Geography of Martinique

Martinique

Nickname: Island of Flowers
Map of Martinique
Geography
Location	Caribbean Sea
Coordinates
Archipelago	Windward Islands
Area
Coastline	350 km (217 mi)
Highest elevation	1,397 m (4,583 ft)
Highest point	Montagne Pelee
Country
France
Overseas department	Martinique
Largest settlement	Fort-de-France (pop. 134,727)
Demographics
Population	429,510 (as of 2008)
Density	405.2 /km2 (1,049.5 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups	African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%, white 5%, Indian Tamil or East Indian, Chinese less than 5%

Climate

Martinique has a warm, stable climate that only varies 5 degrees Fahrenheit all year round. Trade winds blow refreshing breezes from the northeast.

Statistics

Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates:

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 1,100 km²
land: 1,060 km²
water: 40 km²

Area - comparative: slightly more than six times the size of Washington, D.C.

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 350 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nmi (370.4 km; 230.2 mi)
territorial sea: 12 nmi (22.2 km; 13.8 mi)

Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to October); vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average; average temperature 17.3 degrees Celsius; humid

Terrain: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Montagne Pelee 1,397 m

Natural resources: coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land

Land use:
arable land: 8%
permanent crops: 8%
permanent pastures: 17%
forests and woodland: 44%
other: 23% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 40 km² (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an average of one major natural disaster every five years)

Environment - current issues: NA

Population:429,510

See also

• Martinique