Grande-Terre
Encyclopedia
- For other uses, see Grande TerreGrande TerreGrande Terre is a French name typically given to the principal island of an archipelago. It may refer to the following:* The main island of New Caledonia.* The largest of the Kerguelen Islands....
.
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...
, separated by 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 ....
by a salt river. Grande-Terre's northernmost point, Pointe de la Grande Vigie
Pointe de la Grande Vigie
Pointe de la Grande Vigie is the northernmost polint of the island of Grande-Terre in Guadeloupe, and as such is also the northernmost point of Guadeloupe as a whole....
, is also the northernmost point in Guadeloupe.
Despite its name, Grande-Terre (literally "Large Land" in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
) is smaller than its sister island Basse-Terre Island. This is because its name was given in contrast with the much smaller Petite Terre Islands
Petite Terre Islands
Petite Terre Islands are two small uninhabited islands located about to the south-east of the island of Grande-Terre in the archipelago of Guadeloupe, itself in the Lesser Antilles...
("Small Land" Islands), two very small islands located about 10 km south-east of the Grande-Terre (see map to the left).
Grande-Terre's indented coastline is surrounded by coral reef
Coral reef
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
s and the island itself is a limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
plateau. Its surface is a series of rolling hills, white sand beaches and cliffs. The island's beaches consist of both white and black sands, as well as beaches of golden sand. Of the two islands, Grande-Terre is home to the majority of Guadeloupe's farmlands and tourist resorts.
INSEE
INSEE is the French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies. It collects and publishes information on the French economy and society, carrying out the periodic national census. Located in Paris, it is the French branch of Eurostat, European Statistical System...
the population of Grande-Terre was 197,603 inhabitants living in 10 communes
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
(municipalities). The population density was 337 inhabitants per km² (872 inh. per sq. miles). The most populated communes are, in descending order of population, Les Abymes
Les Abymes
Les Abymes is the most populated commune in the French overseas region and department of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Antilles. It is located on the west side of the island of Grande-Terre, and is part of the metropolitan area of Pointe-à-Pitre, the largest urban area in Guadeloupe.Pointe-à-Pitre...
(part of the 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....
urban area), Le Gosier
Le Gosier
Le Gosier is the third most populated commune in the French overseas region and department of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Antilles. It is located on the south side of the island of Grande-Terre, and is part of the urban area of Pointe-à-Pitre, the largest conurbation in Guadeloupe.-External links:*...
(part of the Pointe-à-Pitre urban area), 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....
(part of the Pointe-à-Pitre urban area), Le Moule
Le Moule
Le Moule is the sixth-largest commune in the French overseas department of Guadeloupe. It is located on the northeast side of the island of Grande-Terre.-History:...
, Sainte-Anne
Sainte-Anne, Guadeloupe
Sainte-Anne is a city in the southern part of Grande-Terre, considered by some to be one of the most touristic towns of Guadeloupe ....
, and Morne-à-l'Eau
Morne-à-l'Eau
Morne-à-l'Eau is a commune in Guadeloupe. It is home to L'Etoile de Morne-à-l'Eau, a football team who have won the Coupe D.O.M..In March or April each year since 1993, the town organises a crab festival which features crab races and many stalls selling crab-based dishes...
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