Guadeloupe

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
Political status	Non-sovereign, Overseas Department of France
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

History

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

Geography

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

Demographics

Culture

See also: Music of Martinique and Guadeloupe

Miscellaneous topics

• Communications in Guadeloupe
• Transportation in Guadeloupe
• Military of Guadeloupe

External link

• Website of the prefecture of Guadeloupe

Referenced By