Haiti Geography

What is the terrain and geography like in Haiti?

Overview

Eighteenth-century Haiti, famed for its wealth and productivity, was known to the colonial world as the Pearl of the Antilles. Located in the Caribbean Sea on the western third of the island of Hispaniola, Haiti is a 10,700-square-mile area of primarily mountainous terrain, some of which rise above 8,000 feet, and 850 miles of spectacular coastline. Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, which occupies the eastern two-thirds.

Geography - note

shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)

Climate

Haiti's tropical climate produces seasonal rainfall, although large areas of the country are semiarid. Temperatures year round range from 70°F to 90°F with humidity sometimes high along the coast. Average annual rainfall varies from nearly zero in some areas to 53 inches in Port-au-Prince. The two rainy seasons that Port-au-Prince experiences are from April to June and from August to mid-November. Rain and accompanying thunder/lightning storms usually occur at dusk and at night, but the days remain clear and sunny. There is a crisp dry season from December to April. Surrounding mountains generally protect Port-au-Prince from Caribbean hurricanes.

Haiti Use of Natural Resources

Haiti Environment

Climate:

Haiti's tropical climate produces seasonal rainfall, although large areas of the country are semiarid. Temperatures year round range from 70°F to 90°F with humidity sometimes high along the coast. Average annual rainfall varies from nearly zero in some areas to 53 inches in Port-au-Prince. The two rainy seasons that Port-au-Prince experiences are from April to June and from August to mid-November. Rain and accompanying thunder/lightning storms usually occur at dusk and at night, but the days remain clear and sunny. There is a crisp dry season from December to April. Surrounding mountains generally protect Port-au-Prince from Caribbean hurricanes.

Terrain:

mostly rough and mountainous

Natural Resources:

bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower

Natural Hazards:

lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; periodic droughts

Irrigated Land:

375 Square Miles
970 Square Kilometers

Environmental Issues:

extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment - International Agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes

Haiti Geography

Geographic Location The Caribbean
Total Area 10,714 Square Miles
27,750 Square Kilometers
Land Area 10,641 Square Miles
27,560 Square Kilometers
Water Area 73 Square Miles
190 Square Kilometers
Land Boundaries 224 Miles
360 Kilometers
Irrigated Land 375 Square Miles
970 Square Kilometers
Border Countries Dominican Republic 360 km
Coastline 1,100 Miles
1,771 Kilometers
Geographic Coordinates 19 00 N, 72 25 W
Terrain mostly rough and mountainous
Highest Point 2,680 Meters
Highest Point Location Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m
Lowest Point Location Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural Resources bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower
Time Zone UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
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