Martinique, pronounced mahr tuh NEEK, is a French island in the West Indies. The oval-shaped island covers 425 square miles (1,100 square kilometers). Martinique's capital is Fort-de-France.
Martinique has many volcanic mountains. The highest and most famous of these is Mont Pelee, which rises 4,583 feet (1,397 meters). This volcano suddenly erupted in 1902 and destroyed the city of St.-Pierre. About 38,000 people died. Only one person survived.
Martinique has about 360,000 people. Ninety per cent of the people are blacks. Others are of European ancestry, mainly French. Martinique's sunny climate and beautiful scenery help make tourism its most important industry. Its chief crop is sugar cane. Bananas, cotton, pineapples, and tobacco also grow there. Other industries include petroleum refining and rum distilling.
Christopher Columbus reached Martinique in 1502, on his fourth voyage. The French began to colonize the island in 1635. They made Fort-de-France (originally Fort Royal) the capital in 1692. The Empress Josephine, first wife of Napoleon I, was born at Trois-Ilets in Martinique. The French made Martinique an overseas department (administrative district) in 1946. In 1958, Martinique chose to remain a department. It is governed by a general council elected by the people. In 1974, the island also became a region of France. As a region, it has a regional council responsible for social and economic planning. The island sends representatives to the French Parliament.
Contributor: Gerald R. Showalter, Ph.D., Associate Prof. of Geography, Ball State Univ. |