Saint-Pierre and Miquelon

Saint Pierre and Miquelon (Saint-Pierre et Miquelon) the possession of France occupying vile archipelago from 8  islands (the largest - Sen-Per, Mikelon, Langlad) at east shores of the North America, to the south of island Newfoundland. An archipelago total area 242  sq. km (from them island Mikelon - 216  sq. km). The possession population - 6,4  thousand persons (1990), in the core natives of France. An official language - French, the majority of believers - roman catholics. An administrative centre - Sen-Per with the population 5,7  thousand persons.

Saint Pierre and Miquelon is special territorial unit France. The Chief executive on islands is the prefect quoted as the French government. Selected for six years the population of islands the General council carries out local government functions, but its authorities are hardly restricted. Saint Pierre and Miquelon are presented in parliament of France by one senator and one deputy of National meeting.

Islands have been open in 1520  to year the Portuguese seafarers. In 1604 the archipelago began to accustom the French settlers. Up to 1816 Saint Pierre and Miquelon was installation of struggle between France and the Great Britain. In 1946 the archipelago has got the driver's licence of overseas terrain of France, in 1976 - overseas department, in 1985 - special territorial unit of France.

Fishery always was a basis for economy of Saint Pierre and Miquelon. In connection with signing in 1989 of the ex-Canadian agreement on delimitation of economic areas in the northwest of Atlantic ocean, fishermen of Saint Pierre and Miquelon since 1992 had to terminate large-scale industrial fishing. Now fishing to neritic region of archipelago is conducted in the restricted scales. Besides the factories rybopererabotki, on islands small engineering workses and ship-building shipyards act. In 1988 upgrade of the largest fishing port Sen-Per has been spent, in 1996 on islands the new airport has been open. Agriculture management on archipelago is hindered unfavorable climatic and soil conditions. Only on island Sen-Per vegetables are cultivated for a home consumption, and on Mikelone breed large horned stock, pigs and sheep. Last years on islands tourism has started to educe, in 1994 archipelago have attent 15  thousand tourists. The basic foreign trade partners of Saint Pierre and Miquelon: Canada, the USA. France, the Netherlands, the Great Britain. From islands export fish and products rybopererabotki, doggers. The import volume of islands several times exceeds export volumes. Nearby 10 % of able-bodied population of islands have no job. France renders to Saint Pierre and Miquelon significant financial aid. In the capacity of monetary unit on islands the franc France is used.