Nord-Ouest Department
Encyclopedia
Nord-Ouest is one of the ten departments
(French
: départements) of Haiti
as well as the northernmost one. It has an area of 2,176 km² and a population of 445,080 (2003 Census). Its capital is Port-de-Paix
.
With the exception of Tortuga Island and the coastal area near Port-de-Paix, the northwest is mostly arid and barren. Port-de-Paix, which was once a large exporter of coffee
and bananas, now imports goods and produce from Miami. Once called Valparaiso by Columbus
, there are still some lovely beaches and scenery. Tortuga island, once the biggest pirate bases in the Caribbean is a popular tourist site and is represented frequently in films and movies based on piracy. Named for the smooth shape that reminded travelers of a turtle's shell, Tortuga's best beach is Pointe Saline at the western tip of the small island. This area is very dry and offers little shade but has a beautiful shoreline. At Les Palmiste on the eastern coast visit a pre-Columbian rock carving presumed to be of native Taino
origin of a goddess at La Grotte au Bassin exists.
The town of Môle Saint-Nicolas
is located in the Nord-Ouest. Ever since Columbus landed here in 1492 and named the island Hispaniola, Môle St-Nicolas has been of interest to the colonials, including the British, Spanish, French, and the Americans due to its strategic location on the Windward Passage, just miles from Cuba
. There are several ruined forts along the coast. On clear nights the Guantánamo Province
of Cuba
can be seen.
Departments of Haiti
The Communes of Haiti are the third-level divisions of Haiti. The 10 departments have 42 arrondissements which are divided into 140 communes.-Artibonite Department:*Dessalines Arrondissement**Desdunes**Dessalines**Grande Saline...
(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...
: départements) of Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
as well as the northernmost one. It has an area of 2,176 km² and a population of 445,080 (2003 Census). Its capital is Port-de-Paix
Port-de-Paix
Port-de-Paix is a city and the capital of the département of Nord-Ouest in Haïti on the Atlantic coast. It has a population of 250,000 ....
.
With the exception of Tortuga Island and the coastal area near Port-de-Paix, the northwest is mostly arid and barren. Port-de-Paix, which was once a large exporter of coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
and bananas, now imports goods and produce from Miami. Once called Valparaiso by Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
, there are still some lovely beaches and scenery. Tortuga island, once the biggest pirate bases in the Caribbean is a popular tourist site and is represented frequently in films and movies based on piracy. Named for the smooth shape that reminded travelers of a turtle's shell, Tortuga's best beach is Pointe Saline at the western tip of the small island. This area is very dry and offers little shade but has a beautiful shoreline. At Les Palmiste on the eastern coast visit a pre-Columbian rock carving presumed to be of native Taino
Taíno people
The Taínos were pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles. It is thought that the seafaring Taínos are relatives of the Arawak people of South America...
origin of a goddess at La Grotte au Bassin exists.
The town of Môle Saint-Nicolas
Môle Saint-Nicolas
Môle-Saint-Nicolas is a town in the Republic of Haiti. It is the chief town of the Môle-Saint-Nicolas Arrondissement in the department of Nord-Ouest...
is located in the Nord-Ouest. Ever since Columbus landed here in 1492 and named the island Hispaniola, Môle St-Nicolas has been of interest to the colonials, including the British, Spanish, French, and the Americans due to its strategic location on the Windward Passage, just miles from Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. There are several ruined forts along the coast. On clear nights the Guantánamo Province
Guantánamo Province
Guantánamo is the easternmost province of Cuba. Its capital is also called Guantánamo. Other towns include Baracoa. The province surrounds the U.S. Navy base at Guantánamo Bay.-History:...
of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
can be seen.
Arrondissements & Communes
- Môle Saint Nicholas Arrondissement
- Baie de Henne
- BombardopolisBombardopolisBombardopolis is a town located in hilly country in northwestern Haiti. It is in the Nord-Ouest Department....
- Jean-RabelJean-RabelJean-Rabel is a city located west of the city of Port de Paix and east of the city of Mole st Niclas Môle-Saint-Nicolas Arrondissement, in the Nord-Ouest Department of Haiti.It has 125,745 inhabitants....
- Môle Saint Nicholas
- Port-de-Paix ArrondissementPort-de-Paix ArrondissementPort-de-Paix is an arrondissement in the Nord-Ouest Department of Haiti.It has 189,690 inhabitants.Postal codes in the Port-de-Paix Arrondissement start with the number 31.The arondissement consists of the following municipalities:...
- Bassin Bleu
- ChansolmeChansolmeChansolme is a municipality in the Port-de-Paix Arrondissement, in the Nord-Ouest Department of Haiti.It has 9,561 inhabitants....
- La Tortue
- Port-de-PaixPort-de-PaixPort-de-Paix is a city and the capital of the département of Nord-Ouest in Haïti on the Atlantic coast. It has a population of 250,000 ....
- Saint-Louis du Nord Arrondissement
- Anse-à-FoleurAnse-à-FoleurAnse-à-Foleur is a municipality in the Saint-Louis-du-Nord Arrondissement, in the Nord-Ouest Department of Haiti.It has 16,560 inhabitants....
- Saint-Louis du Nord
- Anse-à-Foleur