Région Martinique
Unofficial region flag	Region logo
Location
Administration
Capital	Fort-de-France
Regional President	Alfred Marie-Jeanne (MIM) (since 1998)
Departments	Martinique
Arrondissements	4
Cantons	45
Communes	34
Statistics
Land area1	1,128 km²
Population	(Ranked 24th)
- January 1, 2007 est. The snake flag of Martinique has no official status on the island Fort-de-France is the Capital of France 's Caribbean Département d'outre-mer of Martinique. In France, the president of the regional council (French Président du conseil régional) is the elected official who heads the Conseil régional Alfred Marie-Jeanne (born November 15, 1936) is a French politician in Martinique, recognized as the primary leader in the Martinican Independence The Martinican Independence Movement or MIM ( Mouvemenag of the Martinican Independence Movement]]t Indépendantiste Martiniquais in French, Mouvman In the context of the political and geographic organization of France and many of its former colonies a department (département depaʁtǝmɑ̃ is an Administrative division The 100 French departments are divided into 342 arrondissements, which may be translated into English as districts. The cantons of France are territorial subdivisions of the French Republic's 341 arrondissements and 100 departments. The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. The following are ranked lists of French regions. Population figures are from the 1999 census To help compare Orders of magnitude of different geographical regions we list here areas between 1000 km2 and 10000 km2 The following are ranked lists of French regions. Population figures are from the 1999 census New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.	401,000
- March 8, 1999 census	381,427
- Density (2007)	355/km²
1 French Land Register data, which exclude lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km² (0. Events 1618 - Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) The following are ranked lists of French regions. Population figures are from the 1999 census 386 sq. mi. or 247 acres) as well as the estuaries of rivers

Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, having a land area of 1,128 km². An estuary is a semi-enclosed Coastal body of Water with one or more Rivers or Streams flowing into it and with a free connection to the open An island (ˈaɪlənd or isle (/ˈaɪl/ is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water in two dimensions above high tide and isolated from other significant For the region see Caribbean. The Caribbean Sea (kəˈrɪbiən or /ˌkærɨˈbiːən/ is a tropical Sea in the Western Hemisphere It is an overseas department of France. Overseas department (départements d’outre-mer or DOM) is a designation under the 1946 Constitution of the Fourth Republic that was given to the This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. As with the other overseas departments, Martinique is also one of the twenty-six regions of France (being an overseas region) and an integral part of the Republic. France is divided into 26 regions or régions (in French of which 21 are in continental Metropolitan France, one is the island of Corsica, Overseas region (Région d'outre-mer is a recent designation given to the overseas departments which have similar powers to those of the regions of Metropolitan As part of France, Martinique is part of the European Union, and its currency is the euro. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in Please update other articles as well to avoid contradiction within Wikipedia e Its official language is French, although almost all of its inhabitants also speak Antillean Creole (Créole Martiniquais). French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Antillean Creole is a French -lexified Creole language spoken primarily in the Lesser Antilles. 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. Euro banknotes are the Banknotes of the Euro, the currency of the Eurozone (see European Union)

• Largest urban areas: Fort-de-France (134,727 inhabitants in 1999, 35% of Martinique's population), Le Lamentin (35,460 in 1999), Sainte-Marie (32,988 in 1999), Le Robert (31,905 in 1999)
• Population: 381,427 inhabitants after the census of 1999 (359,572 en 1990), estimated 401,000 in January 2007. Le Lamentin is the second-largest commune in the French overseas département of Martinique. Sainte-Marie is the fifth-largest commune in the French overseas département of Martinique. Le Robert is the third-largest commune in the French overseas département of Martinique.
• Population density: 338 inhab. /km² (1999, estimated 354 in 2006)
• Urban population: 42%
• Life expectancy: 79 years (men) and 82 (women) (2000)
• Official language: French
• Principal religion: Roman Catholicism
• GDP/inhab. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people : €19,050 in 2006, i. Please update other articles as well to avoid contradiction within Wikipedia e e. US$23,931 at 2006 market exchange rates^[1]
• Total GDP: €7. 65 billion in 2006, i. e. US$9. 61 billion at 2006 market exchange rates^[1]
• Exports: €606 million (2006)^[1]
• Imports: €2,584 million (2006)^[1]
• Principal suppliers: Metropolitan France, European Union, Latin America
• Unemployment rate: 23% (2004, (without taking into account "non-declared" revenues). 26,3% in 2000).

