Basse-Terre
Encyclopedia
Basse-Terre is the prefecture (Capital city) of Guadeloupe
, an overseas region and department of France located in the Lesser Antilles
. The city of Basse-Terre is located on Basse-Terre Island
, the western-half of Guadeloupe.
Although it is the administrative capital of Guadeloupe, Basse-Terre is only the second largest city in Guadeloupe behind Pointe-à-Pitre
with its urban area, with 44,864 inhabitants in 1999 (12,400 of whom lived in the city of Basse-Terre proper).
in 1976, with its French provincial atmosphere and colourful port life.
and a tropical monsoon climate
. While Basse-Terre does feature a drier stretch from January through March, the town does not quite have a dry season
month. The town’s driest month (February) sees on average roughly 60 mm of precipitation. A monthly precipitation average below 60 mm is considered dry season month. As is the norm with cities with these two climate types, Basse-Terre features relatively consistent temperatures throughout the year.
, La Gauloise de Basse-Terre
and Etoile du Carmel. Racing Club
have won three league titles, most recently in 2004. Another Basse-Terre-based club, Cygne Noir, won the league in 1963, but they no longer compete in the top-flight.
Sports stadiums in the capital include Stade St. Claude, a stadium with a capacity of 3,000 that is currently used for association football by the Guadeloupe football team and clubs Racing Club de Basse-Terre
and La Gauloise de Basse-Terre
as well as being a multi-use stadium.
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
, an overseas region and department of France located in the Lesser Antilles
Lesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
. The city of Basse-Terre is located on Basse-Terre Island
Basse-Terre Island
Basse-Terre Island is the name of the western-half of Guadeloupe proper, in the Lesser Antilles. It is separated from the other half of Guadeloupe proper, Grande-Terre, by a narrow sea channel called the Rivière Salée ....
, the western-half of Guadeloupe.
Although it is the administrative capital of Guadeloupe, Basse-Terre is only the second largest city in Guadeloupe behind Pointe-à-Pitre
Pointe-à-Pitre
Pointe-à-Pitre is the largest city of Guadeloupe, an overseas région and département of France located in the Lesser Antilles, of which it is a sous-préfecture, being the seat of the Arrondissement of Pointe-à-Pitre....
with its urban area, with 44,864 inhabitants in 1999 (12,400 of whom lived in the city of Basse-Terre proper).
History
The city was founded in 1643, in the mountainous section of Basse-Terre, one of the two islands which compose Guadeloupe. It was destroyed many times as a consequence of the Anglo-French wars. Today the town is quiet due to the eruption of La Grande SoufriereLa Grande Soufrière
La Grande Soufrière, , is an active stratovolcano located on the French island of Basse-Terre, in Guadeloupe. It is the tallest mountain in the Lesser Antilles, and rises 1,467 m high....
in 1976, with its French provincial atmosphere and colourful port life.
Sights
In town is the Cathedral of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, a 19th century building which has a notable grey stone highlighted by white statues; many other colonial buildings; La place du Champ d'Arbaud, the main square and Le Jardin Pichon, the park adjoining to the south & the Zoological and Botanical Park lies on a 1500 feet (457.2 m) hilltop garden on the banks of La Rivière-aux-Herbes. This is a reserve of the plants and animals of Guadeloupe.Climate
Basse-Terre lies at a transitional point between a tropical rainforest climateTropical rainforest climate
A tropical rainforest climate, also known as an equatorial climate, is a tropical climate usually found along the equator...
and a tropical monsoon climate
Tropical monsoon climate
Tropical monsoon climate, occasionally also known as a tropical wet climate or tropical monsoon and trade-wind littoral climate in climate classification, is a relatively rare type of climate that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification category "Am."Tropical monsoon climates have monthly...
. While Basse-Terre does feature a drier stretch from January through March, the town does not quite have a dry season
Dry season
The dry season is a term commonly used when describing the weather in the tropics. The weather in the tropics is dominated by the tropical rain belt, which oscillates from the northern to the southern tropics over the course of the year...
month. The town’s driest month (February) sees on average roughly 60 mm of precipitation. A monthly precipitation average below 60 mm is considered dry season month. As is the norm with cities with these two climate types, Basse-Terre features relatively consistent temperatures throughout the year.
Sport
Three association football teams based in Basse-Terre compete in the Guadeloupe Division d'Honneur, the country's top division. These teams are Racing Club de Basse-TerreRacing Club de Basse-Terre
Racing Club de Basse-Terre is a football club in Guadeloupe, based in the country's capital city Basse-Terre.They play in Guadeloupe's second division, the Promotion d'Honneur Regionale.-Achievements:*Guadeloupe Championnat National: 3...
, La Gauloise de Basse-Terre
La Gauloise de Basse-Terre
La Gauloise de Basse-Terre is a football club in Guadeloupe, based in the country's capital city Basse-Terre.They play in Guadeloupe first division, the Guadeloupe Championnat National.-Achievements:*Guadeloupe Championnat National: 2...
and Etoile du Carmel. Racing Club
Racing Club de Basse-Terre
Racing Club de Basse-Terre is a football club in Guadeloupe, based in the country's capital city Basse-Terre.They play in Guadeloupe's second division, the Promotion d'Honneur Regionale.-Achievements:*Guadeloupe Championnat National: 3...
have won three league titles, most recently in 2004. Another Basse-Terre-based club, Cygne Noir, won the league in 1963, but they no longer compete in the top-flight.
Sports stadiums in the capital include Stade St. Claude, a stadium with a capacity of 3,000 that is currently used for association football by the Guadeloupe football team and clubs Racing Club de Basse-Terre
Racing Club de Basse-Terre
Racing Club de Basse-Terre is a football club in Guadeloupe, based in the country's capital city Basse-Terre.They play in Guadeloupe's second division, the Promotion d'Honneur Regionale.-Achievements:*Guadeloupe Championnat National: 3...
and La Gauloise de Basse-Terre
La Gauloise de Basse-Terre
La Gauloise de Basse-Terre is a football club in Guadeloupe, based in the country's capital city Basse-Terre.They play in Guadeloupe first division, the Guadeloupe Championnat National.-Achievements:*Guadeloupe Championnat National: 2...
as well as being a multi-use stadium.