Lascahobas

Lascahobas
Laskawobas
Lascahobas

Location in Haiti

Coordinates: 18°49′46″N 71°56′11″W / 18.82944°N 71.93639°WCoordinates: 18°49′46″N 71°56′11″W / 18.82944°N 71.93639°W
Country Haiti
Department Centre
Arrondissement Lascahobas
Settled 1763[1]

Lascahobas (Haitian Creole: Laskawobas; Spanish: Las Caobas) is a commune located in the central plateau of Haiti, roughly one hour east of Mirebalais, 10 minutes south of Lac de Peligre, and one hour west of the border with the Dominican Republic.

The population is about 7,574 people, as of 2012.[2]

History and character

Lascahobas is the market town of a rural, agricultural area. Outlying villages in the area include Cohoroes, Rantamoulie, LaHoye, and Pouly (also spelled Poulie). The city and villages surrounding it have been the focus of missionary work by the Episcopal Church in the early 21st Century.[3][4]

It was founded as Las Caobas by Spanish colonists in 1763.[1]

Economy

Primarily agricultural, with a bustling local market and a large Roman Catholic church, the city sits on the significant Lascahobas River.

The wealthiest business in town is the local mortuary, which also serves beer.[5]

Lascahobas has an Episcopal church, St. Esprit (Holy Spirit), which also has a school.[3][6][7] As of early 2013, the Rector of the Church of the Holy Spirit was The Rev. Jean Milor Medela; Fr. Medela also serves as priest at the Church of the Ascension in Poulie.[4]

2010 Haiti earthquake damaged some parts of Lascahobas, but didn't affect the ongoing installment of solar panels for electricity. In 2011, volunteers from the United States installed solar panels to allow for Internet connections.[8][9] Intallation was completed in early 2013.[3][4]

Tourism

Vodou festivals occur regularly throughout much of the year in the surrounding hills.

Mon Fo, located on the west edge of town is the highest elevation in the area, that at some point was used as a military fort. All that remains of the fort are crumbling ruins of walls and a large cannon with a Fleur de Lis.

Carnevale is celebrated annually in nearby Pouly.[3]

Transportation

Lascahobas is bisected by Route 305.[10]

Education

There are two primary schools, one Roman Catholic and one Episcopal, in Lascahobas. Each of the four outlying villages also has a primary school operated by the Episcopal church.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Emilio Cordero Michel, Roberto Cassá. "La Huella Hispánica en la Sociedad Dominicana" [The Spanish trace in the Dominican Society]. 2013 (in Spanish). Historia Dominicana (The authors belong to the Dominican Academy of History). Archived from the original on 21 June 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  2. ↑ Mongabay.com website "Population of Lascahobas, Haiti". Mongabay. January 19, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Mission from the Cathedral: Mission Trip to Haiti: Two teams over Two Weeks: School Support: medical team," Swan & Elk (newsletter of the Cathedral of All Saints, Albany, New York), Eastertide 2013, pp. 6-7.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 David J. Collum, "The Albany Mission Trip to Haiti", Newsleter, Episcopal Diocese of Albany, May 2013, p. 18.
  5. ↑ Lyon, Evan (Fall 2005). NYU Medical School website "The Only Fat Man in Lascahobas". Bellevue Literary Review. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
  6. ↑ Episcopal Church website "St. Esprit, Lascahobas, Haiti". Episcopal Church. 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
  7. ↑ Engineers for a Sustainable World website "Solar Classroom in Lascahobas, Haiti". Engineers for a Sustainable World. January 2010. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
  8. ↑ Horsman, Laura (January 10, 2012). renewableenergyworld.com website "Solar-powered Internet Connectivity in Lascahobas, Haiti". Renewable Energy World. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
  9. ↑ Internet Society website "Final Report: Connecting the Community of Lascahobas, Haiti to the Internet (abstract)". Internet Society. January 2, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Lascahobas: Haiti". Google Maps. Retrieved April 16, 2013.

External links