Martinique an Overseas Department of France. In 1974, it became simply a Department. In 2009, the French Caribbean general strikes exposed deep ethnic, and class tensions and disparities within Martinique. Together with Guadeloupe, La Réunion, Mayotte and French Guiana, Martinique is one of the Overseas Departments of France. It is also an outermost region of the European Union. The inhabitants of Martinique are French citizens with full political and legal rights. Martinique sends four deputies to the French National Assembly and two senators to the French Senate. On January 24, 2010, during a referendum, the inhabitants of Martinique approved by 68.4%
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