Total area: 425 sq mi (1,100 sq km)
Population (2007 est.): 439,202
Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Fort-de-France - 170,300 (metro. area)
Other large cities: Le Lamentin - 36,400; Schoelcher - 21,400; Sainte-Marie - 20,600
Currency: Euro
Languages: French (official), Creole
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 10.5%, other 4.5%
Time zone: GMT-4, DST is not observed
Electricity: AC 220V/50Hz, plugs with 2 round pins (European standard) are used
Martinique is an island in the Caribbean Sea, part of the Lesser Antilles, situated about 483 km (300 miles) northeast of Venezuela, north of St. Lucia and south of Dominica. The island is around 70 km (43.5 miles) long and 30 km (18.6 miles) wide at its largest point.
This mountainous island is of volcanic origin which gives it a unique, spectacular landscape, particularly in the North, dominated there by the active volcano Mount Pelée, at 1397 m (4,583 feet).
The South of the island offers beautiful beaches, bays, creeks and mangroves as well as and Mount Vauclin, an extinct volcano. Most tourist resorts are located in the South: Trois-Ilets, Anses-d’Arlet, Diamant, Sainte-Anne, Sainte-Luce or Le Marin.
Martinique is an overseas department of
France and part of the European Union.
