Saint Martin - NASA NLT Landsat 7 (Visible Color) Satellite Image

Saint Martin is a tropical island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately 150 miles east of Puerto Rico. The 88 km² (38 square-mile) island is divided roughly in half between France and the Netherlands; it is the smallest land mass in the world that is divided between two nations (with the possible exception of a small island in Boundary Lake, between the U.S. and Canada). The southern Dutch half is called Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles; the northern French half is called Saint-Martin and is part of the French overseas department of Guadeloupe. Collectively, the two territories are known as, "St.-Martin/St. Maarten", "St. Martins", or simply, "SXM" (SXM is the IATA identifier for Princess Juliana International Airport, the island's main airport). Remarkably, neither of the two halves of Saint Martin warrants a separate FIPS PUB 10-4 territory code; they are presumably coded as GP (Guadeloupe) and NT (Netherlands Antilles). Image File history File links Saint Martin - NASA NLT Landsat 7 (Visible Color) Satellite Image File links The following pages link to this file: Saint Martin ... Image File history File links Saint Martin - NASA NLT Landsat 7 (Visible Color) Satellite Image File links The following pages link to this file: Saint Martin ... ... To help compare sizes of different geographic regions, we list here areas between 10 km² (1000 hectares) and 100 km² (10,000 hectares). ... Under the 1946 Constitution of the Fourth Republic, the French colonies of Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana in the Caribbean and Réunion in the Indian Ocean became départements doutre-mer (Overseas departments) or DOMs. ... The International Air Transport Association is an international trade organization of airlines headquarted in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ... Princess Juliana Airport serves the island of Sint Maarten (also known as Saint Martin) in the Netherlands Antilles. ... Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) two-letter country codes (FIPS 10-4) are used by the US Government for data processing, and in the CIA World Factbook. ...

The main towns are Marigot (French side) and Philipsburg (Dutch side).

The French part of the island has a land area of 53.20 km² (20.5 sq mi). At the 2002 supplementary French census, the population in the French part of the island was 31,349 inhabitants, which means a population density of 589 inh. per km².

Sint Maarten, the Dutch part of the island, has a land area of 34 km² (13.1 sq mi). At the 2001 Netherlands Antilles census, the population in Sint Maarten was 30,594 inhabitants, which means a population density of 900 inh. per km². In 2004 the population of Sint Maarten was estimated at 33,119 inhabitants.

History of Saint-Martin/Sint Maarten

In 1493, Christopher Columbus, an Italian sea captain financed by Spanish royalty, embarked on his second voyage to the New World. According to legend, Columbus sighted and perhaps anchored at the island of Saint Martin on November 11, 1493, the feast day of Saint Martin of Tours. In his honor, Columbus named the island San Martin. It is now more commonly known as Sint Maarten (Dutch), Saint-Martin (French), and Saint Martin (English). Events January 4 - Christopher Columbus leaves the New World. ... Jump to: navigation, search Christopher Columbus (conjectural image). ... Jump to: navigation, search November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... Events January 4 - Christopher Columbus leaves the New World. ... Jump to: navigation, search Statue of Saint Martin cutting his cloak in two. ...

Flags flying in Marigot harbor, Saint-Martin

When Columbus sailed these seas, St. Martin was populated, if populated at all, by Arawak or Carib Indians. The Arawaks were subjugated by the warlike Carib Indians from South America a short time before the arrival of the Spanish who followed in Columbus' wake. The English word cannibal is derived from an Arawak word which referred to the Caribs. The Arawaks were a relatively cultured, agricultural people who fashioned pottery and whose social organization was headed by hereditary chieftains who derived their power from personal deities called zemis. The Caribs, on the other hand, concentrated on warfare. They killed and, allegedly, ate the Arawak men, then married the Arawak women. Image File history File links flags flying in Marigot harbor, Saint-Martin (February 2004) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links flags flying in Marigot harbor, Saint-Martin (February 2004) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Jump to: navigation, search This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Jump to: navigation, search Carib or Island Carib is the name of a people of the Lesser Antilles islands, after whom the Caribbean Sea was named; their name for themselves was Kalinago for men and Kallipuna for women. ... Cannibalism is the act or practice of eating members of the same species, e. ... Jump to: navigation, search The Arawakan languages are an indigenous language family of South America and the Caribbean. ...

