Location:
Located in the heart of the Caribbean archipelago, Martinique is one of the Windward islands in the Lesser Antilles group.

Geography:
Martinique has a surface area of 425 square miles (50 miles length, 24 miles width). The rugged mountainous landscape to the north is geologically young. Mount Pelée is the island’s highest peak, it culminate at 4 500 feet. The north is characterized by dense forests, rivers and waterfalls. In the center, the Lamentin Plain transitions to the south’s gentler and geologically older landscape of rolling hills. The southern coast is dotted with many picturesque bays and coves. In the southernmost part of the island, a savanna of petrified trees is an unusual geological sight.

Climate:
The Martinique climate is fairly mild and the heat is never excessive. The trade winds from the east and northeast provide a steady breeze that constantly refreshes the air. Thanks to the average temperature of 79°F, Martinique is the island of the “never-ending summer.”
Due to the tropical climate conditions in Martinique, the island is lush with vegetation: lavish tropical forests, groves, savannas, countless species of trees, fruits, plants and flowers, not to mention the mangrove forests. All in all, the island is an extraordinary garden. The wildlife mainly consists of birds, fish and shellfish, as well as small lizards called “mabouyas” and “anolis”, iguanas and trigonocephalus snakes that are only found in Martinique. The mongoose, however, was introduced by humans to control the snake population.

Population and Culture:
Martinique has a multiethnic population. This diversity stems from the cultural mixing of the island’s successive inhabitants: Amerindians, Europeans, Africans, Indians, Levantines and Asians. Approximately one quarter of the population resides in the administrative capital, Fort de France. Martinique is truly a land of tradition and culture, with a rich history of crafts and literature by renowned authors and famous poets, music and dance, lifestyle and gastronomy. Numerous religious denominations are present in Martinique. The official language is French, although everyone speaks Creole, a language that is a blend of Old French, English, and African languages, as well as surviving Amerindian terms.