Terre-de-Bas Island

Terre-de-Bas

Terre-de-Bas view from Chameau hill on Terre-de-Haut.
Geography
Location Caribbean sea
Coordinates 15°51′N 61°37′W / 15.850°N 61.617°WCoordinates: 15°51′N 61°37′W / 15.850°N 61.617°W
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
France
Overseas department Guadeloupe
Canton les Saintes
commune Terre-de-Bas
Largest settlement 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 in the French department of Guadeloupe.[1]

Geography

Description

Terre-de-Bas island is the most occidental island of the archipelago of les Saintes. Like its neighbour Terre-de-Haut, it derives its name from maritime speak 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 a 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 point of the island is Abymes hill with a 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 :

Populated areas

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

Demography

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] (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]

Economy

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]

Sights

See also

References