The very first independent republic of Latin America. The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The first state with a black president in charge. The most mountainous country in the Caribbean. The richest in terms of diversity of flora. All this is about the Republic of Haiti, which is also called the most miserable and unlucky country in the world. What do we know about this corner of the globe?
Where is
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 San Domingo. This is the second largest island of the Greater Antilles group with an area of ​​76.4 thousand km². Haiti itself covers an area of ​​27,750 km²; the country occupies 143th place in the world in terms of occupied territory.
Capital
The main city of Haiti is Port-au-Prince. There is a version that he acquired his name in 1706, when the ship of the French fleet LePrince anchored in a bay in the west of the island. Captain Saint Andre, whose strong quality, apparently, was logic, decided to organize a village in the place he liked, calling it the Port of Prince, or Port-au-Prince. The city at the place of 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 Republiken, but the new name did not take root. 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 village took the form of an amphitheater overlooking the bay. The architecture of the city combines colonial and modern styles. Among the attractions of the capital of Haiti are the Art Museum and the National Museum of Local Lore, where the legendary "Santa Maria" anchor, Independence Square and the Marche de Fer market, the monument to Christopher Columbus and the citadel of Henri Christophe are stored.
Nature
At the base of the island are volcanic rocks. The relief is mountainous, four mountain ranges lie across the entire territory, including the Central Cordillera with the 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 find snakes, lizards, bats, rodents and birds.
Haiti cities
Haiti consists of ten departments: Artibonite, Grand Anse, Nip, Central, North, Northeast, Northwest, West, South, Southeast.
The most populated cities of Haiti:
- the capital of the country (980 thousand people),
- Carrefour (500 thousand people),
- Delma (395 thousand people),
- Petionville (327 thousand people),
- Gonaive (278 thousand people),
- Sita-Soleil (265 thousand people).
In addition to the central island, the republic owns smaller islands: Gonav, Saona, Mona, Vas and the legendary Tortuga.
Population
The country is inhabited by more than 10 million inhabitants, 95% are blacks. Life expectancy is an average of 61 years. Literacy is low, only half of Haiti's adult population is trained in reading and writing. The Republic ranks first among the countries of Latin America in the number of starving people, which include 58% of the population.
Here they speak French and Haitian Creole, which are the basis for it , which are the official state languages ​​of Haiti.
Religion
Religion is 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.
The history of Haiti
The name of the island of Haiti in translation from the ancient language of the aborigines (Taino Indians) meant "Mountain country." Currently, there are no traces of this culture thanks to the European colonialists.
“Columbus discovered America - he was a great sailor!” - even children know about the exploit’s exploit from cartoons. At the end of 1492, the expedition of Christopher Columbus reached the shores of the Caribbean Sea, where the flagship “Santa Maria” boarded the reef, forcing team members to land. The saving island was called Espanyola (or "Spanish land") and began to actively develop.
Such a tidbit could not remain without the attention of other European states, England and France claimed their ownership of the island. A century and a half of wars ended in 1677 with the transfer of the western part of Hispaniola to the power of the French.
The 16th century was the end of the era of the Indians - the indigenous population, who resisted the colonialists, was exterminated in 500 years. They were replaced by a huge number of slaves from Africa who cultivated sugar cane plantations. In 1789, the ratio of whites to black slaves was 36 thousand to 500 thousand people, 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 duties on the maintenance of slaves on slave owners and planters. But in reality, compliance with the law was not ensured; ill-treatment was considered the norm.
Republic formation
On January 1, 1804, the black inhabitants of the island organized an uprising, as a result an independent state was formed, headed by J.J. Dessaline, who proclaimed himself emperor Jacques I. This is the first republic in the world to be ruled by a black president. He received the surname Dessalin from the former Frenchman. He declared Haiti "a country only for blacks" and gave the order to destroy the white population. As a result, about five thousand men, women and children died in a couple of months.
From then until now, power in Haiti has been characterized by instability, coups and rebellion.
France recognized Haiti's independence in 1825, obliging it to pay compensation in the amount of 90 million francs in gold.
In 1844, the eastern, "Spanish", part of the island separated, forming the Dominican Republic.
In 1957, the dictator Francois Duvalier came to power. This period was one of the bloodiest in the history of Haiti. Under the motto "Black Power" was formed the secret police "Tonton-Makuta", followers of voodoo. Duvalier introduced amendments to the constitution and declared himself president for life with the transfer of the post to the heir. This position was transferred to his son Jean-Claude in 1971, who, after fifteen years of reign, fled to Europe with millions of dollars.
After a series of coups in 1991, Democrats seized power in the country under the command of Aristide. The support of the President of Haiti during this period is the armed militias with the self-proclaimed name "Cannibal Army." In 2004, Aristide was forced to evacuate due to a rebellion in the Central African Republic under the control of US troops, a UN mission began to work in the country.
