Guadeloupe

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, hiking and water sports such as surfing, snorkeling and swimming. Most tourist facilities are located on the southern shore of Grand-Terre, but hiking and bicycle trails spiderweb the land and all of the islands can be visited by ferry or air. The tourist can also see the many sugar plantations that have been the major industry of the islands for hundreds of years. The spicy French / Creole cuisine is served in over 200 restaurants.

The main islands have an area of 1,434sq.km/889sq.mi and the dependent islands vary in size between 158sq.km/100sq.mi (Marie-Gallant) and 14sq.km/9sq.mi (Les Saintes). The climate, cooled by the trade winds, is temperate with temperatures between 20°C/68°F and 30°C/86°F. Ports of call for cruise ships are Pointe-à-Pitre on Grand-Terre and Les Saintes.

History:

Originally inhabited by the Arawaks, the islands were populated by the Caribs when Christopher Columbus visited the archipelago in 1493. They fiercely resisted colonization and were not overcome until France took possession in 1635. The Compagnie des Isles d'Amérique established slave plantations to raise sugar cane. Slavery was abolished by the French Revolution, reimposed by Napoleon, and finally ended in 1848. Hatred and violence, and the struggles of the slaves for freedom and respect marked this period is commemorated to this day.

Coveted by the Dutch, attacked by pirates and briefly occupied by Britain during the Seven Years' and Napoleonic Wars, Guadeloupe is now sovereign French territory with representation in the French Parliament. Sugar still dominates the economy, but some small industries have been introduced, and tourism is the fastest growing economic sector.