Guadeloupe consists of a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea that form an overseas possession of France. Guadeloupe is part of the Leeward Islands, which in turn are part of a chain called the Lesser Antilles. The two largest islands in the Guadeloupe group are Basse-Terre (to the west) and Grande-Terre (to the east). The capital city is also called Basse-Terre. GeographyGuadeloupe is part of the West Indies. The main islands of Guadeloupe lie to the southeast of the British island Montserrat and to the north of Dominica. Guadeloupe covers a total land area of 687 square miles (1,780 square kilometers). The islands of Basse-Terre and Grand-Terre account for about 80 percent of the total area. Together these twin islands form a butterfly shape. Basse-Terre and Grand-Terre are very close to one another. Only a narrow channel called the Salée River separates them. Basse-Terre is thickly forested and mountainous. On this island is Mount Soufrière, the highest point in Guadeloupe, at 4,813 feet (1,467 meters). Soufrière is a volcano that erupted in1976–77, forcing 72,000 people to flee from their homes. Soufrière is now the source of sulfur springs. The Goyaves is the chief river of the island. Grande-Terre is generally low-lying. Many resorts are on its southern coasts, which are protected by coral reefs. Other nearby islands that are also part of Guadeloupe include Marie-Galante and La Désirade. The island of Saint-Barthélemy and the French portion of the island of Saint-Martin also are governed as part of Guadeloupe, even though they are about 150 miles (240 kilometers) distant from the main group of islands. Guadeloupe lies within a hot, humid region called the tropics. However, winds from the northeast give it a milder climate than it might otherwise have. Rarely do temperatures climb above 93° F (34° C) or fall below 68° F (20° C), except in the mountains (which can be cooler). The rainfall varies greatly from place to place and season to season. Hurricanes occur on occasion. Plants and animalsThe main islands' constant warmth, ample rainfall, and fertile soils produce lush and diverse vegetation. Forests cover about two fifths of the land, mostly on Basse-Terre. The lowlands have mangrove swamps. Dense forests grow in the mountainous regions of Basse-Terre. Mahogany, chestnut, and ironwood trees are common. Grande-Terre has lost much of its original forests. The smaller islands have cacti and trees that tolerate dry conditions. The warm waters around the islands are home to many sea animals, including lobster, crab, octopus, snapper, parrot fish, and many species of ray fish. Iguanas are present on land, as are birds such as waterfowl, herons, woodpeckers, forest thrushes, and hummingbirds. Like most of the Caribbean area, Guadeloupe does not have a wide range of mammals. However, the islands have some raccoons and rabbitlike rodents called agouti. People and cultureMost of the people of Guadeloupe are at least partly descended from the black African slaves brought to the islands by French colonists. About three quarters of the people belong to an ethnic group called Creole. They are of mixed black African and European descent. Blacks make up another 10 percent, as do people of French and East Asian origins. French is the official language. A local version of French influenced by African languages is also widely spoken. Roman Catholicism is the religion of about 80 percent of the people, while about 10 percent practice other varieties of Christianity. - Pointe-à-Pitre market, Guadeloupe
Nearly all of the population of Guadeloupe lives in cities or towns. Most people live on the two main islands. The most important city area centers around Pointe-à-Pitre, which lies on the southwestern coast of Grande-Terre. Pointe-à-Pitre is Guadeloupe's chief port and economic center. The capital, Basse-Terre, is a much smaller town. It lies on the southwestern coast of the island of Basse-Terre. EconomyThe economy of Guadeloupe is heavily dependent on French financial aid. About one worker in four is employed by the government. Tourism is a major industry. Less than 5 percent of the workforce is employed in agriculture. The principal crops grown for export are bananas and sugarcane. Coffee, vanilla, cacao, fruits, vegetables, and flowers are also grown. Guadeloupe does not grow enough food to feed its people, so it imports food, mostly from France. Manufacturing in Guadeloupe centers on processing foods and beverages, especially sugar and rum. Bananas, sugar, rum, and melons are the major exports. HistoryThe earliest known inhabitants of Guadeloupe were the Arawak, a group of American Indians. In about the 15th century, the Carib Indians took over the islands and drove out the Arawak. The Carib were a warlike group who settled throughout the Caribbean islands and along the South American coast. European contactThe explorer Christopher Columbus visited the two main islands of Guadeloupe in 1493. He named them Guadalupe, after a Christian shrine in Spain. The Carib resisted early Spanish attempts to establish a colony. French controlIn 1626 French traders drove out the few Spanish people who occupied the islands. The French established a colony in 1635. After a few years of fighting with the Carib, the French colony began to prosper. The French brought large numbers of people from Africa to the islands and forced them to work as slaves on large farms. Guadeloupe became an official French possession in 1674. An important figure in Guadeloupe's early history was Jean-Baptiste Labat. Labat established the first sugar-processing plants, which became the main source of wealth for the islands. The British began to fight for territory in Guadeloupe. In 1703 Labat armed the slaves and made them fight against the British. The British gained control of the islands three times between 1759 and 1816, but French rule was always restored. The most significant event in the 19th century was the banning of slavery in 1848. More than 90,000 slaves in Guadeloupe were then freed. From colony to possessionIn 1946 Guadeloupe became an overseas department of France, instead of a colony. This gave the people of Guadeloupe more rights. Guadeloupe has its own regional legislatures. As part of France, it also sends representatives to the French legislatures. More local control has been granted since the 1960s. However, some groups have demanded independence from France. Population (2001 estimate), 432,000. |