Caribbean island of Saint Martin. Saint Martin's Island
Saint Martin is the northern region of the island nation divided between France and the Netherlands. Saint Martin is a French territory covering approximately two-thirds of the island, located in the Leeward Islands region. It is well known for its nude beaches and high quality, trendy shops.
- Capital - Marigot
- Language - French
Marigot, the capital of Saint-Martin
Once a small fishing village, Marigot has grown into a quintessentially Caribbean town known for its sidewalk bistros and colorful gingerbread houses. The capital of the French side of Saint Martin mixes several traditional tourist attractions with many opportunities for sea adventure.
"Marigot" literally means "marsh" and the area around the capital was filled with them when the city was founded. Throughout the 18th century the city grew thanks to a boom in sugar cane production and land filling projects and today it is home to all local government departments, vibrant markets, romantic walks and some of St. Martin's most interesting architecture.
The city is a mecca for duty-free shopping, and the winding streets of the central district are lined with French fashion and luxury boutiques. Many of the world's most prestigious brands can be found there, and unbeatable prices make Marigot a great stock spot for gifts and souvenirs.
For a more traditional shopping experience, spend the day exploring the sprawling Marigot market, a melting pot of smells, colors and sights that exudes the city's bustling hustle and bustle. Locals come every morning as the sun comes up to sell fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, spices and meats, and traditional restaurants hug the perimeter. Don't leave without sampling sweetly flavored rum and indulging in some "colombo", a fish stew, curried with a mixture.
Rue de la Republique is one of the best places to marvel at the traditional 19th-century façades that define much of Saint Martin's architecture. The well-preserved houses have retained much of their architectural authenticity. Stone and lime mortars make the lower floors, and the second levels are made of wood using traditional building methods. The dwellings are famous for their upstairs galleries decorated with gingerbread friezes and their delightfully decorated balustrades.
The Catholic Church of Saint Martin was erected by Fort Louis Road in 1941 to meet the needs of the island's religious minority. Built in the traditional stone and lime style, the church was recently renovated by Young People's Islands as part of a school project.
The nearby Louis Fort was built in 1789 to protect the city and its warehouses, which stored rum, salt, sugar cane, coffee and other products. The fort later fell to ruin, but since 1993 has been the focus of an ambitious government-sponsored renovation project. You are still welcome to explore the Fort and take in the breathtaking views of the city, the lagoons of Simpson Bay, Anguilla, Simpson Bay, Nettle Baie and Bass Terres visitors.
Marigot Cemetery is the final resting place of Auguste-Francois Perrino, an important figure in slavery's abolition. Perrino was a shareholder in many of the companies that operated the salt pans at St. Martin's, and in 1847 he published a work outlining the mistreatment of slaves. He died on the island in 1861 and remains one of Saint Martin's most famous historical figures.
If you're tired of swimming, diving, sailing and snorkeling offshore, there are more places to explore in and around Marigot including Loterie Farm, 424th Pic Paradis Summit, St. Jean Plantation, Former Spring Sugar Mill, Hope real estate archeological and national nature reserve of Saint Martin, which is home to an array of intoxicating flora and fauna.
Tourists
The friendliness of the Dutch and the French, as well as the carefree atmosphere prevailing in Saint-Martin, contributed to the symbiosis of cuisine, architecture and philosophy of the islanders. The life of the island is filled with harmony, and the borders between these two neighboring states are rather a convention. The French influence on Saint Martin is mostly cultural heritage, but the Dutch side is actively involved in popularizing the island, so many resorts are located on its territory and gambling is allowed.
Both the capitals (Marigot and Philipsburg) are full of gourmet restaurants, fashionable shops and a variety of entertainment venues, so you will not be bored here. In addition, the guests of the island are provided with a large number of magnificent beaches with white sand, which are perfect for relaxation and active entertainment.
Climate and weather
The tropical climate prevails on the island, so the weather here is dry and very warm all year round. In the summer season, daily air temperatures fluctuate between +27...+32 °C, and in winter they almost never fall below +24...+25 °C. The average annual rainfall on the island is about 1000–1150 mm. The rainiest months are September and November, while the driest months are February, March and April.
The most favorable time for a trip to Saint-Martin is the period of the year from mid-December to April.
