Saint Martin, Dutch Sint Maarten, French Saint-Martin, is an island in the northern part of the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies. It covers an area of 86 square kilometers. The south is the Netherlands, with an area of 34 square kilometers and a population of about 35,000; the north is an overseas territory directly under the jurisdiction of France, with an area of 52 square kilometers, with a population of about 33,000 and most of the residents are blacks. Important towns are Philipsburg (Netherlands) and Marigot (French). The terrain is undulating, with many hills in the east and west, with an altitude of 300-415 meters; annual precipitation is 1,100 mm; the island has beautiful scenery. On November 11, 1493 (St. Martin’s Day) Columbus arrived here and got its name. Occupied by France in 1638; in 1648 it belonged to France and the Netherlands. Mainly rich in salt, cotton, sugar cane and livestock, wine industry and fishery are developing day by day, and tourism is developing rapidly today.
