Baie-Mahault

French commune
nomcommune=Baie-Mahault


mapcaption=Location of the commune (in red) within Guadeloupe
région=Guadeloupe
département=Guadeloupe
arrondissement=Basse-Terre
canton=Baie-Mahault
intercomm="none as of 2007"
insee=97103
cp=97122
maire=Ary Chalus
mandat=2001-2007
longitude=-61.58
latitude=16.27
alt moy=
alt mini=0 m
alt maxi= m
hectares=4,600
km²=46.0
sans=23,389
date-sans=1999 census
dens=508
date-dens=1999

Baie-Mahault is the fourth most populated "commune" in the French overseas "région" and "département" of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Antilles. It is part of the urban area of Pointe-à-Pitre, the largest conurbation in Guadeloupe. In the 1999 census, Baie-Mahault had a population of 23,389. The commune has a land area of 46.0 km² (17.761 sq mi). The population density is 508 persons per sq. km. The inhabitants of Baie-Mahault are called Baie-Mahaultiens.

History

The Bay-Mahault may be named for a variety of mangrove called the mahault or mahot common in this area. It was the home port of pirates and corsairs. It had been colonized before Cardinal Richelieu sponsored the India company. There was a fort started by Sir John Grey and John Jervis. In 1643, Charles Houel succeeded Aubert, as governor of Guadeloupe. In 1648, the company of the islands of Americas was ruined. May 20, Guadeloupe was sold to Houel and Boisseret, two brothers-in-law. Charles Houel took the south-west of the Low-Ground to Saint-Rose and the marquis of Houelbourg took the rest. This was named Saint-Germain until 1707, when the king named it Houelbourg, for Houel. Bay-Mahault was made a district when the Saint John the Baptist parish was founded. The first borough of the district had been built on the dwelling Small-Ground belonging to Berville, then Marquis of Jaille, whose military camp perpetuates the name.

In October 1865, a cholera epidemic flared up. In Guadeloupe, from October 1865 to June 1866, 12,000 inhabitants perished. Mahault Bay was the first and worst hit by the epidemic.

In 1910, the Darboussier Factory was constructed. In 1918, the TSF radio station was built. An electric generating plant was built in 1934 which supplied Guadeloupe. In 1928, a devastating hurricane, Okeechobee Hurricane, destroyed much of the town. The church and the presbytery were rebuilt in 1933. The Gabarre bridge of Gabarre and the industrial and commercial park of Jarry were built. In 2001, Ary Chalus became mayor.

Geography

Baie-Mahault (Mangrove Bay) is located in the borough called Canton and it extends a vast plain of northeastern Basse-Terre, where the two islands meet. Baie-Mahault range is limited to the Low Valley of Large River of Guava, heights of Hydrants and marine bottoms of bag irrigated by the salted river. The town diversified by arable lands of a very great richness as well as coasts bordering a marine site surprising! The mangrove swamps are a few miles east at the Salted River. Baie-Mahault is 5 km northwest of the city of Pointe-à-Pitre.

Climate

Baie-Mahault experiences a good amount of rainfall during the year, with a wetter season between July and November which coincides with hurricane season. The town receives 1500-2000 mm of rainfall. Tropical heat brings constant highs of around 32°C (89°F) that drop to 20°C (68°F) at night. Trade winds, called alizés, blow from the northeast and often temper the climate. The hurricane season occurs from June to November.

Economy

The town is surrounded by one major crop: sugarcane. A sugar factory is southwest of Baie-Mahault. Cane cutters cut cane and sometimes transport them by ox-cart. Southwards, are some banana and pineapple plantations. Its land arable make a privileged zone of it, not only for its production, but also for the development which it generates. These grounds are of a great richness with a handiness around 45%! There is a fishing port. Basse-Terre grows more crops than Grande-Terre, but has fewer people and most of them are in the primary sector. The artisanal, commercial, industrial zone of Jarry, with more than 3500 companies is placed in the very first places of the industrial parks of France. Its agriculture animates and provides for the formation with the future executives and technicians by trainings given with the mixed agricultural college with the town.

ights

There is one hotel, Villa Baie Mahault, in walking distance to Baie-Mahault.

At the end of the borough, below the town hall, a landing stage located at the edge of the lagoon, is the starting point of tours of the bay.

The shopping center of Destreland is located near Baie-Mahault, where you can buy French imports such as cologne, perfumes, clothing, etc.

The industrial park of Jarry has an oil terminal, two electrical and thermal power stations for the many industrial and commercial businesses & a logistic center for the CCI.

A sandy beach near Mahault Bay is protected by coral reefs.

On Pointe Double, you can see a lighthouse and a weather station.

A leprosarium or leper's house, which was operated by the Soeurs de la Charite and closed in 1954.

External links

* [http://www.baiemahault.fr/ Official website] (in French)