Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe (Guadeloupe), the French terrain in West Indies, occupies a part of Lesser Antilles, a total area 1,78  thousand sq. km. The terrain is subdivided into three administrative divisions in which islands Guadeloupes, the Goosefoot-Galant, Dezirad, Le Sent, Sen-Bartelmi enter, Ptit-rubbed, Tentamar and northern part of island Saint Martin. But islands lives 418  thousand persons (1993), in the core of Negroes and mulattos. The official language of Guadeloupe - the French, eurysynusic Creole dialect, a population part uses the English tongue. An administrative centre - Basse-Terre (14  thousand inhabitants), the largest city and the economic centre of terrain - Pointe-a-Pitre (26  thousand inhabitants).

Guadeloupe is overseas region of France and has the same rights, as intrinsic regions of France. As well as in any French department enforcement authority on Guadeloupe - prefecture led by the prefect. Aboriginal self-government institutions: the General council and Regional advice are selected for a period of six years by direct universal suffrage. In parliament of France Guadeloupe is presented by two senators and four deputies.

Island Guadeloupe of a vulcanic parentage, an island climate - active volcano Sufrier (1467 . Islands in the geological attitude are calcareous plateaus and vulcanic blocks. The climate of islands tropical, with a season of rains from July till October, flora is very rich.

Guadeloupe has been open by Christopher Columbus in 1493. Since 1635 the island became colony of France. Within 17-18 centuries Frenchmen invaded Guadeloupe Negroes-slaves from Africa. England captureed Guadeloupe twice, but since 1816 the island was definitively recognised possession of France. In 1848 Negroes-slaves have got liberty. In 1946 Guadeloupe has got the driver's licence of overseas department of France, in 1973 - the status of overseas region.

The Economy of Guadeloupe is controlled by the French corporations, in its basis the agriculture and tourist business lays. 56 % of treated lands it is occupied under a sugarcane, 27 % - under bananas, besides coconuts, pineapples, eggplants, citrous are cultivated. In animal husbandry breed large horned stock, pigs, goats, sheep for which bill it is supplied hardly more halfs of meat consumed on Guadeloupe. The trade of fish and marine animals is conducted also. Saccharum rehash is an industry key industry. Besides it effecting of rum, soft drinks, building timbers, textiles is adjusted. In sphere of service of tourists it is occupied 9  able-bodied population %; Guadeloupe attend nearby 350  thousand tourists a year. Main port of islands - Pointe-a-Pitre. In Basse-Terre the specialised port for loading of bananas is upbuilt. International airport Reze is had in 3  km from Pointe-a-Pitre. Import volumes of Guadeloupe seven times exceeds export volumes. Half of exported goods is compounded by bananas, Saccharum, rum are exported also. The basic trading partners of Guadeloupe: France (more 60  export and import %), Germany, Japan, Italy, Martinique, the USA. The French government annually renders to Guadeloupe financial aid in a size 750  million francs. About third of economically active population - the unemployed. In the capacity of monetary unit on islands the franc France is used.