Nature
Saint Maarten is located in the Caribbean Sea and is part of the Lesser Antilles. Saint Martin is the top of an ancient underwater volcano, which has a rounded shape. Its coastline is framed by a series of small coral reefs with shallow lagoons.
In general, the relief of Saint-Martin is hilly, its highest point is Mount Peak Paradise.
The landscapes of the island are dominated by greenery, but the soils here are dry: palm trees, cacti and hibiscus make up most of the local flora. Although several small forests grow in the central regions. Also on Saint-Martin there are more than 30 white beaches with clear water.
The fauna of the island is quite poor and is represented mainly by birds and lizards, as well as feral domestic animals.
Attractions
Despite the fact that Saint Martin is under the control of two different states, their borders are conditional, so tourists can easily see all the sights of the island.
Philipsburg is the only city in the Dutch part of the island whose buildings are recognized as classic examples of early colonial architecture.
These are mostly buildings with red and white facades and steep tiled roofs. The main attractions of the city include the monument to Queen Wilhelmina, nine small churches and Watney Square. No less interesting are Fort Willem and Fort Amsterdam.
It is also worth visiting the Saint-Martin Museum, which houses ancient finds and a collection of items from the sunken frigate Proselyte.
Well, the main pride of Philipsburg residents is the Botanical Garden and a small but very beautiful zoo.
Notable places and objects can also be found outside the city. First of all, this is the Cole Bay Hill observation tower and the magnificent Dawn Beach.
The French part of the island is less noisy, and its capital - the city of Marigot - is a real example of elegant style. The most popular place in the city is Republic Street with charming buildings that create a romantic atmosphere.
The main historical monument of Marigot is an ancient fortress called Fort Louis, from the walls of which a stunning view of the coast opens.
Among other points of interest, the most popular are the Saint-Martin Museum of History and Culture, the Rue de la Liberte courthouse, the Lulu Gallery and the Arawak Museum of Culture and History.
Well, in the vicinity of the city, you should definitely see the remains of the sugar plantation of La Sucrerier and the picturesque Paradise Peak, as well as visit the typical Creole village of Colombier, the gastronomic capital of the island of Grand Case, the small forest reserve Loteri Farm and the amazing Butterfly Farm.
Despite the fact that the island is shared by two states, they have one common attraction, which symbolizes their peaceful coexistence. It represents the Border Monument, which is set on top of a small mountain of Concordia.
Kitchen
The cuisine of Saint Martin is as interesting as the island itself. Based on a mixture of European, Creole and Caribbean traditions, it is based on seafood that abounds in the surrounding waters. Thus, the most popular and common dishes here are made from lobsters, shrimps, lobsters, various shells, sea fish and seaweed. The most interesting treats of local culinary specialists are charcoal-grilled snapper, boiled shrimp with greens, fish-coconut soup sopi di piss, fish meatballs croqueshi, wine soup sopi di binja and whole fried wahoo.
Among the meat dishes, the most common are pasties, braised lamb cabrito-stoba, meatloaf ayakas, cactus soup and fish hobi-duchi, spicy steak with lemon. Well, as a side dish, fresh vegetables, green beans, boiled rice and a variety of sauces are most often offered.
Local desserts are also interesting, such as johnny cake, pan bati, pudin di potato potato pudding, caramel quesio and cocada lollipops. Wash down all these treats with tea and freshly squeezed juices. If we talk about alcohol, then all kinds of local and imported drinks are available here. The island also produces such first-class beers as Heineken, Balashi and Amstel. However, the main local drink is the Guavaberry liqueur, which is made from Caribbean rum, sugar and rare berries that ripen only in August.
Oddly enough, the best restaurants on the island are not in Marigot or Philipsburg, but in the small town of Grand Case, which is recognized as the gastronomic capital of Saint Martin. It is here that the best restaurants of Saint-Martin are located, offering gourmet French cuisine and the best French wines.
Hotels
The choice of hotels in St. Maarten is simply huge, however, during the high season (December to April), rooms should be booked in advance, otherwise it may be difficult to find accommodation. Also, at the height of the season, one should not be surprised at the rather high prices, since this place is the most popular international resort.
Almost all Saint-Martin hotels can boast of impeccable quality of service and excellent living conditions. Moreover, the most luxurious establishments are located not in cities, but outside them on the coast. Such hotels are large complexes with swimming pools, restaurants, spas, etc.
