Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe, in the Caribbean, 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.

Guadeloupe
Region Guadeloupe

Official language French

Incorporated in the French territory 1635
Department Number 971

Préfecture Basse-Terre

Sous-préfectures Pointe-à-Pitre, Saint-Martin

Head of Regional Council Lucette Michaux-Chevry
Head of General Council Jacques Gillot
Area
- Total
- % water
1,705 km²
4.2%

Population
- Total (2002)
- Density
436,000
245/km²

Currency Euro

Time zone UTC -4

Calling Code 590
Internet TLD .gp

Table of contents

1 History
2 Politics
3 Geography
4 Economy
5 Demographics
6 Culture
7 Miscellaneous topics
8 External link

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.

External link

Website of the prefecture of Guadeloupe

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