|
Haiti is in the West Indies. It occupies the western third
of the island formerly known as Hispaniola (La Isla Espaņola). The Dominican
Republic takes up the eastern two-thirds. To the north is the Atlantic Ocean; to the
south and west is the Caribbean Sea. To the northwest the Windward Passage separates
Haiti from Cuba, which is about 96 km away. Haiti controls several islands that lie
offshore. Haiti is a mountainous country. About two-fifths of the total land area is more than 490 metres above sea level. The plains are the most productive agricultural lands and the most heavily populated areas. The seas around Haiti are known for their beautiful coral reefs. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Mountain ranges divide the country into three regions: northern,
central and southern. The main mountain system is called the Massif du Nord (with an
average elevation of 1200 metres). Haiti has a generally hot, humid climate. In most areas, temperatures vary little from season to season. Haiti's dry season is from November to January, and the rainy season is from February to May. Rainfall tends to be higher on the mountain slopes and lower on the sheltered leeward slopes and in the valleys. As a result, some areas are subject to droughts from time to time. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Haiti is in the hurricane belt and severe storms occur between
June and October. The island has also experienced several earthquakes. Haiti was once almost entirely covered with forests. Fires, uncontrolled cutting and the conversion of land for agriculture destroyed most of the trees. Now only about 2% of the land is forested. Because of deforestation, a tropical storm in November 1994 caused mudslides that killed 800 Haitians. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|