In 1697, Spain ceded Haiti to France, who had established a permanent colony on the island of Tortuga in 1659 and a major settlement, Cap Francais, in Haiti in 1670. During this time of French rule, Haiti produced 60% of the world’s coffee and 40% of France’s sugar imports along with cotton and indigo. The French brought more slaves to the island, with numbers reaching a half million people. They retained possession of Haiti until January 1, 1804, when Haiti won its independence and became the first free black republic in the world.

Haiti’s history is one of occupation, uprisings and violence: Spain, France, and the United States have all occupied the small country, and Haiti has produced its own dictators as well. Today it has an elected government, with a president, prime minister and cabinet, although it is still a land of uncertainty, violence, and unrest.

Haiti’s name comes from the Taino/Arawak Indians and means "mountainous country." And it is indeed a rough and mountainous land. It has a tropical climate, except in those areas where the mountains cut off the trade winds and make the land semiarid. The island lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and so frequently experiences hurricanes and tropical storms. This climate along with deforestation have left Haiti with a severe erosion problem and a lack of potable water.

Today Haiti is classified as a fourth-world country and is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with approximately 80% of her population living in abject poverty.

To learn more about Haiti, go to  http://www.sun-sentinel.com and search for "Haiti: The Eroding Nation." and "HAITI A country in turmoil."

Location Caribbean Sea, island of Hispaniola

Area 10,714.33 sq miles (27,750 sq km; slightly smaller than Maryland)

Climate tropical and semiarid

Terrain rough and mountainous

Highest elevation Chaine de Selle, 8,793 feet (2,680 m)

Lowest elevation Caribbean Sea, 0 feet (0 m)

Natural hazards hurricanes and severe tropical storms June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; periodic droughts

Environmental concerns extensive deforestation (for agriculture and  fuel); soil erosion; inadequate supplies of  drinkable water

Population 8,121,622

Birth rate 36.59 births/1,000 pop. (2005 est.; U.S. comparison – 14.14 births/1,000 pop.)

Infant mortality rate 73.45 deaths/1,000 pop (2005 est.; U.S. comparison – 6.5 deaths/1,000 pop.)

Life expectancy at birth 52.92 years (U.S. comparison – 77.71 years)

HIV/Aids prevalence 5.6% (2003 est; U.S. comparison – 0.06%)

Ethnic groups 95% black, 5% mulatto and white

Religions 80% Roman Catholic, 16% Protestant, 1% none, 3% other; roughly half of the population practices Voodoo

Type elected government

Population below poverty line 80% (2003 est)

Information courtesy of The World Factbook 2005.