Windward Islands (West Indies)
Windward Islands (West Indies), chain of islands forming part of the West Indies and situated at the southern end of the Lesser Antilles. The northern extremity of the islands lies approximately at latitude 16° North; the southern extremity lies at about latitude 12° North. The approximate easternmost limit of the islands is delineated by longitude 60° West, and the approximate westernmost limit by longitude 62° West. The area of the Windward Islands is 3,700 sq km (1,400 sq mi). The principal islands are Dominica, Grenada, Martinique, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent. In political geography, Martinique is an overseas department of France; Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are independent states, formerly British dependencies.