In 2006, Rene Preval becomes president, and in 2011, musician and politician Michel Martei. Since 2017, Haiti has been led by Jovenel Moise.
Politic system
In 1987, the country adopted the Constitution, according to which the president is elected from among citizens over 35 years of age by general 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
The economy of Haiti is in a deplorable 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 engaged in agriculture, which is difficult to develop due to the relief features of the area where Haiti is located. Coffee and mango trees, sugarcane, sorghum, corn are the main crops grown, the harvested and processed fruits of which are the main export products.
The industry of the island is represented in the sugar and textile sectors. Existing gold and copper deposits are not being developed. Roads are unsuitable for movement during the rainy season.
Natural elements
The Republic of Haiti suffers from a redistribution of power, dictatorship and war. But natural disasters have no less terrible consequences.
In July 2004, heavy rains caused landslides, which killed more than one and a half thousand people. In September of the same year, over two thousand residents became victims of the hurricanes "Jeanne" 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, hospitals are destroyed. Three million people were left homeless.
After that, the cholera epidemic came to the country, which also claimed many lives.
Holidays
The calendar of the Republic of Haiti is full of holidays. January 1 is celebrated New Year and Independence Day, passing on the Ancestral 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 holiday processions. During fasting, groups of sorcerers with songs and drums march around the country. In April - May, Catholics and Orthodox celebrate Easter and Easter Monday. Labor Day and Flag Day are celebrated in May. All Saints Day is November 1-2. In December, the opening day of Haiti (5th) and Christmas are celebrated.
Haiti Time
Haiti time zone UTC-04: 00. The difference with Moscow is minus 8 hours.
Money
The monetary unit of Haiti is the Good, it is equal to 100 centimos. Gourde introduced in 1814. Coins are issued at 5, 10, 20, 50 centimo, 1 and 5 gourdes. There are also banknotes in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000 gourdes.
Holidays in Haiti
The best time to relax in Haiti is from December to March, this is a 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, also offers 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 lack of roads and traffic rules. Better use public transportation. Self-examination of the suburban areas is not welcome, the criminal situation is not conducive to such walks. Moving alone and wearing jewelry is also worth worrying about.
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 came here. What is worth seeing in the first place?
Cap Haitien
The city was founded by the French in 1670, it is literally shrouded in a weave of green streets and squares. Of interesting places here are the Sanssouci Palace, the La Ferrier Citadel, the Cap Haitien Cathedral.
Citadel La Ferrier
The second name is the fortress of Henri Christophe. This is the largest fortification of the Western Hemisphere and a symbol of Haiti's independence. The area of ​​the citadel is ten thousand square meters, the height of the walls is about forty meters. La Ferrier was erected on a mountain 910 meters high in 1817, its construction lasted fifteen years. More than three hundred guns defended the walls of the fortress from the enemy - the French invaders. The citadel is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To get to the top of the fortress, a tourist will have to climb the slope with a mule for a couple of hours.
Sanssouci Palace
Another grandiose building from the time of King Henry Christophe, who erected the palace as a refuge in case of danger and, ironically, committed suicide in 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 damned.
Cap-Haitien Cathedral
Cap-Haitien Cathedral is the hallmark of the city, located in the central square. It was founded in 1878, the construction was completed decades later. The snow-white building with columns and belfries is a striking 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 church 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 by an architect from Puerto Rico Segundo Cardona to build a new cathedral on this site, which is planned to be implemented in the next decade.
National Museum of Haiti
The National Museum in Port-au-Prince displays many interesting exhibits. Here are documents, art objects, weapons for several centuries - from the murals 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 Field of Mars. The building of the Presidential Palace was an example of classical French architecture of the late XIX century. The project, entitled “The Nest,” was carried out by the architect Georges Bossant, who graduated from the Paris School of Fine Arts. As a result of the earthquake of 2010, the three-story building was badly damaged: it collapsed starting from the second floor. The reconstruction of the building is estimated at 100 million US dollars. Currently, work is suspended due to lack of funds.
Ethan Sumatra Lake
The uniqueness of the lake with an area of ​​more than 170 km² lies in the high level of salinity, several times higher than the sea water. Crocodiles, iguanas, flamingos, and over 300 species of birds live here. Tourists are offered diving and sky surfing.
La Viesite National Park
This is Haiti's next national park after Peak Makaya with an area of ​​over 30 km². It was founded in 1983. Spacious meadows and forests attract lovers of hiking and cycling.
Artibonite River
The longest river of the island (over 240 km). The source of the river is in the Dominican Republic, in the mountains of the Cordillera Central. It is a source of not only water, but also energy; the Peligra Hydroelectric Power Station operates on it, providing the whole country. The river captivates tourists with stunning views.
Croix de Bouquet
The village of Croix de Buque has settled in the city with the same name and attracts attention with a story related to the blacksmith Georges Lioto and his followers, the “voodoo blacksmiths”. In this place you can get acquainted with the voodoo culture on the example of metal products that depict mystical rituals and spirits.