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Haiti

✨ The pearl of the Antilles

Haiti occupies the western part of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Located in the Caribbean, it has coastlines along both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Its capital, Port-au-Prince, lies on the Gulf of Gonâve, near the center of the country's southern peninsula. Haiti covers about 27,750 square kilometres and has a predominantly mountainous landscape.

Several mountain ranges cross the country, separated by valleys and coastal plains. The highest point is Pic la Selle, which rises to about 2,680 metres above sea level. Haiti also includes numerous smaller islands, such as Gonâve, Tortuga and Île-à-Vache. Its geography is shaped by a combination of rugged relief, tropical climate and exposure to the surrounding seas.

Haiti lies in a tectonically active region where major faults are associated with the movement of the Caribbean and North American plates. As a result, earthquakes occur in the country, while its position in the Caribbean also exposes it to tropical storms and hurricanes. The climate is generally tropical, although temperatures and rainfall vary according to altitude and location.

Mountainous areas can receive much more rain than some coastal regions, while periods of drought may occur in other parts of the country. Forests, agricultural land and coastal ecosystems form important elements of the landscape. Agriculture has traditionally been important, with crops such as coffee, mangoes, bananas, maize and sugar cane grown in different regions. Haiti's geography is therefore characterized by mountainous terrain, varied coastal environments and natural hazards linked to both tectonic activity and tropical weather systems.

💡 Did you know?

Haiti marked history in an incredible way! In 1804, it became the very first country in the world led by black people to win its independence against a major colonial power. This courage inspired many other peoples in America and Africa. To celebrate this freedom, every January 1st, Haitians cook Joumou soup, a squash soup they were not allowed to eat in the past.

Aatop a mountain called Bonnet à l'Évêque stands the Citadelle Laferrière. It is a colossal fortress built to protect the country. Imagine the effort of thousands of men who carried thousands of cannons and enormous stone blocks on their backs! It is so large that it can store enough food and water for thousands of soldiers for a whole year.

Haiti is often nicknamed the 'country of artists.' There are painting workshops everywhere! Haitian artists use incredibly bright colors to draw crowded markets, mysterious gods, or jungles filled with imaginary animals. Even recycled objects, like old metal cans, are transformed into magnificent sculptures cut with a hammer and chisel.