Lamentin

For the Martiniquais municipality, see Le Lamentin.
Lamentin

Habitation Routa, Lamentin
Coordinates: 16°16′N 61°38′W / 16.27°N 61.63°W / 16.27; -61.63Coordinates: 16°16′N 61°38′W / 16.27°N 61.63°W / 16.27; -61.63
Country France
Overseas region and department Guadeloupe
Arrondissement Basse-Terre
Canton Lamentin
Government
  Mayor Reinette Juliard
Area1 65.60 km2 (25.33 sq mi)
Population (2013)2 16,268
  Density 250/km2 (640/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 97115 / 97129
Elevation 0–0 m (0–0 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

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.

Personalities

References

    Media related to Lamentin at Wikimedia Commons

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