Petite Gonâve (also Île Petite Gonâve) is a small inhabited island located off the southeastern coast of Gonâve Island in Haiti's Gulf of Gonâve, positioned southeast of the Petite Anse region on the main island. The island exhibits a striking east-west division in both geology and land use, with the western portion supporting a dense cluster of approximately 60-80 structures forming a compact fishing village, while the eastern and northern portions are characterized by extensive exposed white surfaces. The settlement occupies the most sheltered area on the western side, where darker vegetation—likely consisting of hardy coastal species and possibly some cultivation—provides contrast to the barren, sun-bleached eastern expanses.
Neighboring regions[]
| Northwest 6e Petite-Anse |
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La Gonâve |
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|---|---|---|
| 〰️South〰️ | Southeast Caye Sable |
The island's small size, estimated at less than one square kilometer, and its position as a satellite to Gonâve Island itself creates a condition of triple isolation: separated from the Haitian mainland by the Gulf of Gonâve, further isolated by being off the coast of Gonâve rather than directly accessible from the mainland, and constrained by the island's limited land area and resources. Residents likely depend entirely on maritime transport for connections to the Petite Anse area of main Gonâve and beyond, with fishing serving as the primary economic activity given the complete absence of agricultural land suitable for anything beyond the most minimal subsistence gardening.
Shallow waters surround much of the island, with Petite Baie located nearby, suggesting both navigational challenges and potential for near-shore fishing or shellfish harvesting. The concentration of structures in such a confined space, visible as tightly packed buildings with characteristic orange and gray roofing, reflects the extreme premium on habitable land when virtually the entire island consists of either exposed rock or minimal vegetation. This represents one of Haiti's most isolated permanent settlements, where residents have created a viable community despite extraordinary constraints on space, resources, and connectivity, relying on maritime skills, kinship networks, and adaptation to an environment that offers little margin for error.
Aerial view of Petite Gonâve Island, with the shores of La Gonâve's Petite-Anse emerging in the top-left corner.