Martinique
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Martinique, in the Windward Islands, is one of the more unique islands in the Caribbean, both geographically and culturally. For one, it stands at the confluence of two major bodies of water, with the Atlantic Ocean to the north and east and the Caribbean Sea to the south and west. As a result, this tiny, 420 square mile island has two sets of completely different beaches.

In addition, the land here is varied, with large stretches of flat land juxtaposed with large mountains. The climate depends largely on how high up you are. If you visit the top of Mount Pelee, you would find yourself at an elevation of 4,656 feet! Even the island's "smaller" hills check in at around 1,500 feet.

Christopher Columbus discovered Martinique, as he did so many other Caribbean islands, in the late 15th Century. The island's inhabitants at the time, the Carib Indians, called the island Madinina, or "island of flowers." French settlers came three decades later, and except for a short span between 1794 and 1815, when the island was under British rule, Martinique has been a French property. Josephine Bonaparte was born on Martinique, in Trois-Ilets, and a statue of her stands today in the center of Fort-de-France.

To this day, even as some separatist groups are calling for greater autonomy, Martinique belongs to France, not as a colony, but as a full-fledged region. That means that although the island is separated from the Eiffel Tower by thousands of miles, the citizens of Martinique are French, with the same rights afforded a Parisian. The French franc is the official currency, French stamps are used for postage, and the "language of love" is the official tongue.

The people of Martinique are mainly of African descent. Their colorful culture unique to the island includes a Mardi Gras celebration to rival that of New Orleans. At the same time, the island has begun to embrace the tourism industry, with beautiful resorts dotting the pristine white sand beaches of Martinique's southern coast.

Fort-de-France is Martinique's capital city. Its fairly central location on the island allows for excursions in pretty much any direction.

Geography
Martinique is located in the Lesser Antilles chain and has a total area of 1,091 sq.km. The island is about 80 kilometers long from north to south and at its widest point extends about 35 kilometers from east to west. The island is largely mountainous and is composed of volcanic rock. Its average elevation is more than 900 meters above sea level with the highest point being 1, 397 meters at Mount Pelee, an active volcano in the north of the island. The central southwest is the only flat land on the island except for the narrow coastal plains. Rivers are numerous but small and few are navigable.

History
Martinique was inhabited by Carib Indians until the French arrived in 1635 and established a colony until 1762. This colony was captured and held for a year by the British during the Napoleonic Wars (1794-1802 and 1809-1814). The island prospered under British occupation and the planters simply sold their sugar in British markets rather than French.

With the re-establishment of French administration sugar cane's golden era began to wane as glutted markets and the introduction of sugar beet in mainland France eroded prices. With less wealth the aristocratic plantation owners lost much of their political influence and an abolitionist movement gained momentum. In 1848 the Emancipation Proclamation was signed and that brought an end to slavery in the French West Indies.

Economy
Martinique maintains a market economy based largely on agriculture, industry and tourism. The agricultural sector employs approximately 8% of the labor force and accounts for 7% of GDP. Bananas are the principal export crop, but pineapples, other tropical fruits, cut flowers and rum are also produced for export. Petroleum products are also exported. Tourism is the major growth area in the economy and employs some 5,000 people. France and the Caribbean are the major markets followed by other European countries and the united States. There has been a sharp rise in private investment in Martinique over the last decade, led by industry and tourism. Five industrial zones have been established and a number of incentives are offered to encourage industrial and commercial development.

People & Culture
The racial composition of Martinique is extremely mixed although the mulatto element dominates. French is the official language though a local Creole is widely spoken and Roman Catholicism is the main religion. Martinique has developed its own form of music as the Biguine and the people often dance to the Mazurca or the waltz. Zouk, a more contemporary French west Indies creation draws on the Biguine and other French Caribbean folk forms, with its Carnival-like rhythm and hot dance beat.