The very first independent republic of Latin America. The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The first state with a black president at the head. The most mountainous country in the Caribbean. The richest in terms of flora diversity. All this is about the Republic of Haiti, which is also called the most unfortunate and unlucky country in the world. What do we know about this corner of the globe?
Where is it
Haiti is located in the western part of the island of Hispaniola and shares it with the Dominican Republic, which occupies the eastern half. It is noteworthy that these lands have not one, but three names at once: Hispaniola, Haiti and St. Domingo. This is the second largest island of the Greater Antilles with an area of 76.4 thousand km². The area of Haiti itself is 27,750 km², the country ranks 143rd in the world in terms of area.
Capital
The main city of Haiti is Port-au-Prince. There is a version that it acquired its name in 1706, when the ship of the French fleet LePrince anchored in the bayin the west of the island. Captain Saint André, whose strength seems to have been logic, decided to organize a settlement in a place he liked, calling it Prince's Port, or Port-au-Prince. The city on the site of the settlement was founded in 1748, the status of the capital of the French colony was assigned to it in 1770. After the French Revolution, there were attempts to rename it to Port-Republicen, but the new name did not stick. The city has become the capital of Haiti since the formation of the state in the form of a republic in 1804.
Over time, the settlement took the form of an amphitheater overlooking the bay. The architecture of the city combines colonial and modern styles. Of the sights of the capital of Haiti, the Art Museum and the National Museum of Local Lore are interesting, where the anchor of the legendary Santa Maria, Independence Square and the Marche de Fer market, the monument to Christopher Columbus and the citadel of Henri Christophe are kept.
Nature
At the base of the island are volcanic rocks. The relief is mountainous, four mountain ranges run through the entire territory, including the Central Cordillera with Duarte peak 3087 meters high.
In the north, Haiti is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, in the south - by the waters of the Caribbean Sea.
The climate is tropical, the rainy season lasts from June to December. Crocodiles live in full-flowing rivers. Also from living creatures you can meet snakes, lizards, bats, rodents and birds.
Cities of Haiti
Haiti consists of ten departments: Artibonite, Grand Anse, Nip, Central, North, Northeast, Northwest,West, South, Southeast.
Most populated cities in Haiti:
- capital of the country (980 thousand people),
- Carrefour (500 thousand people),
- Delma (395 thousand people),
- Pétionville (327 thousand people),
- Gonaives (278 thousand people),
- Site Soleil (265 thousand people).
Besides the central island, the republic owns smaller islands: Gonav, Saona, Mona, Vash and the legendary Tortuga.
Population
The country is inhabited by more than 10 million inhabitants, 95% are blacks. Life expectancy is 61 years on average. Literacy rates are low, with only half of Haiti's adult population learning to read and write. The Republic ranks first among Latin American countries in terms of the number of hungry people, which include 58% of the population.
They speak French and the derived Haitian Creole, which are the official state languages of Haiti.
Religion
Religion - Catholicism (80%) and Protestantism (16%), which does not prevent the bulk of the population from worshiping the voodoo cult. Voodoo is a religion that combines the traditional folk beliefs and practices of West African slaves with elements of Catholicism. Voodoo priests (hungan - man, mambo - woman) predict the future with the help of spirits and perform rituals. Bokors (sorcerers) are people who practice black magic.
History of Haiti
The name of the island of Haiti in translation from the ancient language of the natives (Taino Indians) meant "Mountain Country". Currently tracesthis culture was gone thanks to the European colonizers.
"Columbus discovered America - he was a great sailor!" - even children know about the feat of the navigator from cartoon songs. At the end of 1492, the expedition of Christopher Columbus reached the shores of the Caribbean Sea, where the flagship Santa Maria landed on a reef, forcing the crew members to land. The saving island was named Hispaniola (or "Spanish Land") and began to be actively developed.
Such a tidbit could not be ignored by other European countries, England and France have laid claim to the island. A century and a half of wars ended in 1677 with the transfer of the western part of Hispaniola to the French.
The 16th century was the end of the Indian era - the indigenous population, which resisted the colonialists, was exterminated in 500 years. They were replaced by a huge number of slaves from Africa, who cultivated sugarcane plantations. In 1789, the ratio of whites to Negro slaves was 36,000 to 500,000, respectively. Slaves were kept in terrible conditions, so their life expectancy on the island did not exceed 5-6 years. Because of this, there was a continuous flow of new labor from Africa.
