The capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti is Port-au-Prince. It is also the country's chief port. The city is situated along a magnificent bay on the Gulf of Gonâve, which is protected from the open sea by the island of Gonâve.

Places of interest

At the center of Port-au-Prince is the Champ de Mars plaza. This large gathering place has an amphitheater and statues honoring the heroes of Haiti's wars of independence. Also on the plaza is the National Palace. Modeled after the Capitol in Washington, D.C., it is the official home of Haiti's president. The Cathedral of Saint Trinity, one of the city's best-known sites, has murals depicting scenes from both Roman Catholicism and African religious traditions. The National Museum in Port-au-Prince displays historical artifacts such as an anchor said to be from Christopher Columbus' ship the Santa Maria. At the city's lively Iron Market, people sell food, crafts, paintings, and many other items.

Economy

Haiti is a very poor country. Many people are jobless and struggle to feed themselves and their families. Small industrial plants in or near Port-au-Prince produce or process such goods as textiles, flour, and sugar. Port-au-Prince attracts some visitors from other countries, but the city's popularity with tourists varies depending on the political conditions of the time. The city has several luxury hotels.

History

Port-au-Prince was established in 1749 by the French. At the time France ruled what is now Haiti as a colony called Saint-Domingue. Powerful earthquakes damaged the town in 1751 and again in 1770. Also in 1770 Port-au-Prince replaced Cap-Haïtien as capital of Saint-Domingue. When Haiti won its independence from France in 1804, Port-au-Prince became the capital of the new country. In 1807 the city's port was opened to international trade. From 1915 to 1934 the United States occupied Haiti and undertook a number of projects to modernize Port-au-Prince. Nevertheless, the city—like the rest of Haiti—struggled continuously with poverty and political instability. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries Port-au-Prince sometimes saw fighting as various political and military groups tried to overthrow the government of Haiti. Population (1999 estimate), 990,560.