Martinique is located in Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago.
Land in Martinique is mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano.
Martiniquais land covers an area of 1100 square kilometers which is slightly more than six times the size of Washington, DC
As for the Martiniquais climate; tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to October); vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average; average temperature 17.3 degrees C; humid.
Martiniquais (singular and plural) speak French, Creole patois.
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Martinique (general) |
Colonized by France in 1635, the island has subsequently remained a French possession except for three brief periods of foreign occupation.
The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light industry. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of GDP and the small industrial sector for 11%. Sugar production has declined, with most of the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana exports are increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk of meat, vegetable, and grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a chronic trade deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid from France. Tourism, which employs more than 11,000 people, has become more important than agricultural exports as a source of foreign exchange.
Martiniquais natural resources include coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land
the island is dominated by Mount Pelee, which on 8 May 1902 erupted and completely destroyed the city of Saint Pierre, killing 30,000 inhabitants
Martiniquais religion is Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 10.5%, Muslim 0.5%, Hindu 0.5%, other 3.5% (1997).
Natural hazards in Martinique include hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an average of one major natural disaster every five years).