Grand-Bourg

Grand-Bourg
A view of Grand-Bourg, on Marie-Galante
Location of the commune (in red) within Guadeloupe
Coordinates: 15°53′N 61°19′W / 15.88°N 61.32°W / 15.88; -61.32Coordinates: 15°53′N 61°19′W / 15.88°N 61.32°W / 15.88; -61.32
Country	France
Overseas region and department	Guadeloupe
Arrondissement	Pointe-à-Pitre
Canton	Grand-Bourg
Intercommunality	Marie-Galante
Government
• Mayor	Patrice Tirolien
Area1	55.54 km2 (21.44 sq mi)
Population (2013)2	5,564
• Density	100/km2 (260/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	97112 /97112
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Grand-Bourg is a commune on the island of Marie-Galante, in the French overseas region and department of Guadeloupe in the Lesser Antilles Caribbean. It is located in the southwest of Marie-Galante, and is the most populous of the three communes on the island.

Grand-Bourg hosts the headquarters of the communal association of Marie-Galante. The Marie-Galante Airfield is located in Grand-Bourg.

The Marais Folle Anse, a vast fresh water reserve, allowed habitation by native Arawaks at the beginning of the 1st millennium. It is possible that Christopher Columbus visited in 1493 during his second voyage. In 1653, a fort was established by French colonists.

Grand-Bourg is located at the south-west of the island of Marie-Galante and is the location of the chief town. The co-ordinates are 15° 53'N and 61° 19'W.

The major part of the commune consists of an undulating plateau. It is dominated by a broad littoral plain and mangrove forest in the north, with broad beaches in most coastal areas. In the south, the coast is protected by a coral reef. The northern limit of the commune follows the Saint-Louis river.

Grand-Bourg experiences rainfall evenly spread during the year, which is typical of Caribbean islands, with a wetter season between July and November which coincides with hurricane season. The town receives 1,500 to 2,500 mm (59 to 98 in) of rainfall per year. Tropical heat is the norm, bringing constant highs of around 32 °C (90 °F) that drop to 20 °C (68 °F) at night.

Trade winds, called alizés, blow from the northeast and often temper the climate.

Grand-Bourg is responsible for a significant part of the economic, commercial and administrative activity of the island. Its port is the most important on the island. Fishing and tourism are important parts of the economy. An airport ensures a connection with Guadeloupe in 15 minutes.

Sugar cane fields grow abundantly and a sugar factory is located in the north. There are two hotels and one restaurant in Grand-Bourg.