Haiti
1997 - 2003,
2009,
2010, 2011, 2012
| Location: | Caribbean, western
one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic 19 00 N, 72 25 W |
| Population: | 6,964,549 |
| Area: | total: 27,750 sq km land: 27,560 sq km water: 190 sq km slightly smaller than Maryland |
| Climate: | tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds |
| Terrain: | mostly rough and mountainous |
| Elevation: | lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m |
| Natural resources: | bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower |
One of the poorest countries in
the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has been plagued by political violence for
most of its history. Over three decades of dictatorship followed by military
rule ended in 1990 when Jean-Bertrand Aristide was elected president. Most
of his term was usurped by a military takeover, but he was able to return to
office in 1994 and oversee the installation of a close associate to the
presidency in 1996. Aristide won a second term as president in 2000, and
took office early the following year. In 2004 Aristide was deposed,
leaving the country in a state of civil war. The country, with UN
help, is slowly stabilizing. Future elections are planned.
