Grenada profile

Grenada is a small island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea. Called the Isle of Spice, Grenada is known for growing nutmeg and other spices. The capital is Saint George’s.

Grenada’s territory includes the southern Grenadine Islands, which lie to the northwest of Grenada. (The northern Grenadines are part of the country of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.) A ridge of mountains runs down the center of the island. Grenada has year-round warm weather and a long rainy season.

Rainforests of teak, mahogany, and other trees cover the mountains. Other plants include wild orchids and bamboo. Mona monkeys, agoutis (rabbit-sized rodents), mongooses, iguanas, land crabs, and rare leatherback turtles live on Grenada.

The majority of the population has black African or mixed African and European roots. There are also small groups of South Asians and whites. English is the main language. Most people are Christians, mainly Roman Catholics. More than 60 percent of the people live in rural areas.

Grenada’s economy depends on exports of nutmeg, fish, and cocoa. Grenada also grows sugarcane, coconuts, bananas, and other fruits and spices. Tourism is a very important industry.

The Arawak and later the Carib Indians were the earliest settlers of Grenada. In the 1600s the French took over the island and killed nearly all the Carib. Great Britain captured Grenada in the 1700s. The Europeans brought slaves from Africa to work on sugarcane and spice plantations. The slaves were freed in 1833.

In 1974 Britain granted independence to Grenada. A dictator ruled until 1979, when a Communist party took over. In 1983 U.S. troops invaded Grenada and overthrew the Communist government. Grenada held democratic elections in 1984. A period of economic growth ended when Hurricane Ivan hit the island in 2004.

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