Terre-de-Bas Island

Terre-de-Bas Island (officially in French: Terre-de-Bas des Saintes (literally: Lowland of les Saintes)) is an island in the Îles des Saintes archipelago, in the Lesser Antilles.

Terre-de-Bas
Terre-de-Bas view from Chameau hill on Terre-de-Haut.
Terre-de-Bas
Terre-de-Bas
Terre-de-Bas
Geography
LocationCaribbean sea
Coordinates15°51′15″N 61°37′58″W
ArchipelagoÎles des Saintes
Total islands9
Major islandsTerre-de-Bas
Area9 km2 (3.5 sq mi)
Highest elevation293 m (961 ft)
Highest pointAbymes hill
Administration
France
Overseas departmentGuadeloupe
Cantonles Saintes
communeTerre-de-Bas
Capital cityPetite-Anse
Largest settlementPetite-Anse
MayorFred Beaujour
Demographics
Population1046 (2017)
Pop. density154/km2 (399/sq mi)

It belongs to the commune (municipality) of Terre-de-Bas in the French department of Guadeloupe.[1]

Geography

Description

Terre-de-Bas island is the most occidental island of the archipelago of les Saintes. Like its neighbour Terre-de-Haut, it derives its name from maritime speak which called the islands exposed to the wind hightland and those protected from the wind, lowlands. It is an island of 9 km2 (3.5 sq mi) dominated by a mountain massif sheltering a protected forest in its center (Morne à Coq hill, Morne Paquette hill, Morne Madis hill, Morne Abymes hill) and a coast lined with cliffs and points (in French: Pointe) (Pointe à Nègre point, Gros cap cliff, Pointe à Vache point, Pointe Noire point, Pointe Sud point). The highest point of the island is Abymes hill with a height of (293 metres (961 ft)) . Terre-de-Bas is separate from Terre-de-Haut by a narrow channel of 890 m (0.55 mi). Besides Terre-de-Haut, several small islands surround Terre-de-Bas :

Populated areas

Few villages are seen spread out in the rolling hills in the interior. Petite-Anse, the most important village of the island is located in a Valley encircled of mountain without views on the sea. Petite-Anse is the village where is the administrative buildings of the municipality (City hall, Post office, schools), on the opposite site of the principal harbour. The oldest settlement still remaining are the villages of Grande-Anse and Petite-Anse.The population is spread among 5 quartiers (district), more or less well delimited. They are grouped into two halves:

eastside Westside
NrQuartierNrQuartier
1
2
3		 Anse des Mûriers
Grande-Anse
Grand-Baie		 4
5		 Petite-Anse
le Mapou

Demography

Contrary to Terre-de-Haut, Terre-de-Bas island has a population composed of mixed peoples because of its historical short time of agricultural crop. The (Saintois) French: [sɛtwa] (listen) (French gentilic of the inhabitants of les Saintes) from Terre-de-Bas were 1,046 inhabitants in 2017, with a density of population of 154 inhabitants / km2. The number of households was 429 in 2017.[3]

The life expectancy is 75 years for men and 82 years for women. The average number of children per woman is 2.32.[4]

Climate
Main article: Climate of les Saintes

Economy
Main article: Economy of les Saintes

The island lives essentially on fishing and craft industry. Contrary to Terre-de-Haut, Terre-de-Bas is unfrequented, however, tourism activities try to make a shy development since these three last years. A small West Indian bay tree (Pimenta racemosa) farm is more active and produce Bay rum" (a rub lotion which curatives qualities whose the efficiency was widely proved in the Antilles), for the regional markel.[5]

Environment
Main article: Environment of les Saintes

Transport
Main article: Transport in les Saintes

Sights
  • Artillery battery ruins of Fer à Cheval (literally:horseshoe).
  • Walk into forest and pond
  • Mountain of Morne Paquette[6] and Morne Abymes
  • Natural reserves protected by Conservatoire du littoral (Pointe Sud,[7] Gros Cap, Pointe de Miquelon[8])
  • Saint-Nicholas' church
  • Anchorage and ruins of the old pottery factory
  • Diving sites (Sec pâté,[9] Les Augustins)
  • The beaches (Grande-Anse, Anse à Dos)
  • The Salako manufacturer

References
  1. Le Site officiel de la commune de Terre de Bas Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  2. Monographie sur les Saintes (dépendance de la Guadeloupe) Archived November 16, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Comparateur de territoire: Commune de Terre-de-Bas (97130), Commune de Terre-de-Haut (97131)". INSEE. Retrieved 2020-09-02.
  4. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-05-26. Retrieved 2011-12-04.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ASSOCIATION LE MAPOU - TERRE DE BAS - détail - grandeur nature Archived April 26, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  6. INPN - MORNE PAQUETTE - POINTE SUD, Terrain acquis par le Conservatoire du Littoral - Communes Archived January 15, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  7. Archived April 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  9. Sec Pate - Plonger en Guadeloupe, Guadeloupe - Wannadive.net - Atlas mondial de sites de plongée Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
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