Source: Britannica
Guadeloupe, overseas département and overseas region of France consisting of a group of islands in the Lesser Antilles chain in the eastern Caribbean Sea. The nearest neighbours of the principal islands are the British overseas territory of Montserrat to the northwest and the republic of Dominica to the south. The island of Martinique, also a French overseas département, lies about 74 miles (120 km) to the south.
Pointe des Châteaux, eastern Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe.
Image: Courtesy of Guy Legrain
Heads Of Government: Prefect (for France), President of the Departmental Council (for Guadeloupe), President of the Regional Council (for Guadeloupe)
Capital: Basse-Terre
Population: (2021 est.) 374,000
Head Of State: President of France
Official Language: French
The main territory of Guadeloupe consists of the twin islands of Basse-Terre to the west and Grande-Terre to the east, the two being separated by a narrow channel, the Salée River. Other islands in the group are Marie-Galante to the southeast, La Désirade to the east, and the Saintes Islands (Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas) to the south. Two French overseas collectivities—Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin, the French-administered part of the island of Saint Martin (the southern third of which is administered by the Netherlands as Sint Maarten)—were part of Guadeloupe until 2007. They are situated about 150 miles (240 km) to the northwest, lying to the northwest of the outer arc of the Lesser Antilles. Basse-Terre, on the island of the same name, is the seat of government. The largest urban area, however, centres around Pointe-à-Pitre on Grande-Terre, the chief port and economic hub of Guadeloupe.
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Beach of Terre-de-Haut island, Guadeloupe.
Image: © Oliver Hoffmann/Shutterstock.com
Land
Relief and drainage
Basse-Terre, which accounts for more than half of Guadeloupe’s land area, has a chain of mountains running north to south and culminating in Soufrière, a volcano rising to 4,813 feet (1,467 metres) above sea level; it erupted in 1797, 1837, and 1976–77 and is now a source of hot springs and sulfur springs. Other summits of note are Mount Sans Toucher, at 4,442 feet (1,354 metres), and Grande Découverte, at 4,143 feet (1,263 metres). The mountain chain forms a watershed from which rivers run down to the sea. The principal river on the island is the Goyaves; other streams are the Grande Plaine, the Petite Plaine, the Moustique, the Lézarde, and the Rose. Basse-Terre’s coastline is indented with bays and fringed with picturesque beaches. Grande-Terre has an area of 220 square miles (570 square km) and is generally low-lying; it has only a few bluffs higher than 490 feet (150 metres).
Guadeloupe.
Image: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Climate
The tropical climate is tempered by the northeast trade winds. The temperature on the coast varies between 77 and 82 °F (25 and 28 °C), with extremes of 68 and 93 °F (20 and 34 °C). In the mountains above 1,900 feet (580 metres) the temperature may drop to 61 °F (16 °C), and at the summit of Soufrière it may drop to 39 °F (4 °C). There are two distinct seasons—the dry season (December to April), often called “Creole Lent” locally, and the rainy season (July to September–October). Precipitation varies with elevation and orientation. Grande-Terre receives approximately 40 inches (990 mm) of rain a year, while the mountainous parts of Basse-Terre receive more than 100 inches (2,540 mm). Hurricanes (tropical cyclones) occur occasionally, in most cases coming from the south. Among the most notable storms to strike the island were Hurricane Cleo (1964), Hurricane Hugo (1989), and Hurricane Maria (2017).
Palm trees on a beach, Guadeloupe.
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Satellite image of the French overseas département of Guadeloupe.
Image: JSC/NASA
Plant and animal life
The heat, rainfall, and fertility of the volcanic soils produce a luxuriant vegetation diversified according to elevation. About two-fifths of the islands’ area, most of it on Basse-Terre, is covered by forests. Extensive mangrove swamps cover the banks of the Salée River. Dense forest grows in the mountainous regions of Basse-Terre, beginning almost at sea level on the windward slopes and at elevations of about 750 to 3,000 feet (230 to 900 metres) or more on the leeward side. There chestnut trees and bracken are found, as well as such hardwoods as mahogany and ironwood. On the highest peaks some flooded basins are covered with grasses and sedges. Grande-Terre, cleared of most of its original forests, has only a few patches of woodland. The smaller islands, such as La Désirade, have a different type of vegetation, consisting primarily of dry forest with groves of latania (a kind of fan palm) and cactus.
Crayfish Waterfall, Guadeloupe National Park, Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe.
Image: © Pack-Shot/Shutterstock.com
Guadeloupe’s fauna has changed since colonial times, in part as a result of hunting, which reduced the islands’ biodiversity. Raccoons are plentiful and are sought for their fur. Agoutis (short-haired, short-eared, rabbitlike rodents), mongooses, and native Guadeloupe woodpeckers inhabit the highlands of the island of Basse-Terre. Other bird species include Antillean nighthawks, pigeons, partridges, and monk parakeets. In some regions wild ducks, teal, and other waterfowl are found.
The warm waters around the islands support a rich variety of marine life, including lobsters, crabs, octopuses, tarpons, snooks (a basslike kind of fish), hogfishes, snappers, parrot fishes, and many species of rays.
