Haiti occupies the western third of the island of Hispaniola, located between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean. It borders the Dominican Republic and its landscape consists of mountainous terrain divided into northern, central, and southern regions. Haiti has a history of indigenous settlement, followed by colonial rule first by Spain then France, and was the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean to gain independence via a successful slave rebellion in 1804. However, political instability and poverty have plagued the country since independence.

3. Located between the Caribbean Sea
and the North Atlantic Ocean, Haiti
occupies the western one-third of the
island of Hispaniola. The Dominican
Republic borders Haiti on the eastern side
of the island. Haiti’s closest neighbors
include Jamaica to the west and Cuba to

4. Haiti means "land of the mountains”
in the Indigenous, or native, Taíno
language. The country’s highest peak, Pic
la Selle, is part of the Massif de la Selle
range located in southeastern Haiti and
reaches nearly 9,000 feet (2,715 meters).

5. The island sits at the edge of a huge
geological slab of rock just below the
Earth’s surface, called a tectonic plate;
when the plate shifts, it can cause an
earthquake.
Because of Haiti’s position on the edge
of the plate, the country has a long history
of very strong earthquakes that cause
major damage.
A massive magnitude 7.2 earthquake
struck the country in August 2021. Experts
estimate that over 2,000 people were killed
and nearly 150,000 buildings were
damaged or destroyed.

7. Hispaniola has been inhabited since
around 5000 B.C., when groups of Native
Americans likely arrived from Central and
South America. Some of these early
settlers included the Taíno, whose cave
paintings scattered throughout the country
have become national symbols of Haiti and
popular tourist attractions.
Explorer Christopher Columbus landed
on the island of Hispaniola in 1492 and
claimed it as a Spanish colony. Soon
hundreds of Spanish settlers arrived. They
killed most of the island natives and
A SHORT HISTORY OF HAITI

8. By the 1600s, the French had taken
over much of the colony, which they called
Saint Domingue. They increased
production of many crops such as coffee,
cotton, and sugarcane. But the enslaved
people of Saint Domingue revolted against
French rule in 1791. After what many
historians refer to as the largest and most
successful rebellion by enslaved people,
the islanders finally declared their
independence from France in 1804 and
changed the name of the country to Haiti.
A SHORT HISTORY OF HAITI

9. These Haitians had created the first
independent nation in the Caribbean. Haiti
was also the second democracy in the
Western Hemisphere in the world. But
because the population had been ruled by
outsiders for so long, the revolution left
them without a system for governing, and
years of struggle followed. By 1809, the
eastern two-thirds of the island—the part
that would eventually become the
Dominican Republic—was returned to
Spain.
A SHORT HISTORY OF HAITI

10. In 2017, Jovenel Moïse, a former banana
exporter, was elected president. During his time
in office, he was also accused of being a
corrupt ruler by some of his fellow Haitians. In
February 2021, protestors held demonstrations
demanding that Moïse step down from the
presidency. He refused. On July 7 of the same
year, Moïse was assassinated in his home.
Two days before his assassination, Moïse
had appointed Ariel Henry, a doctor who went
to school in the United States, to be Haiti’s
prime minister. Henry will oversee the
government until the country holds an election
for its next president on November 7, 2021.
A SHORT HISTORY OF HAITI

11. A SHORT HISTORY OF HAITI

12. Haiti occupies the mountainous portion of
the island of Hispaniola. Five mountain ranges
dominate Haiti’s landscape and divide the
country into three regions : northern, central,
and southern.
The terrain is comprised of rugged
mountains with small coastal plains and river
valleys, and a large east-central elevated
plateau. The highest peak, the Morne de la
Selle, is located in the south and reaches an
altitude of 2,715 meters. The largest lake is
Etang Saumâtre, a salt-water body located in
the southern region. Ile de la Gonave, Ile de la
Tortue, and Ile a Vaches comprise Haiti's
principal offshore territories.
The country’s climate is warm and
Physical features

15. Climate

16. Haiti has a warm, humid tropical climate
characterized by diurnal temperature variations
that are greater than the annual variations;
temperatures are modified by elevation.
Average temperatures range from the high 70s
F (about 25 °C) in January and February to the
mid-80s F (about 30 °C) in July and August.
The village of Kenscoff, at some 4,700 feet
(1,430 metres), has an average temperature of
about 60 °F (16 °C), whereas Port-au-Prince,
at sea level, has an average of 79 °F (26 °C).
In winter, frost can occur at high elevations.
Climate

17. Haiti is located on the leeward side of the
island, which means that the influence of humid
trade winds is not as great as in the Dominican
Republic. The more humid districts are found
on the northern and eastern slopes of the
mountains. Some portions of the island receive
less than 28 inches (700 mm) of rainfall per
year. The northwestern peninsula and Gonâve
Island are particularly dry. Some regions have
two rainy seasons, lasting from April to June
and from August to October, whereas other
regions experience rainfall from May to
November. Annual variations of precipitation
can cause droughts, widespread crop failures,
and famine.
Climate

