Lamentin

"See Le Lamentin for the commune of Martinique"

Commune française
nomcommune=Lamentin


région=Guadeloupe
département=Guadeloupe
arrondissement=Basse-Terre
canton=Lamentin
insee=97115
cp=97129
maire=Reinette Juliard
mandat=
intercomm=
longitude=-61.63
latitude=16.27
alt moy=
alt mini=0 m
alt maxi=
hectares=6,560
km²=65.60
sans=13,434
date-sans=1999
dens=204.8
date-dens=1999

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.

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.

Tourism

Lamentin is home to "La Ravine Chaude" ("The hot ravine"), a thermal bathing centre.

References

Translated from [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Lamentin_%28Guadeloupe%29 the corresponding article] in the French Wikipedia, accessed on April 13 2007.