GEO Haiti 2010

GEO HAITI • 2010
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Figure 7: Fascinating landscape at Ile-à-Vache
With impeccable seaside infrastructure, as in
the case of Port Morgan, Ile-à-Vache possesses a
luxuriant vegetation of magnificent mango trees,
oleanders and coconut trees, giving it its name
that alludes to a cow sleeping in the middle of
an untouched landscape. The figure below is
a clear example of such a fascinating natural
environment.
• The Gonâve Island
This island is situated in the Western Department
and faces the city of Port-au-Prince. It has a surface
area of 670 km 2 and is the largest of the satellite
islands with a length of 60 km and a width of
15 km. It has a rainfall pattern ranging from 800 to
1,600 mm and a geological substratum dominated
by limestone. Its population is estimated at 100,000
inhabitants. Many investors, such as the Gonâve
Economic Development Group, are interested in
making tourism the development vector there, as
well as developing other essential sectors such as
agriculture, large-scale fishing and the necessary
infrastructure to high-speed transportation.
• The Navase Island
Navassa Island is located in the Caribbean Sea,
some 60 km to the west of Cape Des Irois, at the
western tip of Hispaniola and 40 km south-west
of Jérémie. With a surface area of only 7 km 2 , it
Source: Antonio Perera
is regularly under threat of being annexed by
the United States because of the richness of
its biodiversity and the quality of the manure
generated from the bird droppings (guano).
1.3.2 Geology and Soils
The soil in Haiti is very diverse as a result of the
geomorphology of the vast differences in the
quantity of rainfall. The geological substratum
comprises mainly limestone, basaltic and
sedimentary rocks, giving rise to five categories
of sedimentary rocks. These are ultrabasic soils
containing heavy metals, magmatic extrusive
and intrusive soils, soils on limestone rocks as
well as sedimentary and alluvium soils (HILAIRE,
2008).
Produced by sedimentary rocks, limestone soil
is predominant throughout the country and
occupies more than 80% of its territory (INESA,
2008 in Woodring et al.1924). It is constituted
mostly of hard limestone likely to yield litho soils
that do not retain water well. The softer limestone
rock with gentler slopes are usually made up of
rendzina and «tè tif», which are grey or white tufas
made up of relatively thin soil (10-40 cm deep)
that is often pebbly and dry.
On the average-size or gentle slopes, there is
generally brown soil over limestone and calcic,
melanized soils over basalt. These soils are
rich in organic matter and without any serious
deficiencies.
With respect to basalt, this is found on the gentle
and average-size slopes and produce calcic,
melanized soils or brown, clayey soils. The basaltic
soils are very vulnerable to erosion but their depth
and fertility are quite considerable.
1.3.3 Climate
Situated at 19° North latitude, the country
enjoys a tropical climate with an average annual
temperature of 25º Celsius. However, its hilly
terrain produces microclimates with instances
where the temperature at high altitudes can
drop to 15º Celsius.