|
Guadeloupe, in the Caribbean Sea, is an archipelago with a total area of 1,704 km² located in the Eastern Caribbean.
Administratively speaking, Guadeloupe is an overseas département (département d'outre-mer, or DOM) of France. As
the other DOMs, Guadeloupe is also a région of France,
and an integral part of the Republic.
History
Main article: History of Guadeloupe
The original inhabitants were Arawak Indians. In 1493 during his second trip to America Christopher
Columbus was the first European who set foot on the soil of Guadeloupe. The French took possession of the island in 1635. The following century saw the developpement of an economy based on sugar and slavery of
Africans or their descendants. Slavery was definitely abolished by decree of April
27, 1848 at the initiative of Victor Schoelcher.
Politics
Main article: Politics of Guadeloupe
Geography
Main article: Geography of Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe comprises five islands: Guadeloupe proper (Basse-Terre), Grande-Terre (separated from Basse-Terre by a narrow sea channel called salt river) with the adjacent
islands of La Désirade, Îles des Saintes and Marie Galante.
Further to the north, Saint-Barthélemy and the French part of
Saint-Martin come under the juridiction of Guadeloupe. Basse-Terre has a
rough volcanic relief whilst Grande-Terre features rolling hills and flat
plains.
See also: Communes of
the Guadeloupe département
Economy
Main article: Economy of Guadeloupe
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of
Guadeloupe
Culture
Main article: Culture of Guadeloupe
See also: Music of Martinique
and Guadeloupe
Miscellaneous topics
External link
|