Guadeloupe is a country in the Caribbean Sea; it is an overseas region of France (the others are French Guiana, Martinique, Réunion and Mayotte), a territory incorporated in that country as well as the departments that compose it physically. This state consists of the island of Guadeloupe and some smaller islands: Marie-Galante, La Désirade and the Îles des Saintes.
The capital is Basse-Terre, located on the island of Basse-Terre, which is the western half of the island of Guadeloupe (the other is Grande-Terre). However, the largest city is another: Pointe-à-Pitre.

The official language is French, although much of the population speaks Antillean Creole.
The landscape in Guadeloupe is quite varied: Basse-Terre is characterized by numerous volcanic cones, while Grande-Terre there are many hills and plains. The climate is tropical, but it is tempered by the trade winds; the humidity is in any case quite high.