Terre-de-Bas view from Chameau hill on Terre-de-Haut. |
|
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Caribbean sea |
| Archipelago | Îles des Saintes |
| Total islands | 9 |
| Major islands | Terre-de-Bas |
| Area | 9 km2 (3.5 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 293 m (961 ft) |
| Highest point | Abymes hill |
| Country | |
| Overseas department | Guadeloupe |
| Canton | les Saintes |
| commune | Terre-de-Bas |
| Largest city | Petite-Anse |
| Mayor | Fred Beaujour |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 1030 (as of 2006 census) |
| Density | 114.44 /km2 (296.4 /sq mi) |
Terre-de-Bas Island (officially in french :Terre-de-Bas des Saintes (literally: Lowland of les Saintes)) is an island in the Îles des Saintes archipelago, in the Lesser Antilles. It belongs to the commune (municipality) of Terre-de-Bas into the french department of Guadeloupe. [1]
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Terre-de-Bas island is the most occidental island of the archipelago of les Saintes. Like its neighbour Terre-de-Haut, It holds its name from the maritime vocabulary which called the islands exposed to the wind hightland and those protected from the wind , lowlands. It is an island of 9 km2 (3.5 sq mi) dominated by an impressive mountain massif sheltering a protected forest in its center (Morne à Coq hill, Morne Paquette hill, Morne Madis hill, Morne Abymes hill) and a coast lined with cliffs and points (in french: Pointe) (Pointe à Nègre point, Gros cap cliff, Pointe à Vache point, Pointe Noire point, Pointe Sud point). The highest mount of the island is Abymes hill with the height of (293 metres (961 ft)) . Terre-de-Bas is separate from Terre-de-Haut by a narrow channel of 890 m (0.55 mi). Besides Terre-de-Haut, several small islands surround Terre-de-Bas :
Few villages are seen spread out in the rolling hills in the interior. Petite-Anse, the most important village of the island is located in a Valley encircled of mountain without views on the sea. Petite-Anse is the village where is the administrative buildings of the municipality (City hall, Post office, schools), on the opposite site of the principal harbour. The oldest settlement still remaining are the villages of Grande-Anse and Petite-Anse.The population is spread among 5 quartiers (district), more or less well delimited. They are grouped into two halves:
| eastside | Westside | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nr | Quartier | Nr | Quartier |
| 1 2 3 |
Anse des Mûriers Grande-Anse Grand-Baie |
4 5 |
Petite-Anse le Mapou |
Contrary to Terre-de-Haut, Terre-de-Bas island have a population composed of mixed peoples because of its historical short time of agricultural crop. The (Saintois) French: [sɛtwa] ( listen) (French gentilic of the inhabitants of les Saintes) from Terre-de-Bas were 1,030 inhabitants in 2006, with a density of population of 151 inhabitants / km2. The number of households was 377 in 2006 census.[3] The life expectancy is 75-year-old for men and to 82-year-old for women. The average number of children per woman is 2.32.[4]
The island lives essentially on fishing and craft industry. Contrary to Terre-de-Haut, Terre-de-Bas is unfrequented, however, tourism activities try to make a shy development since these three last years. A small West Indian bay tree (Pimenta racemosa) farm is more active and produce Bay rum" (a rub lotion which curatives qualities whose the efficiency was widely proved in the Antilles), for the regional markel.[5]