contact@haitiwonderland.com+509 36184317

Discover

Shopping Cart

How long is Haiti?Haïti
How long is Haiti?
Haïti
  • 24 Desanm 2024
  • | 0

How long is Haiti?

The length of Haiti, measured from west to east, is approximately 650 kilometers. This figure illustrates the extent of this country that shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. In this article, we explore in detail the geographical dimensions of Haiti, as well as their influence on the diversity and organization of the country.

Read the article in :

French : Quelle est la longueur d'Haïti ?

Spanish : ¿Cuánto mide Haití?

Creole : Konbyen tan Ayiti?

A unique and diverse geography

With a length of approximately 650 kilometers, Haïti is distinguished by a complex geography that mixes mountains, valleys and plains. Located in the Caribbean, this country has a varied topography, and its elongated shape contributes to its contrasting landscapes.

The main geographical axes include:
- The Selle range, which extends from the southeast to the west and is home to the Pic la Selle, the highest point in Haïti at 2,680 meters.
- Coastal plains, such as the Artibonite, which are essential for agriculture.
- The northwestern and southern peninsulas, which give the country its characteristic shape.

These geographical features influence both the climate and the distribution of economic and social activities.

A modest but significant width

While the length of the country is impressive, its average width is much more modest, varying between 190 and 230 kilometers. This configuration gives Haïti a narrow strip of territory bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south.

The limited width of the territory has major implications:
- It favors rapid access to the coasts for most populations, contributing to the development of maritime activities.
- It creates proximity between regions, although the mountains sometimes make travel difficult.

The influence of dimensions on economic development

Haiti’s length plays an important role in the distribution of resources and infrastructure. Roads, such as Route Nationale 1 and Route Nationale 2, cross the country from one side to the other, connecting major cities such as:
- Port-au-Prince, the capital located in the center of the country.
- Cap-Haïtien, in the north, an important economic and cultural hub.
- Les Cayes, in the south, a key agricultural region.

However, transportation infrastructure remains a major challenge for Haïti due to the difficulty of crossing mountainous areas.

Haiti’s key figures

Here are some key geographic data to better understand the size and characteristics of the country:
- Total area: 27,750 km².
- Coastal length: Approximately 1,771 kilometers, offering an abundance of beaches and seascapes.
- Land border with the Dominican Republic: 376 kilometers.

These figures reflect not only the size of the territory, but also its tourism and economic potential.

A territory full of history and culture

Haiti’s length also reflects the richness of its cultural and historical heritage. From east to west, the country is full of emblematic sites such as the Citadelle Laferrière, the Sans Souci Palace and the beaches of Labadie.

Each region contributes to Haiti’s cultural diversity, whether through music, cuisine or local traditions.

Although the length of the country offers it exceptional diversity, it also poses challenges. Long distances, combined with an often inadequate road network, complicate the transport of goods and people.

In addition, managing natural resources, such as the rivers that cross the country, requires coordinated efforts to prevent flooding and erosion.

Conclusion: A length full of promise

With its 650 kilometers in length, Haïti is a multifaceted country, where each region offers unique landscapes, cultures and opportunities. This geographical characteristic, far from being a simple fact, is a key to understanding the diversity and potential of Haiti.

Do you know other interesting facts about the geography of Haiti? Share them in the comments to enrich this discussion!

Share
About the Author
Leave a comment

Recently Posted

Pity or the work of an old soul crushed under the weight of an absinthe-flavored existence

The word crisis carries an infinite number of meanings. No intention of revealing them all this afternoon. However, a few clarifications are necessary. A kid whose parents do not have enough money at Christmas to buy her a Little Black Mermaid doll has a fit and locks herself in her room without touching her meals for the day. A boy whose dog was suddenly poisoned by a neighbor in revenge or shot after contracting rabies, losing a faithful friend overnight, enters into crisis. Finally, a society in the grip of all sorts of mutations and whose leaders are weak, perhaps prolonged in a deep crisis. In the first case, the young girl sulks to attract the attention of her parents in order to feel appreciated by children her age at school or in the neighborhood. Today, thirty minutes of negotiations can be enough to find a lasting solution. In my day, a few well-aimed belt blows would have overcome this whim. But, humanity evolves, they say. In the second case, this boy can find his smile again after a few weeks. He needs a little attention and, probably, another dog. As Stendhal would say, only passion triumphs over passion. In the last case, this society led by inepts is shaken to its deep foundations. Its institutions can disintegrate one by one. The vital forces dissolve in no time. This situation creates a societal tsunami that destroys all life within this community. It is indeed a crisis. The crisis from this point of view constitutes an alarming, desperate situation in the existence of a community where nothing is going well. Chaos reigns supreme. The very essence of life disappears. The individual can take precedence over the community. Everyone tries to solve their problems without worrying about others. The closest neighbor is relegated light years away from you. How can we turn to creation? How can we continue to conceive of otherness? How can the artist absorb this great collective disarray as a source of motivation? These are the questions I must answer. An artist sees and feels what ordinary mortals cannot even imagine in a thousand-year life. He creates to denounce, when his conscience as a human being is revolted. He exalts heroes or the homeland according to his feelings. He sings the beauty of an irresistible, captivating or ugly resplendent woman. He can also use the ambient desolation to give meaning to life. Creating in literature as in the arts in general does not depend on the situation. The act of creation depends on the creator’s disposition. Events paralyze some and galvanize others. Creating is enjoyable. Everyone therefore enjoys according to their own whim. Writing opens the way to change. The writer takes a different look at the world. By embedding himself in reality, he embellishes it, makes it better or hideous depending on the message he intends to share. All things considered, with him, life is never fixed. Writing is putting the world in a jar to travel the universe. The artist broods over his work in all weathers. Oswald Durand was delighted to see Choucoune’s beautiful body from his secret observatory. Musset, on the other hand, was in pain writing his October night. As for Dany Laferrière, in exile, he described the horrors of the Duvalier dictatorship and the carefree attitude of the young girls in his neighborhood in this violent and dangerous world. Ultimately, the writer lives in a society with values ​​that he shares or not. They condition his existence or have no hold on him. In many ways, the surrounding world serves as his laboratory. He carries out his experiments there. He casts a new, worn, disillusioned, melancholic, violent, bitter look at the world depending on his mood. Pitié is the work of an old soul crushed under the weight of an existence that tastes of absinthe. Young Mike Bernard Michel lives by expedients and lies. The hands of life fall on him with indescribable violence. Misfortune embraces him day and night. Should we give up? Musset liked to say: "Man is an apprentice, pain is his master. And no one knows himself until he has suffered." The artist must produce under all skies. Such is his vocation. Incompetents in power, legal or highway bandits, the high cost of living, unemployment, heartaches are all subjects of concern for him. If it is true that a hungry belly has no ears, the fact remains that it keeps the brain awake. What am I saying, it stimulates it to the point of creating timeless works. Mr. Pitié, you have a bright future ahead of you. Work of Jean Rony Charles, the book is available from Éditions Repérage.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed of all our activities and news on Haiti.

Recently Posted

History

History

First black nation to free itself from slavery and gain independence from France in 1804 and influenced other liberation movements around the world, inspiring struggles for freedom and equality.

Natural beauty

Natural beauty

Haïti is blessed with spectacular natural landscapes, including white sand beaches, mountains and rich biodiversity.

Heritage

Heritage

Haïti has a rich historical heritage, including sites like the Citadelle Laferrière and the Sans-Souci Palace, listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Culture

Culture

Haïti has a rich and diverse culture, influenced by African, European and indigenous elements. Haitian music, dance, art and cuisine are celebrated around the world.