Geography of Haiti

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Geography of Haiti
HaitiOMC.png
Continent Americas
Region Caribbean
Greater Antilles
Coordinates 19°00′N72°25′W / 19.000°N 72.417°W / 19.000; -72.417
Area Ranked 147th
  Total27,560 km2 (10,640 sq mi)
Coastline1,771 km (1,100 mi)
Borders Total land borders:
388 km
Highest point Pic la Selle
2,680 m
Lowest point Caribbean Sea
0 m
Longest river Artibonite River
Largest lake Étang Saumâtre
Exclusive economic zone126,760 km2 (48,940 sq mi)

The Republic of Haiti comprises the western three-eighths of the island of Hispaniola, west of the Dominican Republic. [1] [2] Haiti is positioned east of the neighboring island of Cuba, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean.

Contents

Haiti's total area is 27,560 square kilometres (10,641 sq mi), of which 27,560 square kilometres (10,641 sq mi) is land and 190 square kilometres (73 sq mi) is water. Haiti has 1,771 km (1,100 mi) of coastline and a 360 kilometres (224 mi)-border with the Dominican Republic.

Climate

Koppen climate types of Haiti Haiti Koppen.svg
Köppen climate types of Haiti

The climate is tropical with some variation depending on altitude. Port-au-Prince ranges in January from an average minimum of 23 °C (73.4 °F) to an average maximum of 31 °C (87.8 °F); in July, from 25–35 °C (77–95 °F). The rainfall pattern is varied, with rain heavier in some of the lowlands and on the northern and eastern slopes of the mountains.

Port-au-Prince receives an average annual rainfall of 1,370 mm (53.9 in). There are two rainy seasons, April–June and October–November. Haiti is subject to periodic droughts and floods, made more severe by deforestation. Atlantic hurricanes are also a menace. For example, Hurricane Matthew caused large amounts of damage when it hit Haiti in 2016. [3]

Climate data for Port-au-Prince
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Average high °C (°F)31
(88)
31
(88)
32
(90)
32
(90)
33
(91)
35
(95)
35
(95)
35
(95)
34
(93)
33
(91)
32
(90)
31
(88)
33
(91)
Daily mean °C (°F)27
(81)
26.5
(79.7)
27
(81)
28
(82)
28
(82)
30
(86)
30
(86)
29.5
(85.1)
28
(82)
28
(82)
27
(81)
26.5
(79.7)
28.0
(82.3)
Average low °C (°F)23
(73)
22
(72)
22
(72)
23
(73)
23
(73)
24
(75)
25
(77)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(75)
23
(73)
22
(72)
23
(74)
Average rainfall mm (inches)33
(1.3)
58
(2.3)
86
(3.4)
160
(6.3)
231
(9.1)
102
(4.0)
74
(2.9)
145
(5.7)
175
(6.9)
170
(6.7)
86
(3.4)
33
(1.3)
1,353
(53.3)
Average rainy days (≥ 1 mm)3571113871112127399
Mean monthly sunshine hours 279.0254.2279.0273.0251.1237.0279.0282.1246.0251.1240.0244.93,116.4
Source: Climate & Temperature [4]

Physical geography

Haiti's terrain varies, with more than three fourths of the territory above 700 feet (210 m). Its climate is predominantly tropical, with some smaller areas of semi-arid, subtropical, and oceanic climate. Fertile valleys are interspersed between the mountain ranges forming vast areas of contrast between elevations in many areas throughout the territory. Haiti (and Hispaniola) are separated from Cuba by way of the Windward Passage, a 45  nmi (83 km; 52 mi) wide strait that passes between the two countries.

Haiti's lowest elevation is reported by one source to be sea level (the Caribbean Sea [5] ), by another source to be below sea level (Gheskio clinic, Port-au-Prince [6] or in Gonaïves, <-1m [7] ), while its highest point is Pic la Selle at 2,680 m (8,793 ft).