As the Spanish conquered each island, they rounded up its "Indians" and put them to work. By 1550, a few Arawaks remained on Cuba and Trinidad. The Caribs' territory was not completely conquered until the mid-17th century when most of them perished in the struggle between the French, English, Dutch, Danes and Spanish for control of the West Indies. The Dutch first began to ply the island's ponds for salt in the 1620s. Despite the Dutch presence on the island, the Spaniards recaptured St. Martin in 1633 and one year later built a fort at Pointe Blanche to assert their claim. The Spaniards introduced the first slaves to the area in the 16th century but the main influx of slaves took place in the 18th century with the development of sugar plantations by the French. Slavery was abolished in the first half of the 19th century, whereupon the British imported Chinese and East Indians to take the place of slaves. Thus, these islands are peopled by a mixture of Amerindian, African, Asian and European peoples. West Indian cultures are, consequently, exceedingly rich and varied, scarcely matched in other parts of the world. Events February 7 - Julius III becomes Pope. ... Jump to: navigation, search Trinidad (Spanish, Trinity) is the largest of the 23 islands which make up the country of Trinidad and Tobago. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ... Jump to: navigation, search Events and Trends Permanent Dutch settlement of New York Bay and the Hudson River. ... Events February 13 - Galileo Galilei arrives in Rome for his trial before the Inquisition. ... Jump to: navigation, search Pointe Blanche is a location in Sint Maarten/Saint Martin. ... The word slaves has several meanings and usages: People who are owned by others, and live to serve them without pay. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Jump to: navigation, search In general use, sugar is taken to mean sucrose, also called table sugar, or saccharose, a monosaccharide which is a white crystalline solid. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...

St. Maarten/St.-Martin border marker

St. ... St. ...

Political status

France and the Netherlands agreed to divide the island on November 11, 1648. Jump to: navigation, search November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... // Events Peace treaty signed at Westphalia ends the Thirty Years War. ...

Sint Maarten is officially an "island territory" part of the Netherlands Antilles, which is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands though not in the European Union. Its currency is the Antillean Guilder (however, the United States dollar is widely accepted). A proposed restructuring of the Netherlands Antilles would see Sint Maarten become an independent component of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in its own right. Jump to: navigation, search Guilder is the English name for the Dutch Gulden. ... Jump to: navigation, search USD redirects here. ...

Saint-Martin is a French commune part of Guadeloupe, which is an overseas région and overseas département of France and is therefore in the European Union. The official currency in Saint-Martin is the Euro (however, once again, the U.S. dollar is widely accepted). In 2003 the population of the French part voted in favour of secession from Guadeloupe to form a separate overseas collectivity of France; this has yet to be implemented. The commune (in French: commune, word appeared in the 12th century, from Medieval Latin communia, gathering of people sharing a common life, from Latin communis, things held in common) is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. ... Under the 1946 Constitution of the Fourth Republic, the French colonies of Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana in the Caribbean and Réunion in the Indian Ocean became départements doutre-mer (Overseas departments) or DOMs. ... Under the 1946 Constitution of the Fourth Republic, the French colonies of Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana in the Caribbean and Réunion in the Indian Ocean became départements doutre-mer (Overseas departments) or DOMs. ... Jump to: navigation, search The euro (€; ISO 4217 code EUR) is the currency of twelve European Union member states: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain, collectively known as the Eurozone. ... Jump to: navigation, search USD redirects here. ... A collectivité doutre-mer (in English Overseas Community) or COM, is an administrative division of France. ...

The French commune of Saint-Martin is ruled by a mayor and a municipal council elected by the European citizens living on the French side of the island. As is the case in metropolitan France since the promulgation of the Maastricht Treaty, nationals of any member state of the European Union are allowed to vote at the municipal elections. Nationals from countries not part of the European Union, which represent a large part of the population on the French side of the island, are not allowed to vote in the elections. Metropolitan France (French: la France métropolitaine, or just la Métropole) refers to the part of France in Europe, including Corsica, as opposed to the overseas departments and overseas territories, which, while integral parts of the French Republic, are regarded as Overseas France (la France doutre-mer, or... Promulgation is the act of formally proclaiming new legislation to the public. ... The Maastricht Treaty (formally, the Treaty on European Union) was signed on 7 February 1992 in Maastricht between the members of the European Community and entered into force on 1 November 1993, under the Delors Commission. ...

On the other hand, the Dutch island territory of Sint Maarten is ruled by an Island Council, an Executive Council, and a Governor appointed by the Dutch Crown.

