Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe is an overseas department and region of the French Republic.

It is located in the Caribbean Sea where it meets the western Atlantic Ocean. The archipelago sits within the Leeward Islands in the northern Lesser Antilles. This area is a partly volcanic island arc. To the north of Guadeloupe lie Antigua and Barbuda and Montserrat. To the south lies the island of Dominica. Because it is an integral part of France, it is also a constituent territory of the European Union. This means the euro is the official currency. Any citizen of the European Union may settle or work there indefinitely. However, Guadeloupe is not part of the Schengen Area.

The geography of the archipelago is quite diverse.

It consists of more than 12 islands, islets, and rocks. The two primary islands are Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre. Together, they form a butterfly shape when viewed from above. The Rivière Salée and the Petit Terre separate these two main wings. Basse-Terre makes up more than half of the total land surface. It covers 847.8 square kilometers. This island is very mountainous. It contains peaks like Mount Sans Toucher and Grande Découverte. It also hosts the active volcano La Grande Soufrière. This volcano is the highest peak in the Lesser Antilles at 1,467 meters.

In contrast, Grande-Terre offers a different landscape. It is mostly flat. The northern part has rocky coasts. The center features irregular hills. The southwest is covered in mangrove. Along the southern shore, you will find white sand beaches. These beaches are sheltered by coral reefs. This is where most tourist resorts are located.

Other significant islands include Marie-Galante, which is the third-largest. La Désirade is also part of the group. It is a north-east slanted limestone plateau. The highest point on La Désirade is 161 meters. To the south are the Îles de Petite-Terre. These consist of Terre de Haut and Terre de Bas. They total about 2 square kilometers.

The history of the islands began long before European arrival. Indigenous peoples populated the islands possibly as far back as 3000 BC. The Arawak people were the first identifiable group. They called the archipelago the "Island of Beautiful Waters."

Later, the Kalina-Carib peoples displaced the Arawak. Archaeological sites like the Morel site in Le Moule show artifacts from 400 BC to 1400 AD. In 1493, Christopher Columbus became the first European to see the islands. He named them after Our Lady of Guadalupe. This was a shrine in the Spanish town of Guadalupe, Extremadura.

When the islands became a French colony, the Spanish name remained. However, the French changed the spelling and pronunciation.

Colonization brought significant changes and hardship. In 1626, Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc began French interest in the islands. The Compagnie des Îles de l'Amérique settled the land in 1635. This led to many Indigenous deaths from disease and violence. By 1640, the company went bankrupt. Charles Houël du Petit Pré then took over and began plantation agriculture. The first African slaves arrived in 1650. This led to widespread slave resistance. An uprising occurred in 1656. Later, the Code Noir was enforced in 1685 to manage institutionalized slavery. This created a booming sugar plantation economy.

The islands changed hands several times between France and Britain during various wars. For example, the British occupied the islands during the Seven Years' War. Under the 1763 Treaty of Paris, France actually gave up its Canadian colonies to get Guadeloupe back.

The 19th century saw continued struggle and shifting populations. In 1802, a French force led by Antoine Richepanse arrived. This prompted a rebellion by black officers. The conflict ended with the Battle of Matouba. Leader Louis Delgrès and his followers chose mass suicide over surrender.

Slavery was officially abolished in the French Empire in 1848. After this, many indentured labourers arrived from Pondicherry and India. About 41,000 people were brought in total. These citizens fought for political rights for many years. Henry Sidambarom led a campaign that won the vote for Indian citizens in 1923.

Modern Guadeloupe is a complex society. In 2024, the population reached 395,726 people.

French is the official language, spoken by 84% of the population. Many people also speak Guadeloupean Creole, known as "Kréyòl Gwadloup." The capital is Basse-Terre. The most populous city is Les Abymes. Pointe-à-Pitre serves as the main business center. The islands have faced social tensions regarding their relationship with mainland France. In 2009, major strikes occurred over wages and the cost of living. These strikes lasted 44 days. Today, the islands remain a vital part of the French Republic and the European Union.