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INTRODUCTION
Haiti is part of the West Indies archipelago. The country gained Independence when in the late 18th
century, Haiti's nearly half million slaves revolted, and it became the first black republic in 1804. Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history since then, and is now one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere.
Location of Haiti
Haiti is bounded on the north by the Atlantic Ocean, on the east by the Dominican Republic, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the Windward Passage, a channel that separates the country from Cuba.
Physical Map of Haiti
Haiti is mountainous in most parts, with five mountain ranges crossing the country. The Chaīne du Haut Piton,
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runs along the northern peninsula, the Massif de la Selle, begins just southeast of Port-au-Prince and has Haiti's highest point of 8,793 ft at Pic la Selle. The Massif de la Hotte further runs along the western end of the southern peninsula. The other chains include the Massif des Montagnes Noires and Chaīne des Cahos, and the solitary peak of Montagne Terrible. The Gonāve Gulf contains the largest of Haiti's offshore islands, the island of Gonāve. As is characteristic of mountainous regions, Haiti's shoreline is irregular, and there are many natural harbors. The numerous rivers doting Haiti are short, swift, and un-navigable. The only navigable river is the Artibonite.
Climate of Haiti
Haiti has a tropical climate with significant variations. Rainfall varies from a high of 3,600 mm on the western tip of the southern peninsula to 600 mm on the southwest coast of the northern peninsula. The southwest receives most of the rains in early and late summer. Port-au-Prince, located at sea level, has a yearly average temperature of 27°C. In Kenscoff, located just south of Port-au-Prince at an elevation of 4,700 ft, the temperatures average is usually recorded at 16°C. Haiti is also vulnerable to hurricanes and is occasionally hit by destructive storms.
Flora And Fauna of Haiti
Deforestation for farms and wood has left Haiti with just few pine forests at high elevations and mangroves in inaccessible swamps. There are even fewer animals. Semi desert scrub covers the ground in drier zones. Coffee and cacao trees are spread across the mountains in scattered clumps. Caiman
and flamingo are the most common wildlife seen today. The deterioration of the environment has had a severe impact on the country's soil, and water resources too, so much so that the tropical reefs surrounding the country are now threatened.
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