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Martinique |
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Martinique
originally called Madinina (isle of flowers) has been
discovered by Christopher Columbus on his 4th
expedition in 1502. She is made a French Overseas Department
on march 19th 1946, then a Region in 1974. Martinique is a
slice of France set down in the tropics and situated at
7.000km from Europe and 2.900km from North America and
bathed by the Atlantic Ocean as well as by the Caribbean
Sea. The climate here is temperate owing to the trade winds
and temperatures vary between 20° to 30°C. |
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The island
of
Martinique has a surface of
1.080km² (417miles²) - with a length of 70km (43 miles) and
30kms (19 miles) wide on her largest point. Despite her
small size, the island offers a great diversity as for the
landscape: steep mountains, rain forest, green hillsides,
cliffs, savannas and beautiful gentle beaches.
Martinique's capital, Fort-de-France, is a chic, modern city
of 100,000 people, the largest in the French West Indies.
Urbanization has spread to much of the island, and most of
Martinique's large towns feel like modern suburbs. |
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The countryside is
farmed by big sugar cane plantations, whereas the coastline offers
splendid beaches. It is the most inhabited region of the island as well
as the most touristic one. The
North is mountainous, rainfalls are very
frequent. Therefore, the vegetation is luxuriant with untouched tropical
forest and also banana and pineapple plantations. In the center part, two
volcanic mountains: "Montagne Pelée" (active) and the "Pitons du Carbet".
On the West coast or Caribbean coast the beaches have black volcanic
sand, on the Atlantic east side the coastline shows many cliffs.
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Several museums trace back
the history of Martinique from nowadays to the pre-Columbian times.
Exhibitions about archaeology, the volcano, the national costumes, the
sea, sugar cane, in memory of the painter Gauguin or else popular
traditions, will give you a better understanding of the island. The
zoological garden, the butterfly farm, several botanical gardens and some
of the plantations can be visited. A real pleasure for the senses as well
as the discovery of tropical nature and a pastime during your vacations. |
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