| MARTINIQUE: GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Martinique is truly ''a little bit of France in the Caribbean." It exudes a distinctly French ambiance in the excellence of its cuisine, the style of its population and the beauty of its language. Yet Martinique has a cachet all its own, an endearing West Indian warmth in its personality, a special spice in its music, its dance, its local dishes and its way of life.
The beauty of Martinique is everywhere. It can be seen in its attractive residents (population 400,000), its beaches and its spectacular topography. However, it is the lush vegetation of the "Island of Flowers" that takes your breath away. Hibiscus, frangipani, bougainvillea, anthuriums, poinsettias, orchids and exotic hardwoods are found throughout the island. There are fields rich in guava, mango and papaya as well as vast plantations of bananas, pineapple, sugarcane, cinnamon and coffee. In the tropical rainforests of Martinique, ferns grow as tall as trees and green comes in a thousand different shades.
It is also an island rich with contrasts. The northern part of Martinique features dense rain forest, mountain peaks and dark sand beaches. The southern areas are much drier and flatter with magnificent white sand beaches. There are charming fishing villages and commercial developments, tiny guest houses and large, upscale resorts. All in all, something for everyone.
The capital city of Fort-de-France, built like an amphitheater around the yacht-filled harbor, is backed by luxuriant mountains and is one of the most memorable, picturesque settings in the Caribbean. It is a city of just over 100,000, with narrow balconied streets, busy and bustling by day, generally quiet by night.
Martinique is 3275 km (1965 mi) from New York, 2450 km (1470 mi) from Miami, 3783 km (2270 mi) from Montreal, 708 km (425 mi) from San Juan and 7102 km (4261 mi) from Paris. The island covers 1105 sq km (425 sq mi), is 83 km (50 mi) long and 37 km (22 mi) wide.
MARTINIQUE: A BRIEF HISTORY
Columbus sighted Martinique in 1493, but did not go ashore until another voyage in 1502. At that time, the island was inhabited by the Carib Indians who had already exterminated the Arawaks. Columbus named the island Martinica in honor of St. Martin. The French arrived to claim the island and begin permanent settlement there in 1635. They began to cultivate sugar cane and import slaves from Africa. As forests were cleared to make room for sugar plantations, fierce battles with the Carib Indians ensued. With the treaty of 1660, the Caribs agreed to occupy only the Atlantic side of Martinique. This peace was short-lived, however, and they were exterminated or forced off the island shortly thereafter.
In 1762, the English occupied the island, but returned it the following year in exchange for Canada. They invaded and held the island once again from 1794 to 1815, when it was returned to the French. In 1848, Victor Schoelcher, a French minister for overseas possessions, convinced the government to sign an Emancipation Proclamation ending slavery in the French West Indies. On March 8, 1902, came the most devastating natural disaster in Caribbean history; the Mont Pelée volcano erupted, destroying the city of St. Pierre and claiming the lives of all but one of its 30,000 inhabitants. As a result, the capital of Martinique was permanently moved to Fort-de-France. |
