Haiti: GEOGRAPHY

Location: Haiti occupies the western third of the island of Hispaniola,

which is situated in the Caribbean between Cuba and Puerto Rico.

The Dominican Republic occupies the remainder of the island.

The Atlantic Ocean borders Haiti’s northern shores, while

the Caribbean Sea is to the west and south. The Windward

Passage separates Haiti from Cuba, which lies about 80 kilometers

to the northwest.

Size: Haiti occupies 27,750 square kilometers of land, making it approximately the same size as the state of Maryland.

Land Boundaries: Haiti shares a 360-kilometer border with the Dominican Republic to the east.

Disputed Territory: Traditional conflicts with the Dominican Republic over the border have been largely settled. The Protocol of Revision of 1936 set the present border.

Length of Coastline: Because of its horseshoe shape, Haiti has a disproportionately long coastline. In all, Haiti’s coastline stretches 1,771 kilometers, with prominent peninsulas in both the north and the south.

Maritime Claims: Haiti claims a territorial sea of 12 nautical miles, a contiguous zone of 24 nautical miles, an exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles, and a continental shelf to the depth of exploitation.

Topography: Haiti occupies the mountainous portion of the island of Hispaniola. Its land area includes numerous small islands as well as four large islands: Île de la Gonâve to the west, Île de la Tortue off the north coast, and Île à Vache and Grande Cayemite, situated, respectively, south and north of the southern peninsula. Five mountain ranges dominate Haiti’s landscape and divide the country into three regions⎯northern, central, and southern. Slopes of more than a 20 percent grade cover nearly two-thirds of the country. Plains constitute only about 20 percent of Haiti’s land, making cultivation difficult.

The northern region has the country’s largest coastal plain, the Plaine du Nord, which covers an area of 2,000 square kilometers. The north’s major mountain range, the Massif du Nord, buttresses this plain. The central region consists of the Central Plateau, which covers an area of more than 2,500 square kilometers, as well as two smaller plains and three mountain ranges. The Guayamouc River splits the Central Plateau and provides some of the country’s most fertile soil. Haiti’s southern region contains a series of small coastal plains as well as the mountains of the Massif de la Selle. It encompasses both Haiti’s highest point⎯Montagne Terrible, 2,684 meters⎯and the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac, which is a natural depression 12 kilometers wide and 32 kilometers wide.

Principal Rivers: Haiti’s rivers often overflow during the rainy season and conversely slow to a trickle during the dry season. Five rivers provide most of the country’s catchment: the Artibonite, Grand-Anse, L’Estère, Trois Rivières, and Cavaillon. The Artibonite is the country’s dominant drainage system and was dammed in 1956 to create Lac de Péligre. The Libon River, which feeds into the Artibonite, forms part of Haiti’s border with the Dominican Republic and also provides the country with most of its electricity⎯through the Péligre Dam, Haiti’s major hydroelectric facilty. In addition to rivers, the country’s mountainous terrain also has created a series of short and swift streams, running between mountain ridges.

Climate: Haiti has a tropical climate with distinct dry and wet seasons⎯the former from December to February and the latter between April and November. The eastern region of the country is the exception to the tropical climate. Mountains block trade winds there, creating a semiarid climate. Rainfall varies considerably. In the northwest, rainfall averages about 300 millimeters annually while the southwestern mountains receive more than 3,000 millimeters of rain each year. In terms of temperature, the coastal regions enjoy averages near 27° C with only minor variations throughout the year. By contrast, the mountainous regions regularly experience fronts during the winter months. Because of the northeast trade winds, the entire country periodically faces extreme weather conditions. Haitians must contend with hurricanes, droughts, floods, and other natural disasters.

Natural Resources: Haiti has limited natural resources because of its relatively small land area and environmental degradation. Of Haiti’s natural resources, wood may be the most vital. Mangrove forests cover about 180 square kilometers of Haiti’s coastal areas. This valuable wood resource, however, is in decline as a result of overuse. In addition to wood, Haiti has some mineral deposits, including bauxite, copper, gold, and lignite. Known deposits of high-grade calcium carbonate exist but have yet to be mined. Haiti has numerous sites where construction materials⎯such as gravel, limestone, clay, and sand⎯can be gathered. Haiti’s rivers give the country access to hydropower, but the fluctuating water volumes make harnessing this resource difficult.

Land Use: By agronomic standards, the majority of Haiti’s land (63 percent) is too steep for agricultural production, and only about 28 percent is considered arable. Despite this fact, nearly 80 percent of the country’s area functions, at least temporarily, as agricultural land. These less than ideal conditions make yields low and stability difficult. Only 11.5 percent of the land is used for permanent crops. Irrigation is limited, and the government’s recent commitment to irrigating 40,000 hectares within five years was called off with only 5,600 hectares improved. Mountains take up a significant portion of the country, and concentrated urban areas house most of the country’s population.

Environmental Factors: Haiti faces a severe deforestation problem. In 1923 forests covered nearly 60 percent of the country; today they cover less than 2 percent. Until recently the government had done little to combat this problem. Because most Haitians still depend on wood and charcoal as their primary fuel source, energy alternatives are needed to save the forests. The 15-year Environment Action Plan, authorized in 1999, proposed to stop deforestation by developing alternative fuel sources. So far, however, political instability and lack of funding have limited the impact of this reform effort. Deforestation has led to soil erosion, which has decreased agricultural yields and resulted in deadly landslides. Urban environments suffer from a lack of sanitation. Vast slum areas, especially in the capital, Port-au-Prince, are filled with people living in squalid, unsanitary conditions.

Time Zone: Haiti operates five hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

	Web www.mongabay.com