The main two islands are Basse-Terre (west) and Grande-Terre (east), which form a butterfly shape as viewed from above, the two 'wings' of which are separated by the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin, Rivière Salée and Petit Cul-de-Sac Marin.
Iziqhingi ezimbili eziyinhloko Basse-Terre (entshonalanga) kanye IGrande-Terre (empumalanga), akha isimo sebhabhathane njengoba sibukwa ngenhla, 'amaphiko' awo amabili ahlukaniswe yiGrand Cul-de-Sac Marin, uRivière Salée noPetit Cul-de-Sac Marin.