Politics

Main article: Politics of Martinique

The inhabitants of Martinique are French citizens with full political and legal rights. Martinique is not a separate territory but both an overseas region and overseas department of France with the same government institutions as areas on the French mainland This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Politics Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions Law is a system of rules enforced through a set of Institutions used as an instrument to underpin civil obedience politics economics and society

Martinique sends four deputies to the French National Assembly and two senators to the French Senate. A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. The French National Assembly. The other is the Senate ( “Sénat”) The Senate (Sénat is the Upper house of the Parliament of France, presided over by a president.

Coconut palm

Map of Martinique

Overview

• Surface area: 1,130 km² (length 75 km, width 35 km)
• Status: overseas department since 19 March 1946, overseas region since 1982
• Prefectorial office: Fort-de-France (a total of 34 habitations). The Coconut Palm ( Cocos nucifera) is a member of the Family Arecaceae (palm family Events 1279 - A Mongolian victory in the Battle of Yamen ends the Song Dynasty in China. Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Fort-de-France is the Capital of France 's Caribbean Département d'outre-mer of Martinique.

History

Battle of Martinique in 1779 between France and Great Britain

Main article: History of Martinique

Before European colonization, Martinique was inhabited by at least two waves of amerindian settlements. This does not cite its references or sources. Please help improve this Invasion and development Martinique was originally inhabited by Arawak and Carib peoples For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. Initially, Arawak tribes lived on the island, of which only traces were found^[2]. The term Arawak (from aru, the Lokono word for Cassava flour was used to designate the Amerindians encountered by the Spanish in At the time of European colonization, the Carib Indians had taken over the island. Cariban languages Carib, Island Carib or Kalinago people after whom the Caribbean Sea was named live in the Lesser Antilles islands

The island was under Britain's command during the Seven Years' War from 1762 to 1763; during the French Revolutionary Wars from 1794 to 1802; and again during the Napoleonic wars from 1809 to 1814. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands The Seven Years' War (1756&ndash1763 involved all of the major European powers of the period causing 900000 to 1400000 deaths The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts from 1792 until 1802 fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815 involved Napoleon's French Empire and a shifting set of European allies and opposing coalitions The last British governor was General Sir Charles Wale. General Sir Charles Wale (16 August 1765–20 March 1845 was an English soldier and the last British governor of Martinique.

Napoleon's wife, Joséphine, was born in Martinique to a family of the wealthy Creole elite. Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. Joséphine de Beauharnais (born Marie Josèphe Rose de Tascher de la Pagerie June 23 1763 &ndash May 29 1814) was the first For the languages see Creole language. For other meanings see Creole (disambiguation. The ruins of the Habitation de la Pagerie where she spent her childhood can still be visited in Trois-Ilets, across the bay from Fort-de-France, the island's capital. Les Trois-Îlets is a commune in the French overseas département of Martinique. Fort-de-France is the Capital of France 's Caribbean Département d'outre-mer of Martinique.

During the French Revolution, severe conflicts rapidly broke out, developing into civil war. The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an In 1789, a slave rebellion was put down. The following year open war broke out when monarchists, who wanted freedom from revolutionary France, massacred troops faithful to the Parisian revolutionary government. The royalist faction gained the upper hand in 1791 and declared the independence of Martinique followed by refusal to grant rights to the free people of colour. In 1793, the republican-Parisian faction gained support from the revolutionary government in Saint Lucia, which prompted the monarchists to invite British occupation in 1794. Saint Lucia (ˌseɪnt ˈluːʃɪə is an Island nation in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean.

Slavery was banned in 1848. As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another People from India and China were brought to work the sugar cane plantations. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National

Mount Pelée erupted in 1902, killing 26,000 to 36,000 people and destroying Saint-Pierre. Mount Pelée ( French: Montagne Pelée, or "Bald Mountain" is a dormant Volcano on the northern tip of the French Overseas department Saint-Pierre was the former primary city of France 's Caribbean Département d'outre-mer of Martinique, founded in 1635 by

During World War II the island was controlled by the Vichy regime from 1940-1943; later it was under the Free French Forces. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Vichy France, or the Vichy regime are the common terms used to describe the government of France from July 1940 to August 1944 The Free French Forces (Forces Françaises Libres FFL) were French fighters in World War II who decided to continue fighting against Axis forces