If you wish, you can not check into a hotel, but rent an apartment in one of the capitals (from $1,200 per week) or a villa on the coast (from $3,500 per week).
Entertainment and recreation
First of all, guests of Saint Martin are offered a stunning choice of active entertainment: windsurfing, kitesurfing, kayaking, diving, boat trips and sailboats, jungle safaris, fishing, horseback riding, tennis, golf, picnics in nature or just relaxing on the beach.
The "party" life of the island is also very diverse, since closer to the night nightclubs and bars begin their life here, and casinos also begin their life on Dutch territory. Moreover, local clubs are so diverse that you can even hear such styles as merengue, jazz and zouk, but in the best restaurants you can hear classic compositions by Frank Sinatra and other famous performers of all times and peoples.
The island's white sandy beaches deserve special mention. Among them, the most popular are Great Bay, Long Bay, Anse Marcel, Cupecoy, Maho Beach, Simpson Bay and many others. In total, there are about 40 beaches on the island, and many of them are replete with bars, restaurants and souvenir shops. In addition to the beaches on the island, there are large resort areas with all the infrastructure accompanying a great vacation. In French territory, you can find beaches for nudists, among which Orient Bay is considered the most famous.
Another plus of a holiday in Saint Martin is duty-free shopping in both capitals of the island, which are simply full of a variety of shops and boutiques. Finally, it is recommended to participate in one of the local holidays, for example, in the February Carnival.
Purchases
Saint Martin is recognized as one of the most popular shopping destinations in the region. The fact is that both parts of the island are a duty-free zone. Thus, there are more than 500 Duty Free shops here, which offer a huge selection of electronics, watches, jewelry, crystal, French perfumes, fashion clothes, Havana cigars and the best vintage wines.
In Philipsburg, the main place for shopping is Front Street, where there is a huge number of shops and shops that beckon with their bright windows. There are also fashionable boutiques with clothes from leading world brands. And on Sundays, there is a market in Philipsburg, where merchants offer interesting products of folk craftsmen.
The French city of Marigot also abounds with many interesting shops, fashion boutiques and luxury jewelry stores offering watches and jewelry from the most prestigious brands. In addition, a huge market operates in Marigot, where you can buy the most unusual tropical fruits, fresh gifts seas and fragrant spices. It also sells original souvenirs made by local artisans.
Transport
The island has Princess Juliana International Airport (on its Dutch side). It should be noted that it is not very convenient, as it is located close to the beach, as a result of which planes often fly literally right over the heads of vacationers.
Traffic in St. Maarten is right-handed, the roads are quite narrow, and sometimes not of very good quality.
Public transport on both halves of the island is represented by taxis and buses. Minivans are used here as buses, on which, regardless of the borders, you can get to any part of the island for a very small fee. However, the border between the Dutch and French territories is rather conditional. Well, in a taxi for only $ 25, you can go around the entire island. Such a relatively low price is not due to low tariffs, but to the very small size of Saint-Martin. In addition, most local taxi drivers are happy to provide their services as a guide (about $ 50 per hour).
You can rent any car in one of the international companies, of which there are quite a lot. Also, if desired, it is possible to rent a yacht, scooter, motorcycle, ATV or scooter.
Connection
The island has a high-quality and well-developed communication system. Telephone booths from which you can make an international call are installed in all settlements and in all public places. All vending machines operate from telephone cards of several types. The most common cards are CaribTel, which are suitable for almost all phones. Such cards are sold in post offices, supermarkets, newsstands and telephone company offices. Also, any call can be made from the post office or from the hotel, but in the latter case, the cost of an international call will be much more expensive. Please note that calls between the French and Dutch parts of Saint Martin are considered international calls.
Cellular communication in Saint Martin operates in the GSM 900/1800 standard, it is of good quality and covers the entire island. International roaming service is available to all subscribers of major Russian operators.
Internet access is provided in an Internet cafe, the cost of a session depends on the connection speed and averages $5–10 per hour.
Security
In general, Saint Martin has a fairly low crime rate, but pickpocketing does happen here.
For this reason, all generally accepted safety rules should be observed, especially for beaches, airports and public places. Car theft is also common on the island.
No special vaccinations are required to travel to Saint Martin. Vaccination against poliomyelitis, typhoid and hepatitis is recommended, although there are no natural foci of these diseases.
