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Geography and Environment of Haiti
Terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, and environmental conditions of Haiti.
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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.
Detailed geography
Physical Features
- Terrain
- mostly rough and mountainous
- 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.
- Weather Patterns
- http://voap.weather.com/weather/oap/HAXX0004?template=TRVLH&par=1003114983&unit=0&key=5b85ae1d85877a1b34827fba743e2133
- Highest Point
- 2680 — Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m
- Lowest Point
- Caribbean Sea 0 m
Borders and Area
- Area (Comparative)
- slightly smaller than Maryland
- Border Countries
- Dominican Republic 360 km
Natural Resources and Hazards
- 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
Environment and Land Use
- Current 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
- 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