An important role in the independence movement was played by Aimé Césaire (June 26, 1913 – April 17, 2008), a famous poet and essayist. Aimé Fernand David Césaire (26 June 1913 &ndash 17 April 2008 was a Afro-[[Martinique Martinican]] Francophone Poet, Author and Politician Martinique was the home of Frantz Fanon (July 20, 1925 – December 6, 1961), an author, essayist, psychoanalyst, and anti-colonialist revolutionary, who was strongly influenced by Césaire. Frantz Fanon ( July 20, 1925 – December 6, 1961) was a Psychiatrist, philosopher, revolutionary and author from Events 1304 - Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle - King Edward I of England takes the last rebel stronghold Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

On November 29, 2007, Martinique experienced an earthquake registering a magnitude of 7. Events 1777 - San Jose California, is founded as el Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth 's crust that creates Seismic waves Earthquakes are recorded with a Seismometer 4. [1]

Subdivisions

Main article: Arrondissements of the Martinique department

Further information: Communes of the Martinique department

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. The 4 arrondissements of the Martinique department are Arrondissement of Fort-de-France, ( prefecture of the Martinique The following is a list of the 34 communes of the Martinique Overseas department of France. It features 4 ensembles of dramatic pitons and mornes: the Piton Conil on the extreme North, which dominates the Dominica Channel, the Mount Pelee, an active volcano, the Morne Jacob, and the Pitons du Carbet, an ensemble of 5 beautifully shaped, rainforest covered extinct volcanoes dominating the Bay of Fort de France at 1,196 meters. The most dominating of the island's many beautiful mountains, with 1397 meters, is the infamous volcano Mount Pelée. Mount Pelée ( French: Montagne Pelée, or "Bald Mountain" is a dormant Volcano on the northern tip of the French Overseas department The volcanic ash has created beautiful grey 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 beautiful beaches and food throuout 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 the beautiful Roche de Diamant), St. Luce, the town of St. Anne all the way down to Les Salines are very popular.

Demographics

Historical population

Culture

Main article: Culture of Martinique

See also: Music of Martinique and Guadeloupe

As an overseas département of France, Martinique's culture blends French and Caribbean influences. As an overseas départment of France, Martinique's culture is French and Caribbean. The former French Colony of Martinique is a small island in the Caribbean. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting The city of Saint-Pierre (destroyed by a volcanic eruption of Mount Pelée), was often referred to as the Paris of the Lesser Antilles. Mount Pelée ( French: Montagne Pelée, or "Bald Mountain" is a dormant Volcano on the northern tip of the French Overseas department Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city The Lesser Antilles, also known as the Caribbees, are part of the Antilles, which together with the Bahamas and Greater Antilles form the Following traditional French custom, many businesses close at midday, then reopen later in the afternoon. The official language is French, although many Martinicans speak Martinican Creole, a subdivision of Antillean Creole virtually identical to the varieties spoken in neighbouring British-speaking islands of Saint Lucia and Dominica. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Antillean Creole is a French -lexified Creole language spoken primarily in the Lesser Antilles. Mostly based on French, Martinique's creole also incorporates a few elements of English, Spanish, Portuguese, and African languages. Originally passed down through oral storytelling traditions, it continues to be used more often in speech than in writing. Its use is predominant within friends and the family cell. Though it is normally not to be used in professional situations, it is being increasingly used in the media and by politicians as a way to redeem national identity and by fear from a complete cultural assimilation by mainland France.

Most of Martinique's population is descended from African slaves brought to work on sugar plantations during the colonial era, generally mixed with some French, Amerindian, 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 "Beke" community, White descendants from the first French and British settlers, which still dominate parts of the Agricultural and Trade sectors. The Beke people (which total around 5,000 people in the island, most of them of aristocratic origin) 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 is an estimated 250. 000 people of martinican origin living in mainland France, most of them in the Parisian 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. Chanel SA ʃəˈnɛɫ) is a Parisian fashion house created by Coco Chanel. Studying in the métropole is common for young adults. For the rest of the French, Martinique has been a vacation hotspot for many years, attracting both upper-class and more budget-conscious travelers.

Martinique has a hybrid cuisine, mixing elements of French, African, and 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 Bengali or Tamil origins, acidulated with tamarind and often containing wine, coconut milk, and rum. Masala (also transliterated as "massala" ( Hindi: मसाला Urdu: مصالہ‏) is a term used in Indian cuisine Tamil Nadu is famous for its hospitality and its deep belief that serving food to others is a service to humanity as is common in many regions of India There is also a strong tradition of créole desserts and cakes, often employing pineapple, rum, and a wide range of local ingredients.

