Tortuga (or Tortuga Island) (French: Île de la Tortue, Kreyol: Latòti; Spanish: Isla Tortuga, English: Turtle Island) is a Caribbean island that forms part of Haiti, off the northwest coast of Hispaniola. It constitutes the commune of Tortuga in the Port-de-Paix Arrondissement of Haiti's Nord-Ouest department.
Île de la Tortue, Nord-Ouest, Haiti
About[]
This large and beautiful island, adjacent to the Republic of Haiti, is located at a distance from the coasts of the North West Department, across from Port-de-Paix. It is 9 leagues long and 3000 toises (3.6 miles) of average breadth. The channel or strait which separates it from the mainland between Cap Rouge and the eastern point of the tortoise is 16 kilometers (10 miles) wide; it narrows down in the middle to 8 kilometers.
The Moniteur of March 2, 1918 published an order revoking the authorization given to the Compagnie d'Exploitation de l'Ile de Ia Tortue and foreclosing the contracts concerning the concession of November 14, 1899 and September 1, 1915, pending the violation of the laws and statutes relating to the said company.
History[]
Named by Columbus, who, upon happening on the isle in 1492, forming out of the mist of the morning, likened its shape to that of a turtle, it was initially settled by colonists from Spain, but, first made a colony of Santo Domingo by the French. More people would eventually come, as, in the first quarter of the 1600's, additional French settlers, along with some English ones, would travel there. These new residents would, however, face an attack four years later by Don Fadrique de Toledo, who would see to their expulsion before fortifying the island.
Mid History
It wasn't until the 17th and 18th centuries that the island became synonymous with pirates. French, English and a smaller concentration of Dutch pirates would use Tortuga as their operations base, and the island quickly got the reputation for ill-repute often associated with locales considered the pirate capital of their regions.
Modern Times
Today, Tortuga has left its buccaneer past behind and has become synonymous with mountains, beaches and other natural attractions that make it a great tourist destination. With a population of just over 35,000 people, recorded in 2009, the tiny island is the perfect getaway for those seeking a Caribbean beach vacation
Geography[]
Île de la Tortue is 459 m (1,506 ft) above sea level.
The ground, steep on one side, rises on the other, gradually from the coast to the hill which occupies more or less the central regions. The tropical greenery spreads out there in all its magnificence: there are trees suitable for naval and civil constructions, for cabinetmaking and carpentry. Wild animals include oxen, horses, and a species of red crabs with a delicate taste. Fishing is the main industry for the inhabitants of the island. Its coasts provide a lot of sponge and carets. Its surface area is 11,734 squares of land
Administrative divisions
Île de la Tortue is coterminous with the commune of Tortuga, which is split into two communal sections; Pointe des Oiseax and Mare Rouge.
See also[]
- Buccaneers
- Piracy in the Caribbean
External links[]
Michael Vedrine