 |
|
|
map
(opens in new window) Colonized by France in 1635, the island
has subsequently remained a French possession except for three brief periods
of foreign occupation. Caribbean, island between the Caribbean
Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago 14 40 N, 61 00 W total: 1,100
sq km territorial sea:
12 nm 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
mountainous with indented coastline;
dormant volcano lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable
land arable land:
10.38% 30 sq km (1998 est.) hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic
activity (an average of one major natural disaster every five years)
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 429,510 (July 2004 est.) African and African-white-Indian mixture
90%, white 5%, East Indian, Chinese less than 5% Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 10.5%,
Muslim 0.5%, Hindu 0.5%, other 3.5% (1997) French, Creole patois overseas department of France Fort-de-France French legal system a light blue background is divided into
four quadrants by a white cross; in the center of each rectangle is a white
snake; the flag of France is used for official occasions 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. purchasing power parity - $14,400 (2001
est.) agriculture:
6% 3.9% (1990) 165,900 (1998) agriculture 10%, industry 17%, services
73% (1997) 27.2% (1998) revenues:
$900 million pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers,
vegetables, sugarcane construction, rum, cement, oil refining,
sugar, tourism refined petroleum products, bananas, rum,
pineapples (2001 est.) France 45%, Guadeloupe 28% (2000)
petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs,
construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods
France 62%, Venezuela 6%, Germany 4%,
Italy 4%, US 3% (2000) euro (EUR) 172,000 est (2001) 319,900 (2002) total: 2,105
km Fort-de-France, La Trinite none 2 (2003 est.) total: 1 total: 1 defense is the responsibility of France
transshipment point for cocaine and
marijuana bound for the US and Europe |
|
|