People of Guadeloupe
The population is composed principally of Creoles (i.e., persons born in the islands), most of whom are of mixed African (black) and European (white) ancestry. The largest minorities in Guadeloupe are the black and French Amerindian groups. The white population greatly declined during the period of the French Revolution at the end of the 18th century; today whites make up only a tiny minority. On the smaller islands, whites are mostly descended from 17th-century Norman and Breton settlers. French is the official language, and a local creole is also widely spoken. Some four-fifths of the people are Roman Catholic; there are also smaller proportions of Jehovah’s Witnesses and Protestants.
Guadeloupe: Ethnic composition
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Guadeloupe: Religious affiliation
Image: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Pointe-à-Pitre market, Guadeloupe
Image: Kurt Scholz/Shostal Associates
Guadeloupe’s population has a low rate of natural increase compared with other West Indian islands. Its birth and death rates are lower than the Caribbean average but about the same as those of its French counterpart, Martinique. The vast majority of the population resides on the two largest islands; Marie-Galante is the next most populous island, followed by Saintes Islands and La Désirade.
Image: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Image: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Economy
Government services are central to the island’s economy, which is primarily sustained by the salaries of officials and by French aid in the form of allocations and grants. Tourism, which has grown in importance, is the main source of foreign exchange. Manufacturing and agriculture account for few jobs. The islanders’ standard of living is among the highest in the eastern Caribbean.
Sugarcane plantation in Guadeloupe.
Image: © Gabriele Maltinti/stock.adobe.com
Agriculture and fishing
Bananas and sugarcane are the principal cash crops. Coffee, vanilla, cacao, vegetables, coconuts, and fruits are also grown. Eggplants and flowers are chiefly grown for export. Most of the small fish catch is exported.
Banana plantation in Guadeloupe.
Image: © Edoardo Nicolino/Dreamstime.com
Manufacturing and services
An industrial zone and a free port have been developed at Jarry, near Pointe-à-Pitre. The major products include cement, sugar, rum, clothing, wooden furniture, and metalware. The service sector—notably, public administration, education, and health and social services—is the largest single source of employment and makes the greatest contribution to gross domestic product. Tourism is another important activity for the economy.
spice market in Pointe-à-Pitre
Spice market in Pointe-à-Pitre, Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe.
Image: © Photos.com/Thinkstock
Trade
Guadeloupe has a chronically large annual deficit in the balance of external trade, with the value of imports vastly outstripping that of exports. The bulk of trade is with France; Martinique, Germany, French Guiana, and the United States are lesser trading partners. Most imports consist of food and agricultural products, machinery and equipment, and vehicles and parts. Most of the banana crop and raw sugar are exported to France. Other fruits and vegetables, rum, and flowers are also exported.
Guadeloupe: Major import sources
Image: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Guadeloupe: Major export destinations
Image: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Transportation
Guadeloupe maintains regular air and sea links with France and with the North American continent. The port of Pointe-à-Pitre is equipped to handle cargoes of minerals, sugar, and cereals. The port of Basse-Terre specializes in the banana export trade. Guadeloupe’s international airport is located north of Pointe-à-Pitre. There are also airports on the smaller islands, including Marie-Galante and La Désirade.
Local ferries connect Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre with the other islands of Guadeloupe. The road system on the main islands is kept in excellent condition. Except for some privately owned plantation lines, there are no railways in Guadeloupe.
Government and society
The French government is represented in the département by an appointed prefect and two subprefects. Executive authority lies with the presidents of the Departmental Council and the Regional Council. The two councils, whose members are popularly elected for six-year terms, form the legislative branch. Guadeloupe sends representatives to the French National Assembly, the French Senate, and the European Parliament. Since 1974 Guadeloupe has had the status of a full région of France. The territory of Guadeloupe is divided into two arrondissements (Basse-Terre and Pointe-à-Pitre), which are in turn divided into cantons and communes, each administered by an elected municipal council.
Justice
Guadeloupe’s judicial system follows the French model. There are a court of appeal at Basse-Terre, two higher courts (tribunaux de grande instance), and four lower courts (tribunaux d’instance). Justices of the peace are established in each of the cantons.
Education
French is the medium of instruction. As in metropolitan France, education is compulsory from age 6 to 16. In addition to the 5-year primary schools, there are lycées and collèges (upper and lower secondary schools, respectively) as well as a teacher-training college. A school of humanities, a law and economics school, a school of medicine, and a school of science at Pointe-à-Pitre are part of the University of the Antilles and Guiana.
Health and welfare
The same social legislation is in effect as in metropolitan France. There is a general hospital at Pointe-à-Pitre, where there is also a research facility of the Paris-based Pasteur Institute. There are also a number of other hospitals and clinics. The life expectancy in Guadeloupe is among the highest in the region.
Cultural life
Folk culture is of considerable significance, and colourful native costumes, including the unique madras et foulard (an outfit of a headdress and shawl, made up of scarves), may still be seen on holidays. Celebrations, particularly the annual pre-Lenten Carnival, feature Creole music and folk dances, such as the beguine (a rumbalike ballroom dance). Several museums, including the Schoelcher Museum in Pointe-à-Pitre, are located in urban areas, and Pointe-à-Pitre also has a performing arts centre. Several newspapers are printed in the islands.
History of Guadeloupe
Visited in November 1493 by Christopher Columbus, the two main islands—then together known as Karukera (“Island of Beautiful Waters”)—were peopled by Caribs, who had displaced the original Arawak inhabitants. Columbus consecrated the territory to Our Lady of Guadalupe of Extremadura in Spain, from whom it takes its name. Read more
Source: Britannica