Looking to boost your knowledge of this sunny Caribbean island? Take a look at these fun facts about Martinique and increase your chances the next time you take part in a geography quiz!
1. Where is Martinique?
Martinique is a small, rugged island and an overseas region of France located in the Caribbean.
Its nearest neighbours are Dominica and Guadeloupe to the north, Barbados to the southeast and Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the south. To witness this beautiful island for yourself, head for the coordinates of 14.6667° N, 61.0000° W.
2. It’s a very hilly terrain.
The terrain here is mostly mountainous and volcanic in origin, with the coastline featuring many beautiful sandy beaches.
3. Martinique is surprisingly small.
The total land area of Martinique is 436 square miles (1,128 square kilometres)…that’s around 2/3 the size of the Isle of Skye.
4. …yet impressively dense!
Martinique’s population was 376,480 in 2016 – that’s around 42 times the population of the Isle of Skye!
5. What do you call yourself?
Residents here are known as Martiniquais.
6. What is the capital of Martinique?
The capital is Fort-de-France; it covers an area of 17 square miles (44 square kilometres) and had a population of 90,347 in 2006.
7. The temperature on the island doesn’t vary too much.
Martiniquais enjoy a tropical climate with a dry season from December until May and little temperature variation throughout the year.
8. It’s an amazing hotbed of wildlife.
Martinique boasts a wide range of wildlife, including manatees, bats, snakes, the Volcano Frog (which happens to be endemic to Martinique), around 200 species of bird and around 225 species of reef fish!
9. Learn the lingo!
The official language of Martinique is French.
10. Martinique was spotted by a famous explorer.
Although already inhabited by the indigenous Caribs, Martinique is said to have been ‘discovered’ by Christopher Columbus in 1493!
11. It’s still ‘owned’ by France.
Apart from being captured by the British for three short periods, Martinique has otherwise been under French rule since 1635!
12. They’re not in the European Union, but…
The Euro is the official currency here.
13. It’s a regal birthplace.
Despite being a tiny island in the West Indies, a total of 4 queens who have ruled France, Holland and Turkey, have all been born in Martinique!
14. There is a very healthy life expectancy here.
The average life span here is 79 years.
15. It’s carnival time!
Martiniquais enjoy a yearly 4 day carnival which ends on the first day of Lent. As you might expect, the carnival includes live music and beautiful, brightly coloured costumes.
16. The island produces all kinds of exports.
Martinique grows sugarcane, avocados, vegetables, bananas and pineapples; they also produce rum.
Its industry consists mostly of tourism and oil refining. The main exports include petroleum, bananas, rum and pineapples.
FAQs about Martinique
Is English spoken in Martinique?
English is not widely spoken in Martinique; its two main languages are French and Creole.
What religion do people follow in Martinique?
The majority of people who live in Martinique are Roman Catholic.
What food do they eat in Martinique?
Martiniquai cuisine largely fuses together seafood and French stylings, with lobster dishes being particularly popular!
Do you know any fun facts about Martinique? Share them in the comments below!
