Lamentin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
See Le Lamentin for the commune of Martinique
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Commune of Lamentin |
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| Location | |
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| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Guadeloupe |
| Department | Guadeloupe |
| Arrondissement | Basse-Terre |
| Canton | Lamentin |
| Mayor | Reinette Juliard |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 0 m– |
| Land area¹ | 65.60 km² |
| Population² (1999) |
13,434 |
| - Density | 204.8/km² (1999) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 97115/ 97129 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| 2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
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Lamentin is a French commune in the overseas department of Guadeloupe. It is part of the agglomeration of Pointe-à-Pitre, in the north part of Basse-Terre. Three islets are included in the commune: Christopher, Fajou, Caret.
[edit] History
Founded in 1720 in the commune's name comes from a French word for manatee (lamantin), a sea creature which used to inhabit the Lesser Antilles. In the 18th century, the commune underwent a boom, down to coffee, caco, cotton and sugar cane. In 1920, a cyclone destroyed the mayor's office and presbytery, which have since been rebuilt by Ali Tur.
[edit] Tourism
Lamentin is home to La Ravine Chaude (The hot ravine), a thermal bathing centre.
[edit] References
Translated from the corresponding article in the French Wikipedia, accessed on April 13 2007.