Characteristics and tourist information

Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten

Sint Maarten, the "Dutch side", is known for its festive nightlife, fun beaches, and plentiful casinos, while Saint-Martin, the "French side", is known more for its sexy daylife of world-famous nude beaches, jewelry and clothes shopping, exotic drinks made with native rum-based guavaberry liquors, and rich French Caribbean cuisine. Image File history File links overlooking Phillipsburg, Sint Maarten (February 2004) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links overlooking Phillipsburg, Sint Maarten (February 2004) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Jump to: navigation, search 90 mile beach Australia A Beach In United Kingdom A beach or strand is a geological formation consisting of loose rock particles such as sand, shingle, cobble, or even shell along the shoreline of a body of water. ... Jump to: navigation, search Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas (jb) A casino is a building that accommodates certain types of gambling games and activities. ... Jump to: navigation, search At a nude beach at Formentera/Spain. ... (See also List of types of clothing) Introduction Humans often wear articles of clothing (also known as dress, garments or attire) on the body (for the alternative, see nudity). ... Shopping is the examination of goods and services with the intent to buy. ... Jump to: navigation, search The word drink is primarily a verb, meaning to ingest liquids. ... Caribbean rum, circa 1941 Rum is a distilled beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses and sugarcane juice by a process of fermentation and distillation. ... The camu camu (Myrciaria dubia), also known as CamuCamu, Rumberry, Cacari, Camocamo, Guavaberry, is a small ( approx. ... Spirits redirects here. ...

The island is served by many major airlines that bring in large jets, including Boeing 747s, carrying tourists from across the world on a daily basis. This fuels the island's largest revenue source, tourism. Princess Juliana International Airport is famous for its short landing strip —only 2,130 metres, which is barely enough for heavy jets. Because of this, the planes approach the island flying extremely low, right over the beach. Countless photos of large jets flying at 10–20 m over relaxing tourists at the beach have been dismissed as photoshopped many times, but are nevertheless real [1]. Jump to: navigation, search Singapore Airlines Boeing 747-412. ... Princess Juliana Airport serves the island of Sint Maarten (also known as Saint Martin) in the Netherlands Antilles. ... A runway is a strip of land on an airport, on which aircraft can take off and land. ... Jump to: navigation, search It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Photo manipulation. ...

Sint Maarten/Saint-Martin is home to several world-class accommodations, including hotels, villas, and timeshares. Some properties have over 200 rooms, while others have fewer than twenty. Many are located directly on beaches and in upscale shopping districts. Villas pepper the coast, boasting private beaches. Some are private residences, while others are available to affluent renters. Jump to: navigation, search It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Roman villa. ... Jump to: navigation, search This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

View of cruise ships docked in St. Martin's Dutch side

Rental cars are the primary mode of transportation for visitors staying on island. The island is served by several well-known agencies. It is common and recommended to reserve a rental car over the Internet through a discount Caribbean specialist, well in advance of arrival. If any driving is expected off the major roads (such as to some of the more secluded beaches), a 4-wheel drive is recommended. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 126 KB)Dutch Side of St. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 126 KB)Dutch Side of St. ...

The island is prone to hurricane activity, especially in the late summer and early fall months and tourism is usually down dramatically during this time. Many shops, restaurants, and other local businesses close completely during hurricane season. This article is about weather phenomena. ...

Neighboring islands include Saint Barts, Anguilla, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Saint Kitts, and Nevis. Saint-Barthélemy is a French island located in the Caribbean at 17°54N 62°50W . ... View of Saba from the sea Iguana - Booby Hill Storm coming - view from Booby Hill Saba (pronounced SAY-ba) is a small (13 sq. ... Map showing location of Sint Eustatius relative to Saba and Sint Maarten/Saint Martin Sint Eustatius (also Saint Eustace and Statia), pop. ... Saint Kitts (also/previously known as Saint Christopher) is an island in the Caribbean. ... Jump to: navigation, search Nevis is an island in the Caribbean, whose name is derived from an original Spanish name given by Christopher Columbus. ...

External links

• An article about the reality of the low landing approaches (in Russian)
• Tourism board's website - (for Dutch Sint Maarten)
• Tourism board's website - (for French Saint Martin)
• Maps
• Site dedicated to maps of the island

Maps of Saint Martin 18.06° N -63.08° E

• MapQuest: out 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 in
• Multimap: out 4M 2M 1M 500k 200k in
• MSN World Atlas: out 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 in
• Google satellite image

See also MapQuest zoom levels 8, 9, and 10.