Nord, officially Department du Nord (English: Department of the North) is one of the ten departments of Haiti, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, the Northeast Department to the east, the Artibonite Valley to the south, and the Northwest Department to the west. A mostly fertile area, the North Department is divided into seven boroughs. The Citadelle is also located in the North Department, as is the Labadee Cruise Ship Terminal. The department has an area of 2,106 km² (813 sq.mi) and its capital is Cap-Haïtien. With an estimated 1,067,177 inhabitants in 2015, it is Haiti's third most populous department.
The department is named after its location on a compass in relation to Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti and most populous city. Over 60% of the department's population lives in the Cap-Haïtien metropolitan area, a region influential upon Haitian history, academia, and industry.
Nord, Haiti Departmental Flag
Location in Haiti
Woman in Nord, Haiti
Haiti's Northern Department is the site of the most beautiful and breath-taking coastal cities and towns in the country.
Pont Parois (Nord, Haiti)
Lodging - Nord, Haiti
Apart from the towns of Milot, Bas-Limbé, Bahon, La Victoire, and Ranquitte, the Northern Department's urban network is a legacy of the colonial period, dominated by a dense coastal network. This high-density population center is not the result of chance, it is the result of intense development, thanks to the exploitation and optimum development of its soil during the colonial period. Thus to date, this urban system has not evolved, it has retained the same forms of spatial distribution of the colonial era [1].
History[]
The North was one of five departments admitted to the Republic of Haiti, as per the constitution dated October 18, 1888. At the time of its establishment, the population was recorded at 250,000, supported by nine senators, and 8 comprising boroughs, namely Cap-Haïtien, le Trou, Fort-Liberté, Grande-Rivière-du-Nord, le Borgne, Limbé, Vallières, and Plaisance.
The North continues to remember the earthquakes that occurred in 1777 and 1842. On August 22, 1791, a widespread slave insurrection took place in the North. In 1793, Civil Commissioner Sonthonax declared the universal emancipation of slaves. On February 17, 1897, the State of the North was proclaimed, with Christophe being elected as president for life and subsequently taking the title of king as Henri I. Following Christophe's downfall on October 8, 1820, the Northern Kingdom was reintegrated into the Republic, with the Artibonite department being a part of the Northern Kingdom.
Dissatisfied with the administration of President Charles Hérard (senior), the Northern region once again declared its independence and appointed Pierrot as its chief general on April 24, 1814. This appointment was subsequently recognized by the remainder of the Republic, preventing any division, and Pierrot assumed the role of President of the Republic.
Following the death of Seïde Télémaque in Port-au-Prince on September 28, 1838, the North revolted, alleging that Seïde had been murdered in the capital. Initially, the government offered protection, while General Legitime dispatched two army corps to engage in combat. Ultimately, he emerged victorious due to his strong sense of discipline.
Geography[]
The North Department encompasses the North Plain region of northern Haiti. It is the second most densely populated of the 10 departments, after the Ouest.
Exterior boundaries
North: Atlantic Ocean
East: Northeast Department
Southeast: Central Department
West: Artibonite Department
Northwest: Northwest Department
Interior boundaries
The department is divided into 7 arrondissements:
Meet the boroughs[]
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The mountainous regions of this department belong to the Plaisance Range, which includes the Cahos and the Montagnes Noires. The latter two are located within the Artibonite Department.
The northern region is connected to the south via the postal road that traverses the Plaisance and Limbé gorges, situated at an elevation of 1,000 meters (3,280 ft.).
The notable gulfs and bays include the Fort Liberté, Caracol, and L'Acul bays. The rivers in this region consist of the Bouyaha, Borgne (also known as Estère), Massacre, Red (or Limbé) River, Grande Rivière du Nord, and Matrie. The area is characterized by virgin forests.
The fertile and thriving plains stretch from the Massacre River to the boundaries of Port Margot, encompassing an estimated total area of around 90 square kilometers (35 sq. miles). The region enjoys a mild climate and a healthy atmosphere.
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Climate[]
There is a significant climate difference between the North and the South. By late November, the northern region experiences refreshing breezes. Drought typically starts in April. During the day, the main winds in the northern plains come from the East-Northeast, while at night they shift to the West-Southwest. Winds from the northwest and southeast are rare, with the northwest bringing rain. The wet season runs from around October to mid-March.
Geology[]
The region boasts a rich and diverse mineralogy, including deposits of silver, magnetite, copper, iron, mercury, and sulfur.
Additionally, there are slate quarries, as well as deposits of red ochre, yellow and purple, pyromach flint, agate, rock crystal, alabaster, antimony, talc, marble, mica, jasper, spar, guano, natural ink sources, porphyry, chaoite, granite, lapis lazuli, basalts, and mineral waters.
The area also provides lumber suitable for construction, dyeing, and cabinetmaking, along with bamboo, a variety of foodstuffs, grains, vegetables, fossils, shells, and sea turtles. It is known for superior hunting and cattle farming.
Due to its exposure to the north wind, this region frequently experiences strong storms during the winter months from November to April, which can result in significant damage. The nights and mornings are characterized by cold temperatures, leading to limited plant growth. Along the northern coast, a sea breeze typically originates from the Northeast.
City of Cap-Haïtien
Sports
Michael Vedrine