Martinique is an overseas department of France. It includes one main island and a large number of small ones. The Martinique Islands cover a total area of about 1128 sq. km. The main land area in this department, Martinique, is distinguished by its volcanic origin and picturesque nature.
Martinique is one of the Windward Islands in the Lesser Antilles archipelago. It is washed by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Caribbean Sea to the west. The island of Martinique has an oval shape and a heavily indented coastline. There are many bays and bays that are great for ship mooring. There are many islets and rocks in the coastal area. Among them are the rocks of Le Fevre, La Mizier, Le Douz and the miniature island of Ramville.
Historical background
Christopher Columbus discovered Martinique in 1502. Before the arrival of the Europeans, the island was inhabited by the Caribbean. Martinique lacks large reserves of natural resources, including gold. Therefore, this land area was initially of little interest to the Spaniards.
The first settlement in Martinique, Saint-Pierre, was founded by the French in 1635. The indigenous population was quickly exterminated, and African slaves were brought to the island for heavy work. Martinique was repeatedly attacked by the British, but the French took it back again. As a result of the powerful eruption of the Mont Pele volcano in 1902, almost the entire population of Saint-Pierre was destroyed.
general characteristics
Currently Martinique remains under French rule. The population of the overseas department is approaching 400 thousand people. Among the local residents, blacks and mulattos predominate. It is also home to Arabs, Indians and Europeans. On the Martinique islands, French is used as the official language, but Creole is often used by the indigenous population. The administrative center is Fort-de-France, which occupies the western part of the main island.
The overseas department's economy is based on tourism. You can get to Martinique by sea or air. The largest port on the islands is Fort-de-France, which regularly receives passenger flights.
Weather
The Martinique islands are influenced by a trade wind tropical climate. The temperature varies from +24 to +27 degrees. The rainy season lasts from July to November. There are also hurricanes that are characteristic of the entire Caribbean region.
Natural world
The fauna on the islands is not very diverse. The fauna is represented by small rodents, snakes and birds. The coastal waters are rich in crabs, commercial fish, squid and molluscs. Martinique is famous for its beautiful nature. The island is literally buried in tropical plants.
