La Désirade
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La Désirade is an island in the French West Indies, located at the eastern end of Guadeloupe island group, in the Lesser Antilles.
It has a land area of 20.64 km² (7,97 sq. miles) and a population of 1,595 in 2006 (down from 1,682 in 1974), with a population density of 77 inh. per km² (200 inh. per sq. mile) in 2006. Most residents live in the settlement of Beauséjour (formerly known as Grande-Anse).
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Geography [edit]
The island is located about 8 km off the coast of Grande-Terre, the eastern half of the island of Guadeloupe. Its coordinates are 16°19′N 61°3′W / 16.317°N 61.050°WCoordinates: 16°19′N 61°3′W / 16.317°N 61.050°W. La Désirade is 11 km long and 2 km wide; the interior of the island forms a central plateau.[1]
Administration [edit]
Administratively speaking, the island of La Désirade is part of the commune (municipality) of La Désirade which also includes the uninhabited Petite Terre Islands.
History [edit]
From the 3rd to the 16th centuries archaeological evidence of Amerindians has been found on the island.[2] Christopher Columbus found La Désirade in 1493 on his second voyage. The island was also a hiding place for pirates and later became the site of a leper colony until 1958. The western end of the island, was a place of banishment for offenders of Grande-Terre and for some metropolitan noble.
Tybalt Rosembraise was born on the island of La Désirade in 1798.
Notes [edit]
- ^ Sullivan, Lynne M. Martinique, Guadeloupe, Dominica & St. Lucia, Hunter Publishing Inc., ISBN 1-55650-857-3, p. 345
- ^ "Les dépendances". Guadeloupe Government webpage. Guadeloupe Government webpage. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
External links [edit]
- Desirade-sante.com Everything you should know about the major public health crisis that occurred in La Désirade.
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