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Saint Lucia[sAnt lOO´shu, –sEu] Pronunciation Key, island nation (1995 est. pop. 156,000), 238 sq mi (616 sq km), West Indies, one of the Windward Islands. The capital is Castries. Morne Gimie (3,145 ft/959 m high) and the twin pyramidal cones known as the Pitons are the most imposing landmarks. The country is often damaged by hurricanes. The population is largely of African descent and Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion. English is the official language, but a French patois is also widely spoken. The economy is largely based on agriculture (bananas and other tropical products are exported) and tourism. Saint Lucia has diversified its industrial base and possesses an oil refinery and transshipment facilities.
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