Islands

Numerous smaller islands make up a part of Haiti's total territory. The most notable islands are:

  1. Île de la Gonâve , the largest offshore island of mainland Hispaniola, is located to the west-northwest of Port-au-Prince in Haiti's Gulf of Gonâve, in the Caribbean Sea (the largest gulf of the Antilles). It has an area of 743 km2. Its Taíno name was Guanabo. La Gonâve was once a pirate base.
  2. Tortuga (Turtle), the second largest offshore island of the mainland, located off the northwest coast of Hispaniola, it is a Caribbean island. It has an area of 180 km2. The island was a major center of Caribbean piracy during the 17th century and has become famous in many works of literature and film. The island's name derives from the turtle-like shape of the island.
  3. Île à Vache (Cow Island) is a small and lush island located off southwestern of Haiti with a total area is 52 km2.
  4. Les Cayemites , a pair of islands located in the Gulf of Gonâve off the coast of southwest Hispaniola. It has a combined area of 45 km2.
  5. La Navasse , is a rocky outcropping that has been subject to an ongoing territorial dispute with the United States. The island is located 40 nautical miles (46 mi; 74 km) west of Jérémie on the south west peninsula of Haiti, [8] and measures 2 square miles (5.2 km2).

Haiti also has several lakes. The largest lake in Haiti, and the second largest lake of the island of Hispaniola and the West Indies, is Lake Azuei. It is located in the Cul-de-Sac Depression with an area of 170 km2. It is a saline lake with a higher concentration of salt than the sea water and harbors numerous fauna such as American crocodiles and American flamingos.

Lake Péligre is an artificial lake created by the construction of the Peligre Hydroelectric Dam.

Trou Caïman is a saltwater lake with a total area of 16.2 km2. Lake Miragoâne is one of the largest natural freshwater lakes in the Caribbean, with an area of 25 km2.

Statistics

Maritime claims
Climate
Tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds
Terrain
Mostly rough and mountainous
Natural resources
Bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower, arable land
Land use
  • Arable land: 36.28%
  • Permanent crops: 10.16%
  • Other: 53.56% (2012 est.)
Irrigated land
970 km3
Total renewable water resources
14.03 km3 (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
  • Total: 1.2 km3/yr (17%/3%/80%)
  • Per capita: 134.3 m3/yr (2009)
Natural hazards
Lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; periodic droughts
Extreme points
Environment—current issues
Extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment—international agreements

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of the Dominican Republic</span>

The Dominican Republic is a country in the West Indies that occupies the eastern five-eighths of Hispaniola. It has an area of 48,670 km2, including offshore islands. The land border shared with Haiti, which occupies the western three-eighths of the island, is 376 km long. The maximum length, east to west, is 390 km from Punta de Agua to Las Lajas, on the border with Haiti. The maximum width, north to south, is 265 km from Cape Isabela to Cape Beata. The capital, Santo Domingo, is located on the south coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haiti</span> Country in the Caribbean

Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti, and formerly known as Hayti, is a country on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and south of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. It occupies the western three-eighths of the island which it shares with the Dominican Republic. To its south-west lies the small Navassa Island, which is claimed by Haiti but is disputed as a United States territory under federal administration. Haiti is 27,750 km2 (10,714 sq mi) in size, the third largest country in the Caribbean by area, and has an estimated population of 11.4 million, making it the most populous country in the Caribbean and the 5th most populous country in North America. The capital is Port-au-Prince.

All of the major transportation systems in Haiti are located near or run through the capital, Port-au-Prince.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hispaniola</span> Caribbean island shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti

Hispaniola is an island in the Caribbean that is part of the Greater Antilles. Hispaniola is the most populous island in the West Indies, and the region's second largest in area, after the island of Cuba.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ouest (department)</span> Department of Haiti

Ouest (French) or Lwès is one of the ten departments of Haiti. It is located in south-central Haiti, linking the Great-North and the Tiburon Peninsula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nord-Est (department)</span> Department of Haiti

Nord-Est or Nodès is one of the ten departments of Haiti, located in northern Haiti. It has an area of 1,623 km2 (627 sq mi), making it the smallest of all the departments. It had an estimated population of 393,967 as of 2015. Its capital is Fort-Liberté. It was a part of the Nord department.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nord-Ouest (department)</span> Department of Haiti

Nord-Ouest (French) or Nòdwès is one of the ten departments of Haiti as well as the northernmost one. It has an area of 2,102.88 km2 (811.93 sq mi) and a population of 728,807. Its capital is Port-de-Paix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Étang Saumâtre</span> Salt lake in Plaine du Cul-de-Sac

Étang Saumâtre is the largest lake in Haiti and the second largest lake in the Dominican Republic and Hispaniola, after Lake Enriquillo. It is also known as Lake Azuéi ; its Taíno name was Yainagua.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Enriquillo</span> Saline lake in Hoya de Enriquillo

