什麼是海地

正式名稱海地共和國（Republic of Haiti）

西印度羣島國家，位於伊斯帕尼奧拉島西部，東部為多明尼加共和國。面積27,700平方公里。人口約6,965,000（2001）。首都︰太子港。大多數人口是黑人或黑白混血兒。語言︰海地克里奧爾語和法語（均為官方語）。宗教︰天主教和巫毒教。貨幣︰古德（G）。海地多山而崎嶇不平，約五分之二的土地高於490公尺。山脈間交錯着富饒但人口過度集中的低地。氣候屬熱帶氣候，但因山脈變得和緩，常有周期性的乾旱和颶風。阿蒂博尼特河是最長的河流。海地是美洲最貧窮的國家，經濟為發展中的市場經濟，以農業和輕工業為主；咖啡是主要經濟作物。政府形式為多黨制共和國，兩院制。國家元首為總統，政府首腦是總理。

有關海地的早期歷史，參閲Hispaniola。在最初的圖森－路維杜爾和後來的德薩利訥領導下發動暴動推翻法國的統治（1791～1804），海地從以前的奴隸之島獲得獨立。新共和國包含了整個伊斯帕尼奧拉島，1809年西班牙恢復了在該島東部的統治。在布瓦耶當政時期（1818～1843）又重新統一；在東半部發生暴動將他推翻後，便成立了多明尼加共和國。由於常發生政變和暗殺，政府變得不穩定。1915～1934年間被美國佔領。1957年獨裁的杜華利取得政權，他無視國內經濟蕭條和政局不安，一直統治到1971年他去世為止。其子尚－克勞德繼承其位，但1986年被迫流亡。1990年海地首次舉行總統大選，阿里斯蒂德當選。1991年軍事政變將他推翻，後來數萬名海地人企圖搭船逃亡至美國。軍事政府在1994年垮台，流亡的阿里斯蒂德返國組織新政府。1995年他的同事普雷瓦爾（R. Preval）接管政權，2000年阿里斯蒂德再次取得總統職位。

Haiti

Country, West Indies. It occupies the western third of the island of Hispaniola, with the Dominican Republic to the east. Area: 10,695 sq mi (27,700 sq km). Population (2000 est.): 6,868,000. Capital: Port-au-Prince. Almost the entire population is black or mulatto. Language: Haitian Creole and French (both official). Religion: Roman Catholicism; voodoo (voudou). Currency: gourde. Most of its land is mountainous, with about two-fifths above 1,600 ft (490 m). The mountain ranges alternate with fertile but overpopulated lowlands. Its climate is tropical, modified by the mountains, and subject to periodic droughts and hurricanes. Its longest river is the Artibonite. The poorest country in the Americas, it has a developing market economy based in large part on agriculture and light industries; coffee is the main cash crop. It is a multiparty republic with two legislative houses; the chief of state is the president, and the head of government is the prime minister. For its early history, see Hispaniola. Haiti gained its independence when the former slaves of the island, initially led by Toussaint-Louverture, and later by Jean-Jacques Dessalines, rebelled against French rule in 1791-1804. The new republic encompassed the entire island of Hispaniola, but the eastern portion was restored to Spain in 1809. It was reunited under Haitian Pres. Jean-Pierre Boyer (1818-43); after his overthrow the eastern portion revolted and formed the Dominican Republic. Haiti's government was marked by instability, with frequent coups and assassinations. It was occupied by the U.S. in 1915-34. In 1957 the dictator Francois (“Papa Doc”) Duvalier came to power. Despite an economic decline and civil unrest, Duvalier ruled until his death in 1971. He was succeeded by his son, Jean-Claude (“Baby Doc”) Duvalier, who was forced into exile in 1986. Haiti's first free presidential elections, held in 1990, were won by Jean-Bertrand Aristide. He was deposed by a military coup in 1991, after which tens of thousands of Haitians attempted to flee to the U.S. in small boats. The military government stepped down in 1994, and Aristide returned from exile and resumed the presidency. His associate Rene Preval took office in 1995, and in 2000 Aristide again claimed the presidency.