Guadeloupe, in the Caribbean, is an archipelago with a total area of 1,704 km² located in the Eastern Caribbean.
Administratively speaking, Guadeloupe is an overseas département (département d'outre-mer, or DOM) of France. As the other DOMs, Guadeloupe is also a région of France.
| Region | Guadeloupe |
| Official language | French |
| Political status
| Non-sovereign, Overseas Department of France |
| Department Number | 971 |
| Préfecture | Basse-Terre |
| Sous-préfectures | Pointe-à-Pitre, Saint-Martin |
| Head of Regional Council | Lucette Michaux-Chevry |
| Head of General Council | Jacques Gillot |
| Area - Total - % water | 1,705 km² 4.2% |
| Population
- Total (2002) - Density |
436,000 245/km² |
| Currency | Euro |
| Time zone | UTC -4 |
| Calling Code | 590 |
| Internet TLD | .gp |
| Table of contents |
|
2 Politics 3 Geography 4 Economy 5 Demographics 6 Culture 7 Miscellaneous topics 8 External link |
The original inhabitants were Arawak Indians. In 1493 during his second trip to America Christopher Columbus was the first European who set foot on the soil of Guadeloupe. The French took possession of the island in 1635. The following century saw the developpement of an economy based on sugar and slavery of Africans or their descendants. Slavery was definitely abolished by decree of April 27, 1848 at the initiative of Victor Schoelcher.
Guadeloupe comprises five islands: Guadeloupe proper (Basse-Terre), Grande-Terre (separated from Basse-Terre by a narrow sea channel called salt river) with the adjacent islands of La Désirade, Îles des Saintes and Marie Galante.
Further to the north, Saint-Barthélemy and the French part of Saint-Martin come under the juridiction of Guadeloupe. Basse-Terre has a rough volcanic relief whilst Grande-Terre features rolling hills and flat plains.
See also: Communes of the Guadeloupe département
See also: Music of Martinique and Guadeloupe
History
Main article: History of GuadeloupePolitics
Main article: Politics of GuadeloupeGeography
Main article: Geography of GuadeloupeEconomy
Main article: Economy of GuadeloupeDemographics
Main article: Demographics of GuadeloupeCulture
Main article: Culture of GuadeloupeMiscellaneous topics
External link