The island had been marked on a map since 1500, but the first colonists reached it in 1550. In fact, it was French pirates who set up camp there, while almost sixty years later the English arrived. They were the ones who created the first city which they called Saint Lucia.
3. For most of its history, Saint Lucia has been a colony of both the French and the English. It gained full independence only 45 years ago. On February 22, 1979 to be exact. The State of Saint Lucia under the Constitution in force since 1979 is a Reigning Parliamentary Democracy within the Commonwealth of Nations.
4. It is a volcanic island and that is why it has been affected by it in the past. Its biggest attractions are the two volcanic cones, the Great Piton and the Micron Piton, which have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2004.
5. The capital of the country is Kastris, where about 60,000 inhabitants live, i.e. 1/3 of the total population.
6. The majority of residents speak English and a local dialect which is influenced by French.
7. Most of the inhabitants are Roman Catholic, although they have also created their own customs.
8. The economy is based mainly on agriculture and tourism. The main crop is bananas. The energy comes from thermodynamic stations, while geothermal energy is also used for the production of energy. The country is generally plagued by unemployment. Currency is the East Caribbean Dollar.
9. An important tradition is the country’s carnival and the annual Jazz Festival, which has been held every year since 1992 and attracts many visitors from all over the world.
10. For many, Saint Lucia is a paradise on earth with enchanting beaches combined with impressive flora and fauna.

Check out some of the key attractions in Saint Lucia