18. The southern peninsula, which is more
vulnerable to hurricanes (tropical cyclones)
than other parts of Haiti, suffered heavy
damage from Hurricanes Allen (1980), Gilbert
(1988), and Georges (1998). All parts of the
country, however, can be hit by tropical storms
and hurricanes. During August and September
2008 a series of severe storms that included
Hurricanes Hanna and Ike caused widespread
damage and the loss of some 800 lives.
Climate

19. People IN HAITI

20.  Ethnic groups and languages
Nearly all of Haiti’s population are of
African origin (termed blacks). A small minority
of people of mixed European and African
descent (called mulattoes) constitute a
wealthier elite and account for most of the
remainder.
There is also a small number of people of
European descent. Haiti has differentiated itself
ethnically, linguistically, and culturally from
other Caribbean and Latin American countries,
notably the Spanish-speaking and the English-
speaking countries of the region.
People IN HAITI

21. People IN HAITI

22. Haitian Creole (Kweyol, or Kreyol) and
French are the official languages. Creole is
normally used in daily life, and French—the
second language of perhaps one-tenth of the
people—is used in more formal circumstances.
However, written Creole is not widely
accepted, because the school system retains
French as the main language of instruction.
Most of the vocabulary of Haitian Creole is
derived from French, but in its syntax it is
similar to the Creole languages of the
Caribbean and the Indian Ocean.
People IN HAITI

23. RELIGION

24. Haiti has no official religion, and the
constitution allows for religious freedom. More
than half of the population practices Roman
Catholicism, the dominant sect of Christianity,
and approximately one-fourth is Protestant or
independent Christian. Liberation theology
continues to have some influence in religious
life, notably in the shantytown areas of Port-au-
Prince and other towns.
Most Haitian Roman Catholics are also
practitioners of Vodou (Voodoo, or Vodun), a
religion whose gods (lwa) are derived from
West African religions. However, most of the
country’s Protestants consider Christianity to be
incompatible with Vodou.
RELIGION

25. In addition to the older Protestant
denominations established in the early 19th
century (Methodists, Episcopalians, and
Presbyterians), Baptists, Seventh-day
Adventists, and Mormons came to Haiti during
and after the period (1915–34) when the United
States occupied the country.
RELIGION

26. The Top 5 Most Beautiful Places
in Haiti

27. Bassin Bleu

28. Bassin Bleu is a blissfully
secluded waterfall on the hills of
Jacmel, Haiti. Travelers can follow a
trail to the basin and spend a day
jumping from the waterfalls,
swimming in the turqoise water and
enjoying the cool cover of the lush
vegetation. The privacy of the spot
makes it feel like paradise.

29. Labadee

30. Labadee is a private port, and a
secluded piece of paradise. Owned
by the Royal Caribbean International
cruise company, the white sandy
beaches and crystal water here
make it one of the most enchanting
destinations on the island. Besides
relaxing on the beach by the blue
sea, visitors can shop from a
selection of Haitian vendors,
participate in watersports or try their
hand at a zipline.

31. Kokoye Beach

32. Kokoye beach is the idyllic
Caribbean haven replicated in
holiday brochures worldwide, with
fine white sand, turqoise waters and
tall, luscious palm trees swaying
lazily in the warm breeze. The beach
is a top spot for snorkelling, and is a
good choice for those wanting to
avoid a tummult of tourists; access is
only possible via boat or by hiking.

33. Gelee Beach

34. Gelee Beach is the longest and
most romantic stretch of sand in
Haiti, with fishing boats bobbing on
the horizon and the sweet smell of
coconuts in the air. A number of
excellent seafood restaurants offer
daily deals nearby, and during
August the place is packed with
enthusiastic dancers and musicians
for the Fete Notre Dame festival. A
few meters beyond Gelee lie open
pasturelands, so don’t be surprised
to see a roaming cow or two.

35. The Palace of Sans-Souci

36. Before it was partially destroyed
by an earthquake in 1842, the Sans-
Souci Palace was home to famous
former slave-turned-king Henri
Christophe I. With its deep historical
roots the palace evokes a sense of
nostalgic beauty, and is often
compared to the majesty of the
Palace of Versailles in France. The
Palace features many high-arched
windows as well as decadent
staircases.

37. Famous foods in Haiti

38. Soup Joumou (Beef and
Pumpkin Soup)

39. This warming beef and pumpkin
soup is an important Haitian dish,
traditionally cooked on January 1st in
celebration of Haiti’s Independence
Day.
Soup Joumou is a rich soup
consisting of key ingredients beef
and pumpkin, while carrots, onions,
macaroni, squash, and potatoes are
commonly added to the broth. It’s
flavored with fresh ginger, garlic,
sage, and a generous splash of

40. Fresco (Haitian Shaved Ice)

41. Haitian shaved ice simply
comprises just two ingredients: ice,
and a thick, sweet syrup. The most
commonly used syrup is grenadine,
but it can be served with a syrup of
any color or flavor.

42. Griyo (Baked Pork Shoulder)

43. Griyo, or baked pork shoulder, is
considered by many to be the
national dish of Haiti. The pork is
served with either fried plantain,
pikliz (pickled vegetable relish), rice,
or a little of each. You can order griyo
throughout Haiti, from high-end
restaurants to humble street vendors
selling fritters and inexpensive foods.