Culture of Martinique a spicy touch to meals. The favored island drink, 'Ti punch,' is a mixture of five parts of white rum to one part sugarcane syrup. Crêperies, brasseries, and restaurants featuring cuisine from various French regions can be found all over Martinique. Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc was a French trader and adventurer in the Caribbean, who established the first permanent French colony, Saint-Pierre, on the island of Martinique in 1635. Belain sailed to the Caribbean in 1625, hoping to establish a French settlement on the island of St. Christopher (St. Kitts). In 1626 he returned to France, where he won the support
Geography of Martinique extremes: <br>"lowest point:" Caribbean Sea 0 m <br>"highest point:" Montagne Pelee 1,397 m Natural resources: coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land, Land use: <br>"arable land:" 8% <br>"permanent crops:" 8% <br>"permanent pastures:" 17% <br>"forests and woodland:" 44% <br>"other:" 23% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 40 km² (1993 est.) Natural hazards: hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an average of one major natural disaster every five years) Environment - current issues: NA Population:429,510 Geography of Martinique Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Cuba and north of Trinidad and Tobago Geographic coordinates: Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: <br>"total:" 1,100