Haiti Map

Haiti is located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean Sea. It is situated in the east of Jamaica and Cuba, and south of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas. The western three-eighths of the island is occupied by it which it shares with the Dominican Republic. To the southwest is the small island of Navasa, which is claimed by Haiti but disputed as a federally administered US territory.

History

The island was originally inhabited by the indigenous Taino people from South America. The first Europeans arrived during the first voyage of Christopher Columbus, who founded the first European settlement in the Americas, La Navidad, which is now the northeastern coast of Haiti. It was later claimed by Spain and named La Espanola. However, the island's western portion was ceded to France after competing claims and settlements.

At the height of the French Revolution, slaves, blacks, and free people of color started the Haitian Revolution, led by Toussaint Louverture, a former slave and the first black general in the French army.

After 12 years of conflict, Napoleon Bonaparte's forces were defeated by Louverture's heir, Jean-Jacques Dessalines (later Emperor Jacques I), who on 1 January 1804 proclaimed Haiti, the first independent state in Latin America and the Caribbean. proclaimed sovereignty. , the second republic of the United States, the first nation in the United States to abolish slavery, and the only nation in history created as a result of a successful slave rebellion.

Culture

Haiti's culture is an eclectic mix of African, Taino, and European elements due to the French colonization of Saint-Domingue and its large and diverse population of African slaves, as evidenced by the Haitian language, music, and religion.

Carnival is the most festive time in Haiti which starts in February. The city is filled with music, parades, and people dancing and singing in the streets. Carnival Week is traditionally a time for night festivities and a break from everyday life.

Language

French is the official language of Haiti which is used in the education system, official documents, and the media. In Haiti, French stands as the standard written language. Even though French is the official language, the most popular language in Haiti is Haitian Creole. It is a blend of Taino, French, and some West African languages. Taino is an extinct indigenous language that was spoken in Haiti.

Geography

Haiti is the third largest country in the Caribbean after Cuba and the Dominican Republic, with the latter sharing a 360 km border with Haiti. The country is roughly horseshoe-shaped, which results in a disproportionately long coastline, second only to Cuba in the Greater Antilles.

Haiti is the most mountainous country in the Caribbean, with mountains distributed with small coastal plains and river valleys. The climate is tropical with slight differences depending on altitude. The highest point is Pic-la-Selle at 2680 m.

FAQs

Q. What is the official name of Haiti?

Ans. Haiti is known as the Republic of Haiti.

Q. What is the area covered by Haiti?

Ans. Haiti covers an area of 27,750 sq km.

Q. What is the climatic situation of Haiti?

Ans. Haiti's climate is tropical with slight variations depending on altitude. The nature of precipitation varies. Rain is more intense in some lowlands and on the northern and eastern slopes of the mountains. Haiti's dry season lasts from November to January.