One of two main islands of the French overseas département of Guadeloupe in the Leeward Islands, West Indies; area 848 sq km/327 sq mi; population (1995 est) 169,000. A narrow stretch of water, the Rivière Salée, divides it from Grande-Terre, the other main island. It has an active volcano, Grande Soufrière, rising to 1,484 m/4,870 ft.
Blue stands for faith and loyalty, the sea, lakes, and the sky. Black represents past suffering and is the colour of the traditional peasant's jacket. White symbolizes virtue and enlightenment and is the colour of snow, birch bark, and the midnight sun. Effective date: 16 November 1990.