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Martinique

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Coordinates: 14°40′N 61°00′W / 14.667°N 61.000°W / 14.667; -61.000
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Template:Infobox French region Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of 1,128 km2 (436 sq mi). It is an overseas department of France. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados. As with the other overseas departments, Martinique is one of the twenty-six regions of France (being an overseas region) and an integral part of the Republic.

As part of France, Martinique is part of the European Union, and its currency is the euro. Its official language is French, although many of its inhabitants also speak Antillean Creole (Créole Martiniquais). Martinique is pictured on all euro banknotes, on the reverse at the bottom of each note, right of the Greek ΕΥΡΩ (EURO) next to the denomination.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Martinique
Map of Martinique

Politics

Main article: Politics of Martinique

The inhabitants of Martinique are French citizens with full political and legal rights. Martinique sends four deputies to the French National Assembly and two senators to the French Senate.

History

Main article: History of Martinique

Subdivisions

Main article: Arrondissements of the Martinique department
Further information: Communes of the Martinique department and Cantons of the Martinique department

Martinique is divided into four arrondissements, 34 communes, and 45 cantons.

Environment

Tropical forest near Fond St-Denis
Les Salines, wide sand beach at the southern end of the island

The north of the island is mountainous and lushly forested. It features four ensembles of pitons (volcanoes) and mornes (mountains): the Piton Conil on the extreme North, which dominates the Dominica Channel; Mount Pelee, an active volcano; the Morne Jacob; and the Pitons du Carbet, an ensemble of five extinct volcanoes covered with rainforest and dominating the Bay of Fort de France at 1,196 meters.

The highest of the island's many mountains, at 1397 meters, is the famous volcano Mount Pelée. Its volcanic ash has created gray and black sand beaches in the north (in particular between Anse Ceron and Anse des Gallets), contrasting markedly from the white sands of Les Salines in the south.

The south is more easily traversed, though it still features some impressive geographic features. Because it is easier to travel and because of the many beaches and food facilities throughout this region, the south receives the bulk of the tourist traffic. The beaches from Pointe de Bout, through Diamant (which features right off the coast of Roche de Diamant), St. Luce, the town of St. Anne and down to Les Salines are popular.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Martinique

Historical population

Historical population
1700
estimate		 1738
estimate		 1848
estimate		 1869
estimate		 1873
estimate		 1878
estimate		 1883
estimate		 1888
estimate		 1893
estimate		 1900
estimate
24,000 74,000 120,400 152,925 157,805 162,861 167,119 175,863 189,599 203,781
1954
census		 1961
census		 1967
census		 1974
census		 1982
census		 1990
census		 1999
census		 2006
census		 2007
estimate		 2008
estimate
239,130 292,062 320,030 324,832 328,566 359,572 381,427 397,732 400,000 402,000
Official figures from past censuses and INSEE estimates.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Martinique
See also: Music of Martinique and Guadeloupe
Martinique dancers in traditional costume.

As an overseas département of France, Martinique's culture blends French and Caribbean influences. The city of Saint-Pierre (destroyed by a volcanic eruption of Mount Pelée), was often referred to as the "Paris of the Lesser Antilles". Following traditional French custom, many businesses close at midday to allow a lengthy lunch, then reopen later in the afternoon. The official language is French.

Many Martinicans speak Martinican Creole, a subdivision of Antillean Creole that is virtually identical to the varieties spoken in neighboring English-speaking islands of Saint Lucia and Dominica. Mostly based on French and African languages, Martinique's Creole also incorporates elements of English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Used among natives in oral storytelling traditions, it continues to be used more often in speech than in writing. Its use is predominant among friends and close family. Though it is normally not used in professional situations, members of the media and politicians have begun to use it more frequently as a way to redeem national identity and prevent cultural assimilation by mainland France. For the most part, the local Creole is intelligible to speakers of Standard French, as it has lost some of its distinct dialectal qualities.

Most of Martinique's population is descended from enslaved Africans brought to work on sugar plantations during the colonial era, generally mixed with some French, Amerindian(Carib people), Indian (Tamil), Lebanese or Chinese elements. Between 5 to 10% of the population is of Eastern Indian (Tamil) origin. The island also boasts a small Syro-Lebanese community, a small but increasing Chinese community, and the Béké community, descendants of European ethnic groups of the first French and British settlers, who still dominate parts of the agricultural and trade sectors of the economy. Whites represent 5% of the population.[1]

The Béké people (which totals around 5,000 people in the island, most of them of aristocratic origin by birth or after buying the title) generally live in mansions on the Atlantic coast of the island (mostly in the François - Cap Est district). In addition to the island population, the island hosts a metropolitan French community, most of which lives on the island on a temporary basis (generally from 3 to 5 years).

There are an estimated 260,000 people of Martinican origin living in mainland France, most of them in the Paris region.

Today, the island enjoys a higher standard of living than most other Caribbean countries. The finest French products are easily available, from Chanel fashions to Limoges porcelain. Studying in the métropole (mainland France, especially Paris) is common for young adults. Martinique has been a vacation hotspot for many years, attracting French of both upper-class and more budget-conscious travelers.

Martinique has a hybrid cuisine, mixing elements of African, French, and Southeast Asian traditions. One of its most famous dishes is the Colombo, a unique curry of chicken (curry chicken), meat or fish with vegetables, spiced with a distinctive masala of Tamil origins, sparked with tamarind, and often containing wine, coconut milk, and rum. A strong tradition of créole desserts and cakes incorporate pineapple, rum, and a wide range of local ingredients.

Miscellaneous topics

Saint-Pierre
Les Anses d'Arlet

See also

References

  1. ^ Martinique: People: Ethnic Groups. World Factbook of CIA
Government
General information
Travel

Template:West Indies

14°40′N 61°00′W / 14.667°N 61.000°W / 14.667; -61.000

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