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![]() Martinique beach - what do you expect from a Caribbean Island? Image: Mathieu Distefano |
___ Martinique![]() Location map of Martinique ![]() ![]() Martinique is the 3rd largest island in the Lesser Antilles after Trinidad and Guadeloupe. With an area of 1,100 km² (436 sq mi) it is slightly smaller than the Faroe Islands, or slightly more than six times the size of Washington, DC. Martinique has a population of 381,000 people (in 2014). Capital city is Fort-de-France. Most of Martinique's population are descendants from African slaves brought to work on sugar plantations during the colonial era. ![]() |
Department of Martinique |
Country Profile |
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Background: Martinique belongs to the Windward Islands, the southern group of the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies. Colonized by France in 1635, the island has subsequently remained a French possession except for three brief periods of foreign occupation. Timeline June 15, 1502 Columbus lands at Carbet on the Caribbean side of the island. 1635 First French settlement under Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc. 1636 King Louis XIII permits the introduction of slaves to the French West Indies. 1685 Establishment of Colbert's "Black Code" which, in 60 articles, officially governs the lives of slaves until 1848. 1762 - 1848 Martinique is occupied several times by the British. May 22, 1848 Abolition of slavery. May 8, 1902 Eruption of Mt. Pelée destroying St.-Pierre. Fort-de-France becomes the capital. March 19, 1946 Martinique acquires the status of a French department. Four deputies and 2 senators represent it. 1983 The Regional Council is established following the French decentralization laws of 1982. (Source: Martinique Promotion Bureau - martinique.org) Windward Islands: Dominica, Grenada, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
Official Name: Département d'outre-mer de la Martinique short form: Martinique int'l long form: Department of Martinique alternative name: Madinina (flower island) ISO Country Code: mq Time: Local Time = UTC -4h Actual Time: Mon-Feb-10 05:19 Country Calling Code: +596 Capital City: Fort-de-France Other Cities: La Trinite, Le Marin, Le Robert, Le Vauclin, Marigot, Schoelcher, St. Pierre. Government: Overseas Department of France. Geography: Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean. Area: 1,100 km² (424 sq. mi.) Terrain: Mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano. Climate: Maritime tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to October) People: Nationality: Martiniquais Population: 381,000 (2014) Ethnic Groups: African and African-white-Indian. Religions: Christianity 90% Languages: French (official), Creole patois Literacy: 98% Natural resources: Touristy coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land. Agriculture products: Pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables, sugarcane Industries: Construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism. Currency: Euro (EUR) |
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Note: External links will open in a new browser window. Official Sites of MartiniquePrefecture Région MartiniqueThe prefecture's official web site provides also some information about the island. Département de la Martinique - Conseil Général Department of Martinique - General Council (in French) Région Martinique - Conseil Régional Regional Council of Martinique. L'Assemblée Martinique The Martinique Parliament is a fiction. Visitors should be aware that the Assembly of Martinique described here is not a very institutional parliament. ( mostly in French) Ministère de l'Outre-Mer Site of the French ministry for the overseas territories. Diplomatic Missions Directory of French representations abroad (in French) List of French diplomatic missions around the world. Foreign Embassies and Consulates in France Address list of Diplomatic Missions accredited in France. Weather Meteo Antilles Antilles weather. MapsMap of Martinique, Dominica and GuadeloupePolitical Map of Martinique, Dominica and Guadeloupe. ![]() Searchable map and satellite view of Martinique. ![]() Searchable map and satellite view of Martinique's capital. ![]() Reference Map of Central America and the Caribbean. |
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NewsCaribbean Net News Caribbean Net News with Caribbean and Martinique related news. RFO Martinique Radio Martinique has some regional news (in French). |
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Arts & CultureCentre Martiniquais d'Action Culturelle Martinique events (in French). Madina Cinema complex. Musée Départemental d'Archéologie et de Préhistoire Departmental museum of archaeology and prehistory (in French). |
![]() Carnival Martiniquais © Martinique.org |
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Business & EconomyThe economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light industry. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of GNI and the small industrial sector for 11%.Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de la Martinique Official site of the Chamber (in French). Transportation Air Caraïbes Serves destinations in the French Caribbean based in Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe. Airport Aéroport Martinique Aimé Césaire Official website of Martinique's airport Aimé Césaire. Ferry Express des iles Catamaran high speed link between Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique and Saint Lucia (in French) Transit Martiniquais Transit company of Martinique (in French) |
![]() Mount Pelee, Martinique |
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Travel and Tour Consumer Information
Destination Martinique - Travel and Tour GuidesDiscover Martinique: Mount Pelee, Fort-de-France, Saint-Pierre, Carnival, Beguine. Links to accommodation, hotels, attractions, festivals, events, tourist boards, biking, cruising, diving, tours and much more. Martinique Promotion Bureau Official Martinique tourism web site (in French) but you can switch to Martinique.org Island guide by the US Martinique Promotion Bureau (in English). Office du tourisme Trois-Ilets Site of the tourism office of Trois-Ilets. Mount Pelee Site about Mount Pelee Volcano. Tourist Martinique Information about Martinique (in French). Martinique Nature Maps, webcams and pictures of the island also called Madinina. City Guides Fort-de-France Official site of the City of Fort-de-France. Grand-Rivière Site of the town of Grand-Rivière. Mairie du Lamentin Site of the municipality of Lamentin. Comune Robert Tourism site of the village of Robert. Sainte Marie Official website of the village of Sainte Marie. |
![]() Martinique Landscape © Martinique.org |
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EducationL'universite des Antilles et de la Guyane - Martinique and Guyana (in French) |
![]() Bay of St. Piere with Mount Pelee © Martinique.org |
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Environment & NatureObservatoire Volcanologique de la Montagne Pelée Mount Pelee Volcano Observatory Website. Eastern Caribbean Coalition for Environmental Awareness Overall objective of ECCA's programme is to strengthen regional initiatives within the Eastern Caribbean, promote community based nature and heritage tourism, environmental education and to improve the conservation of island ecosystems. |
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HistoryBrief History of Martinique |
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Additional Information on MartiniqueBBC News Country Profile: MartiniqueLANIC - Martinique Latin American Network Information Center ICS - The Virtual Institute of Caribbean Studies An Internet-based Institution for the Development and Study of the Caribbean Region and Its Peoples. Wikipedia: Martinique The World Factbook -- Martinique |
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