Haiti with its capital Port-au-prince, is slightly smaller than Maryland
and encompasses a total area of 27,750 sq. km. The climate is tropical but
semiarid where mountains in the east cut off trade winds. The terrain is mostly
rough and mountainous. Their natural resources are: bauxite, copper, calcium
carbonate, gold, marble, and hydropower.
The official languages of Haiti are French and Creole with a reported population of 6,964,549. The main industries are: sugar refining, flour milling, textiles, cement, tourism, and light assembly industries based on imported parts. Coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum, and wood are agricultural products commonly cultivated for income. Much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel. Extensive deforestation, soil erosion, and inadequate supplies of potable water are the current environmental issues that the people of Haiti must deal with.
Click here for information about the wildlife and habitats of North America.