Lake Enriquillo is a hypersaline lake in the Dominican Republic located in the southwestern region of the country. Its waters are shared between the provinces of Bahoruco and Independencia, the latter of which borders Haiti. Lake Enriquillo is the largest lake in both the Dominican Republic and Hispaniola, as well as the entire Caribbean. It is also the lowest point for an island country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort-Liberté</span> Commune in Nord-Est, Haiti

Fort-Liberté is a commune and administrative capital of the Nord-Est department of Haiti. It is close to the border of the Dominican Republic and is one of the oldest cities in the country. Haiti's independence was proclaimed here on November 29, 1803.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenscoff</span> Commune in Ouest, Haiti

Kenscoff is a commune in the Port-au-Prince Arrondissement, in the Ouest department of Haiti, located in the foothills of the Chaîne de la Selle mountain range, some 10 kilometres to the southeast of the capital city of Port-au-Prince. The elevation is approximately 1500 meters, making the town the highest permanent settlement in the Caribbean. It has a population of around 52,200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiburon Peninsula</span> Region and peninsula in Haïti

The Tiburon Peninsula, or The Xaragua Peninsula, simply "the Tiburon", is a region of Haiti encompassing most of Haiti's southern coast. It starts roughly at the southernmost point of the Haiti-Dominican Republic border and extends westward near Cuba, forming a large headland. Three of Haiti's ten departments are located entirely within the region. They are the departments of Grand'Anse, Nippes and Sud.

Plain of the Cul-de-Sac is a fertile lowland on the island of Hispaniola. It extends from southeastern Haiti into the southwestern Dominican Republic, where it is known as the Hoya de Enriquillo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Haiti</span> Overview of and topical guide to Haiti

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Haiti:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cordillera Central, Dominican Republic</span> Mountain range in the Dominican Republic

The Cordillera Central is the highest mountain range in the Dominican Republic and in all of the Caribbean, running through the heart of the island of Hispaniola.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enriquillo–Plantain Garden fault zone</span> Seismic fault in the Caribbean

The Enriquillo–Plantain Garden fault zone is a system of active coaxial left lateral-moving strike slip faults which runs along the southern side of the island of Hispaniola, where Haiti and the Dominican Republic are located. The EPGFZ is named for Lake Enriquillo in the Dominican Republic where the fault zone emerges, and extends across the southern portion of Hispaniola through the Caribbean to the region of the Plantain Garden River in Jamaica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife of Haiti</span>

The wildlife of Haiti is important to the country because of its biodiversity. According to the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Haiti is considered to be "one of the most biologically significant countries of the West Indies". With an estimated 5,600 plant species on the island of Hispaniola, some of which only occur in Haiti, 36% are considered as endemic to the island. A mountainous area country, it is situated in the western three-eighths of Hispaniola and shares a border with the Dominican Republic. There are nine life zones, from low desert to high cloud forests, as well as four mountain ranges, and hundreds of rivers and streams and the coral reefs in the seas that surround the islands. Issues of environmental damage, expanding population, deforesting and erosion are of concern; less than 2% of the original forest remains on account of deforestation. This degradation is traced from the 17th century to 19th century starting with the French colonization of the Haiti and population explosion during the 20th century and for the purpose of forestry and sugar-related industries, degraded the forests. and the environment.

The Massif du Nord is the longest mountain range of Haiti.

References

  1. Dardik, Alan, ed. (2016). Vascular Surgery: A Global Perspective. Springer. p. 341. ISBN   978-3-319-33745-6.
  2. Josh, Jagran, ed. (2016). "Current Affairs November 2016 eBook". p. 93.
  3. Stewart, Stacy R (April 3, 2017). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Matthew 2016 (PDF) (Technical report). United States National Hurricane Center. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  4. "Port-Au-Prince, Haiti". Climate & Temperature. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  5. CIA factbook
  6. Wall Street Journal, Feb 20–21, 2010
  7. Several sources, such as http://www.france24.com/en/20080911-disaster-aftermath-hurrican-ike-hanna-gonaives-haiti Archived 2008-09-19 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Rohter, Larry (October 19, 1998). "Whose Rock Is It? Yes, the Haitians Care". Port-au-Prince Journal. The New York Times . Retrieved January 28, 2012.

External resources