sales guide martinique
sales guide martinique
sales guide martinique
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General Information<br />
History<br />
It was in 1502, on his fourth voyage to the New World,<br />
that Christopher Columbus landed in Martinique. At<br />
that time, the island was inhabited by the Carib Indians,<br />
who had earlier chased out the Arawak Indians. Like<br />
the Caribs, the Arawaks had originally come from the<br />
Orinoco River Valley, near the northern coast of South<br />
America. It was on Columbus’ arrival that Martinique<br />
was dubbed Madinina, « the island of flowers. »<br />
Martinique Today<br />
Geography<br />
Situated in the heart of the Caribbean archipelago,<br />
Martinique belongs to the “Windward Islands” of the<br />
Lesser Antilles. Its coasts are lapped in the east by<br />
the Atlantic Ocean and in the west by the Caribbean<br />
Sea. Martinique is 4,350 miles from Paris, 1,950 miles<br />
from New York, and 275 miles from the coast of<br />
South America. Its nearest neighbors to the north are<br />
Domenica (16 miles away) and Guadeloupe (75 miles),<br />
and its nearest neighbor to the south is Saint Lucia (23<br />
miles). Martinique is equidistant between Venezuela<br />
and Haïti/Domincan Republic, at 497 miles from both.<br />
Topography<br />
Martinique is 425 square miles in size. It is 50 miles<br />
long at its longest, and just over 24 miles wide at its<br />
widest. The northern part of the island is geologically<br />
young and active, characterized by mountains (Mount<br />
Pelée is the highest at 4,483 feet), dense forests,<br />
rivers, and cascades. In the center, the Lamentin Plain<br />
makes the transition from the mountainous north to<br />
the south’s gentler and geologically older landscape<br />
of rolling hills. The southern coast is dotted with many<br />
lovely bays and coves. In the southernmost part of the<br />
island, a savanna of petrified trees is a true geological<br />
curiosity.<br />
Since 1635, with the exception of two short periods<br />
of British occupation, Martinique’s destiny was tied<br />
to France. Today, Martinique is simultaneously an<br />
official department of France (since 1946) and an<br />
official region of France (since 1982). The seat of the<br />
prefectural government, Fort-de-France, is the main<br />
administrative and economic center of Martinique.<br />
Martinique is divided into three sub-prefectures :<br />
- Trinité, covering the northern Atlantic coast<br />
- Saint-Pierre, covering the northern Caribbean<br />
coast<br />
- Le Marin, covering the south<br />
Flora and Fauna<br />
Due to its tropical climate, Martinique is covered with a<br />
mantle of lush vegetation: sumptuous rainforests, bush,<br />
savannah, and innumerable species of trees, fruits,<br />
plants and flowers...and don’t forget the mangroves.<br />
This ensemble makes Martinique an extraordinary<br />
garden.<br />
The fauna is essentially composed of birds, fish and<br />
crustaceans, but there are also iguanas, small lizards<br />
called mabouyas or anolis, and trigonocephale snakes<br />
unique to the island. The manicou, a kind of possum,<br />
is one of the few mammals to have made the Antilles<br />
their home. The mongoose, on the other hand, was<br />
introduced by man to keep the snake population in<br />
check.<br />
Climate<br />
The climate is relatively mild in Martinique. It never<br />
gets very hot. The average temperature of 79 degrees<br />
graces the island with an “eternal summer.” Breezes<br />
from the east and northeast, the Alizes, constantly<br />
cool and refresh the island.<br />
Normal Seasonal Temperatures (C°) and Rates of<br />
Precipitation (in millimeters)<br />
Temp<br />
Rain<br />
Jan.<br />
25<br />
123<br />
Feb.<br />
25<br />
88<br />
Mar.<br />
25,4<br />
90<br />
Apr.<br />
26,1<br />
100<br />
May<br />
27,1<br />
113<br />
June<br />
27,6<br />
153<br />
Temp<br />
Rain<br />
July<br />
27,5<br />
182<br />
Aug.<br />
27,5<br />
267<br />
Sept.<br />
27,3<br />
238<br />
Oct.<br />
27<br />
262<br />
Nov.<br />
26,5<br />
267<br />
Dec.<br />
25,7<br />
160<br />
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