HAITI
(Republic of Haiti)

Capital: Port-au-Prince
Currency: Haitian Gourde (HTG)
Population: 10 847 334 people
GDP (PPP): $ 20 billion (2017)
Area: 27,750 sq.km.
Language: Haitian Creole, French, less English
Visa: Needed

ABOUT COUNTRY

The Republic of Haiti (French: Republique d'Aiti, Haitian Creole Aichi Repin) and formerly Haiti is a sovereign state located on the island of Hispaniola in the archipelago of the Great Antilles of the Caribbean Sea. It occupies the western three-eighths of the island, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Haiti is 27,750 square kilometers (10,714 square miles) and has an estimated 10.8 million people, making it the most populous country in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and the second most populous country in the Caribbean as a whole. Initially, the region was inhabited by indigenous peoples of Taino. Spain landed on the island on December 5, 1492 during the first voyage of Christopher Columbus across the Atlantic Ocean. When Columbus first landed in Haiti, he thought he had found India or China. On Christmas Day 1492, the flagship of Columbus, Santa Maria, sat north to what is now Limonade. As a consequence, Columbus ordered his people to save what they could from the ship, and he created the first European settlement in the Americas, calling it "La Navidad" after the day the ship was destroyed.

GEOGRAPHY

Haiti is located in the western part of Hispaniola, the second largest island in the Great Antilles. Haiti is the third largest country in the Caribbean for Cuba and the Dominican Republic (the latter has a border with Haiti for 360 kilometers (224 miles)). Haiti at the nearest point is approximately 45 nautical miles (83 km, 52 miles) from Cuba and consists of a horseshoe-shaped peninsula, and because of this it has a disproportionately long coastline and ranks second (1,771 km or 1,100 miles) for Cuba on the Great Antilles.
Haiti is the most mountainous nation in the Caribbean, and its area consists mainly of them, surrounded by small coastal plains and river valleys. The climate is tropical, with some variations depending on the altitude. The highest point is Pic-la-Celle, at an altitude of 2,680 meters (8,793 feet).

WEATHER

The climate of Haiti is tropical with some variations depending on the altitude. Port-au-Prince varies in January from an average low of 23 ° C (73.4 ° F) to an average maximum of 31 ° C (87.8 ° F); in July, from 25-35 ° C (77-95 ° F). The nature of the precipitation is varied, in some of the lowlands and the northern and eastern slopes of the mountains heavy rain. The Haiti dry season occurs from November to January.
Port-au-Prince receives an average annual rainfall of 1370 mm (53.9 inches). There are two rainy seasons, April-June and October-November. Haiti is subjected to periodic droughts and floods, is increasing as a result of deforestation. Hurricanes are also a threat. Thus, Haiti, as a rule, is a hot and humid tropical climate.

TOURISM

In 2014, the country received 1,250,000 tourists (mainly cruise ships), and in 2018 the industry produced 200 million dollars. USA. In December 2014, the US Department of State issued a warning of a trip to the country, noting that although thousands of American citizens are safely visiting Haiti every year, several foreign tourists were victims of burglary, mostly in the Port-au-Prince area.

Several hotels were opened in 2014, including the upscale Best Western Premier hotel, the five-star Royal Oasis hotel from the Occidental Hotel and Resorts in Petion-Ville, the four-star Marriott Hotel in the Turgueu region of Port-au-Prince and other new hotels in Port-ou -Prens, Le Cayce, Cap-Haitien and Jammel. Other tourist destinations include Ile-a-Vache, Camp Perrin, Makaya Peak.

The Haitian carnival was one of the most popular carnivals in the Caribbean. In 2018, the government decided to hold the event in another city outside of Port-au-Prince every year, trying to decentralize the country. The national carnival, which is usually held in one of the largest cities in the country (for example, Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haitin or Le-Case), follows the very popular Jacquel carnival, which takes place a week ago in February or March.