Martinique in Popular Culture

• Martinique was the main setting of the 1944 film To Have and Have Not starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. To Have and Have Not ( 1944) is a thriller romance war Adventure film directed by Howard Hawks and starring
• The island is mentioned in the song Uffington wassail by Half Man Half Biscuit. Uffington is the name of several places in England Uffington Lincolnshire Uffington Oxfordshire site of the Uffington Wassail is a hot spiced punch often associated with Christmas Half Man Half Biscuit, often "HMHB" is a UK rock band from Birkenhead, active since the mid-1980s known for satirical sardonic and sometimes surreal
• In the gothic soap opera Dark Shadows, the characters of Angelique Bouchard Collins,Josette du Pres, and her family are from Martinique. A soap opera is an ongoing episodic work of Fiction, usually broadcast on Television or Radio. Dark Shadows is a Gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network from June 27, 1966 to Angelique Bouchard Collins, usually known as simply Angelique was a Villainess on the TV Gothic horror - Soap opera Dark Shadows Josette DuPres or Josette Collins was a character played by Kathryn Leigh Scott during the 1795 flashback/alternate timeline on the cult TV serial
• Martinique was also featured in the 1999 remake of "The Thomas Crown Affair," and in the movie "Sugar Cane Alley". Sugar Cane Alley ( French title Rue cases nègres) is a 1983 film directed by Euzhan Palcy.
• It is also mentioned in the Beach Boys hit "Kokomo" with the line "To Martinique, that Montserrat mystique"

Miscellaneous topics

Saint-Pierre

Anses d'Arlet

• Economy of Martinique
• Flag of Martinique
• List of media outlets in Martinique
• Communications in Martinique
• Créole Patois
• Holidays in Martinique
• Military defense is the responsibility of France. " Kokomo " was penned by John Phillips, Scott McKenzie, Mike Love, and Terry Melcher and recorded by The Beach Boys in Saint-Pierre was the former primary city of France 's Caribbean Département d'outre-mer of Martinique, founded in 1635 by Economy - overview The economy is based on trade Agriculture accounts for about 6% of GDP and the small industrial sector for 11% The snake flag of Martinique has no official status on the island Communications in Martinique Telephone Telephones - main lines in use 172 000 (2001 Telephones - mobile cellular 319 Antillean Creole is a French -lexified Creole language spoken primarily in the Lesser Antilles. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics.
  Military branches: French forces (Army, Navy, Air force), Gendarmerie
• Transportation in Martinique
• Aimé Césaire
• Scouts de Martinique
• Frantz Fanon
• Édouard Glissant
• Créolité
• Négritude
• Ronny Turiaf
• Philémond-Montout Jimmy
• Patrick Chamoiseau
• Guy Deslaurier

External links

• Martinique Tourism Authority - Official site
• Prefecture Région Martinique - Official site
• Regional Council of Martinique Official site
• Martinique travel guide from Wikitravel

• Martinique at Google Maps
• Simon Jean-Joseph - the European rally champion from Martinique

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} (French) INSEE-CEROM. The Military of France encompasses an army, a navy, an air force and a military police force. The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre (Land Army is the land-based component of the French Armed Forces and its largest The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale ( National Navy) and often called La Royale ( The Royal Navy) is the maritime arm The French Air Force ( French: Armée de l'Air (ALA literally Air Army) is the Air force of the French Armed Forces. See Gendarmerie for similar forces in other countries In France, the National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale is the national Martinique, like other small Caribbean islands has no railways Aimé Fernand David Césaire (26 June 1913 &ndash 17 April 2008 was a Afro-[[Martinique Martinican]] Francophone Poet, Author and Politician Scouting in Martinique is administered by the Scouts et Guides de France as an overseas branch or region known as the Scouts de Martinique. Frantz Fanon ( July 20, 1925 – December 6, 1961) was a Psychiatrist, philosopher, revolutionary and author from Edouard Glissant (born in Sainte-Marie, Martinique in 1928 is a French writer poet and literary critic Créolité is a literary movement first developed in the 1980s by Martinican writers Patrick Chamoiseau, Jean Bernabé and Raphaël Confiant. Ronny Turiaf (born January 13 1983 in Le Robert, Martinique) is a French Basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the Patrick Chamoiseau is a French author from Martinique known for his work in the Créolité movement Wikitravel is a Web -based project "to create a free, complete up-to-date and reliable worldwide travel guide. INSEE ( French: I nstitut N ational de la S tatistique et des É tudes É conomiques; inse (not) in French is the Les comptes économiques de la Martinique en 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-13. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 532 - Nika riots in Constantinople. 888 - Odo Count of Paris becomes King of the Franks
2. ^ arawak