Louis XIV in 1685 introduced the "Black Code", which imposed a number of obligations on slave owners and planters to maintain slaves. But in reality, the law was not enforced, ill-treatment was considered the norm.
Establishment of the Republic
January 1, 1804 black residentsthe islands organized an uprising, as a result, an independent state was formed, which was headed by J. J. Dessalines, who proclaimed himself Emperor Jacques I. This is the first republic in the world, which was ruled by a black president. He received the surname Dessalines from a former French owner. He declared Haiti "a country for blacks only" and gave the order to exterminate the white population. As a result, about five thousand men, women and children died in a couple of months.
From then until now, the government in Haiti has been characterized by instability, coups and rebellions.
France recognized the independence of Haiti in 1825, obliging to pay compensation in the amount of 90 million francs in gold.
In 1844, the eastern "Spanish" part of the island seceded to form the Dominican Republic.
In 1957, dictator Francois Duvalier came to power. This period became one of the bloodiest in the history of Haiti. Under the motto "Power to the Blacks", the secret police of the "tonton makuta", followers of voodoo, was formed. Duvalier amended the constitution and declared himself president for life with the transfer of the post to the heir. His son, Jean-Claude, took over the position in 1971, who, after fifteen years in power, fled to Europe with millions of dollars.
After a series of coups in 1991, Democrats under the command of Aristide seized power in the country. The backbone of the President of Haiti during this period are armed militias with the self-explanatory name "Army of Cannibals". In 2004, Aristide was forced to evacuate due to a rebellion inCentral African Republic under the control of US troops, a UN mission began to work in the country.
In 2006, René Préval becomes president, in 2011, musician and politician Michel Marteilly. Since 2017, Haiti has been led by Jovenel Moise.
Political system
In 1987, the country adopted the Constitution, according to which the president is elected from among citizens over 35 years old by secret ballot for a five-year term.
The President combines the post with the post of Commander-in-Chief of the country's troops. All decisions of the head of state are approved by the Parliament (National Assembly), which represents the legislative branch of government and consists of 30 members of the Senate and 99 deputies.
Economy
Haiti's economy is in a sorry state. This country is the poorest in the Western Hemisphere of the Earth. Below the poverty line - 60% of the population. A quarter of all foreign exchange earnings come from emigrants. External debt is almost $2 billion.
Two-thirds of the inhabitants are employed in agriculture, which is difficult to develop due to the relief features of the area where Haiti is located. Coffee and mango trees, sugar cane, sorghum, corn are the main crops grown, and the harvested and processed fruits are the main export products.
The industry of the island is represented in the sugar and textile sectors. The existing deposits of gold and copper are not being developed. Roads are unsuitable for driving during the rainy season.
Naturalelements
The Republic of Haiti is suffering from a redistribution of power, dictatorship and wars. But natural disasters have no less terrible consequences.
In July 2004, heavy rains triggered landslides that killed more than 1,500 people. In September of the same year, over two thousand residents became victims of hurricanes Zhanna and Ivan.
January 2012 brought a series of earthquakes, and with them - the death of two hundred thousand people. In the capital of Haiti, the National Palace, the cathedral, administrative buildings, and hospitals were destroyed. Three million people were left homeless.
After that, an epidemic of cholera came to the country, also claiming many lives.
Holidays
The calendar of the Republic of Haiti is full of holidays. January 1 marks the New Year and Independence Day, turning into Ancestors' Day on January 2. A series of carnivals starts in February. The most important - Mardi Gras - begins in the capital of Haiti on Wednesday before Lent and includes theatrical performances and festive processions. During Lent, groups of sorcerers march through the country with songs and drums. In April - May, Catholics and Orthodox celebrate Easter and Easter Monday. In May, Labor Day and Flag Day are celebrated. All Saints' Day is November 1-2. December celebrates Haiti's Opening Day (5th) and Christmas Day.
Haiti Time
Haiti's time zone is UTC-04:00. The difference with Moscow is minus 8 hours.
Money
The currency of Haiti is gudr, itis equal to 100 centimos. Gourde introduced in 1814. They issue coins of 5, 10, 20, 50 centimos, 1 and 5 gourdes. There are also banknotes in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000 gourdes.
