Guadeloupe is a French Caribbean archipelago, overseas department, and region. It is made up of six inhabited islands: Bonne-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Désirade, and the two inhabited Îles des Saintes, as well as several uninhabited islands and outcroppings. It is located south of Antigua and Barbuda and north of the Commonwealth of Dominica. The capital city of the area is Basse-Terre, which is situated on the southwest coast of Basse-Terre Island; however, the most populated city is Les Abymes, and the major commercial center is neighboring Pointe-à-Pitre, both of which are located on Grande-Terre Island.
It is a part of France, much like the other overseas departments. The euro is the official currency of the European Union and the Eurozone, and any European Union citizen is allowed to reside and work there forever. However, since it is an overseas department, it is not a member of the Schengen Area. Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin were separated from Guadeloupe in 2007 as a result of a vote in 2003.
The island was named after Christopher Columbus, the first European to visit Guadeloupe when he arrived in 1493. French is the official language, although Antillean Creole is also spoken.