Martinique

Encyclopedia : M : MA : MAR : Martinique

Satellite view

Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, having a total area of 1,128 km². It is an overseas département (département d'outre-mer, or DOM) of France. Like the other DOMs, Martinique is also one of the 26 régions of France (as a région d'outre-mer), and an integral part of the Republic. As part of France, Martinique is part of the European Union, the currency used is the euro Martinique is pictured on all euro banknotes, on the backside at the bottom of each note, right of the Greek ΕΥΡΩ (EURO) next to the denomination..

Martinique is also the name of a Holiday Inn Hotel in New York City

History

Colonized by France in 1635, the Carib Expulsion occurred in 1660 when the island's indigenous peoples were deported but banned from returning by the French occupying forces. The island has subsequently remained a French possession except for three brief periods of foreign occupation.

From 1635 (arrival of Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc, a French aristocrat who took possession of the island for France) to 1946, Martinique lived as a French colony producing tropical trade goods such as cane sugar, coffee, rum and cocoa. African captives were brought from West Africa to form the slave population that is the origin of most of today's population.

Politics

Subdivisions

See also Communes of the Martinique département

Geography

Map of Martinique

Main article: Geography of Martinique

Economy

The economy is based on trade. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of GDP and the small industrial sector for 11%. Sugar production has declined, with most of the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana exports are increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk of meat, vegetable, and grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a chronic trade deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid from France. Tourism has become more important than agricultural exports as a source of foreign exchange. The majority of the work force is employed in the service sector and in administration.

Main article: Economy of Martinique

Demographics

Culture

See also: Music of Martinique and Guadeloupe

Notes

Miscellaneous topics

• List of media outlets in Martinique
• Communications in Martinique
• Creole Patois
• Holidays in Martinique
• Military defense is the responsibility of France.
  Military branches: French forces (Army, Navy, Air force), Gendarmerie
• Thomas Voeckler
• Transportation in Martinique
• Aime Cesaire
• Scouts de Martinique

See also

• French overseas departments and territories
• Administrative divisions of France
• Cantons of the Martinique département
• Communes of the Martinique département
• Arrondissements of the Martinique département

External links and references

• Some material from the [CIA World Factbook]
• [The active and festive guide of Martinique]
• [Vintage Postcards of Martinique]
• [Martinique at Google Maps]
• [Simon Jean-Joseph] - the European rally champion from Martinique
• [Sailing Guide for Martinique]

Overseas French departments and territories

Régions of France
Alsace | Aquitaine | Auvergne | Bourgogne | Bretagne | Centre | Champagne-Ardenne | Corsica | Franche-Comté | Île-de-France | Languedoc-Roussillon | Limousin | Lorraine | Midi-Pyrénées | Nord-Pas de Calais | Basse-Normandie | Haute-Normandie | Pays-de-la-Loire | Picardie | Poitou-Charentes | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | Rhône-Alpes
Overseas Régions: French Guiana | Guadeloupe | Martinique | Réunion

[[zh-min-nan:Martinique]]

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