Vacation in Haiti
The best time to visit Haiti is from December to March, which is the dry season. The colorful Port-au-Prince attracts tourists with its wonderful climate, clear waters of the Caribbean Sea and a variety of fruits. Tortuga Island, a former pirate haven, is also conducive to relaxation. If you follow the safety rules when visiting this country, you will be able to avoid unpleasant surprises. It is not recommended to rent a car due to the lack of roads and traffic rules. Better to use public transport. Independent inspection of suburban areas is not welcome, the criminal situation is not conducive to such walks. Traveling alone and wearing jewelry should also be avoided.
What to see
National parks and colorful cities, colonial architecture and white sand beaches, traditional Haitian cuisine - Haiti will be able to impress the traveler who comes here. What to see first?
Cap-Haitien
The city was founded by the French in 1670, it is literally shrouded in an interweaving of green streets and squares. Of the interesting things here are Sanssouci Palace, the citadel of La Ferriere, the Cap-Haitien Cathedral.
La Ferriere Citadel
The second name is the fortress of Henri Christophe. It is the largest fortification in the Western Hemisphere andsymbol of Haitian independence. The area of the citadel is ten thousand square meters, the height of the walls is about forty meters. "La Ferriere" was erected on a mountain 910 meters high in 1817, its construction lasted fifteen years. More than three hundred guns protected the walls of the fortress from the enemy - the French invaders. The citadel is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. To get to the top of the fortress, a tourist will have to climb the slope with the help of a mule for a couple of hours.
San Souci Palace
Another grand building from the time of King Henri Christophe, who built the palace as a refuge in case of danger and, ironically, committed suicide within its walls. The earthquake of 1842 did not spare the palace, leaving ruins in its place. This place is notorious among the local population and is considered cursed.
Cathedral Cap-Haitien
Cap-Haitien Cathedral is the hallmark of the city, located on the central square. It was founded in 1878, the construction was completed decades later. The snow-white building with columns and bell towers is a vivid example of colonial architecture.
Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
The construction of the cathedral in Port-au-Prince was carried out on the site of the old Catholic church from January 1884 to December 1914. Unfortunately, the main temple of the Roman Catholic diocese did not last long - it was destroyed by the 2010 earthquake. At the same time, Archbishop Joseph Serge Miot died in the cathedral.
Today there is a project of the architect from Puerto Rico Segundo Cardona onthe construction of a new cathedral on this site, which is planned to be completed in the next decade.
National Museum of Haiti
The exposition of the National Museum in Port-au-Prince has many interesting exhibits. Here are documents, art objects, weapons from several centuries - from the wall paintings of the Taino tribes to the pistol from which King Henri Christophe shot himself.
Presidential Palace
The Presidential Palace in Port-au-Prince served as the residence of the first head of state in 1918-2010 and was located on the Champ de Mars. The building of the Presidential Palace was an example of classical French architecture of the late 19th century. The project called "The Nest" was made by the architect Georges Bossan, who graduated from the Paris School of Fine Arts. As a result of the earthquake in 2010, the three-story building was badly damaged: it collapsed starting from the second floor. The renovation of the building is estimated at US$100 million. Work is currently suspended due to lack of funds.
Lake Ethan-Sumatra
The uniqueness of the lake with an area of more than 170 km² lies in the high level of salinity, several times higher than that of sea water. Crocodiles, iguanas, flamingos, over 300 species of birds live here. Tourists are offered diving and skysurfing.
La Visite National Park
This is Haiti's next national park after Peak Macaya, with an area of over 30 km². Founded in 1983. Spacious meadows and forests attract hikers and cyclists.
RiverArtibonite
The longest river on the island (more than 240 km). The source of the river is in the Dominican Republic, in the mountains of the Cordillera Central. This is a source of not only water, but also energy; the Peligrskaya hydroelectric power station operates on it, providing the entire country. The river captivates tourists with stunning views.
Croix de Bouquet
The village of Croix-de-Bouquet has settled in the city of the same name and draws attention with a story associated with the blacksmith Georges Lyautaud and his followers, the "voodoo blacksmiths". In this place, you can get acquainted with the culture of voodoo through the example of metal products that depict mystical rituals and spirits.