City tap water is purified and safe to drink, but it is advised to drink bottled water during the first days of your stay.
Business
The advantage of Saint Maarten is its economic security and stability, as well as the fact that the entire island is a duty-free zone. The economy of both parts of the island as a whole depends on the tourism business, so a lot of money is invested in the development of infrastructure.
The property
Saint Maarten Island offers a wide range of real estate, which is provided for both personal use and business. And here it can be owned only by local residents, but also by foreign citizens.
On Dutch territory, there are no restrictions on the purchase of real estate by non-residents of the country, and to complete the transaction, it is enough to present a passport. The transfer of ownership of any property is carried out through a professional notary. This applies to both the French and Dutch parts of the island.
The most prestigious and expensive real estate of the island are luxury villas on the coast. The cost of such objects starts from $750,000 and can reach up to $3,000,000. Usually the price depends on the location and size of the villa.
It is this area that is the main source of income for the French territory. And the Dutch part of Saint Martin is offshore zone where a large number of different foreign companies are registered. There is also no tax on any real estate and income from its sale.
Customs restrictions
The amount of exported and imported currency is not limited in any way, but the amount of more than 7000 € must be declared.
Duty-free import of 1 liter is allowed strong alcohol(more than 22 °), up to 200 cigarettes, 100 grams of any tea, 500 grams of natural coffee and 50 milliliters of perfume.
It is prohibited to import and export items of historical value, psychotropic substances, drugs, ammunition and weapons, endangered plants and animals. It is forbidden to import plants, animals, any animal products and vegetables from Haiti, as well as silver items and coins from Suriname and Holland.
Visa
Citizens of the Russian Federation to travel to St. Maarten need a visa, which can be obtained at the embassies of France or the Kingdom of the Netherlands (depending on which state the hotel is located in).
The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is located in Moscow at the address: per. Kalashny, 6. You can also contact the Consulate General in St. Petersburg: Moika Embankment, 11. At the same time, a visa issued to visit Saint Martin does not entitle you to visit the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and holders of Schengen visas for a trip Saint Maarten must obtain a separate visa.
The French Embassy in Moscow is located at: st. Bolshaya Yakimanka, 45. The Consulate General is located in St. Petersburg at the address: emb. Moiki, 15. A visa issued for a trip to Saint-Martin does not give the right to stay in France and the Schengen countries.
Overseas administrative-territorial formation of France, occupying the northern part of the island of St. Martin and a number of small adjacent islands. The island is located in the northern part of the Windward Islands, 8 km south of the British island of Anguilla. Saint-Martin Square - 53.2 sq. km. The capital is Marigot.
St. Martin's Island is the world's smallest inhabited island, simultaneously governed by two independent governments. The northern part of the island is the French overseas community of Saint Martin, while the southern part is a self-governing state with significant autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and is called Sint Maarten . Although the island is under the control of two different countries, there are no real borders between its two parts.
St. Martin is composed of volcanic rocks, hilly, the highest point is 424 m. The island is located in an area of increased seismic activity. The landscape is mostly green but dry - palms, hibiscus and cacti make up the vast majority of the island's flora, although there are a few small forests in the hilly central regions. There are no sources of fresh water on the island.
There are many long sandy shores on St. Martin, especially frequent in the southern and western regions of the island, and in the lagoons, the beaches extend the entire width of the alluvial sandy spits that fence them off from the sea.
Climate in Saint Martin
Climate in Saint Martin- tropical, trade wind. In winter, the air temperature is +27°С, in summer - about +32°С. The warmer but also wet season is from July to October. From May to October - the so-called rainy season (do not go often).
The most favorable time for a trip is from mid-December to the end of April.
Last changes: 05/12/2013Population
Population of Saint Martin- 35.9 thousand people (2007).
Ethno-racial composition - Creoles (mulattoes), blacks, Guadeloupe mestizos (of French-Indian origin), whites, Indians.
The population is mostly Catholics, there are also Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Hindus.
The official language is French. Many residents also speak English, Dutch and Creole.
Last changes: 05/12/2013Currency
Currency of Saint Martin - Euro(currency sign - €, EUR).
Coins in denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents; 1, 2 euros. Banknotes in denominations: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500.
Banks are open from Monday to Friday from 8.30 to 15.00-16.00. On Saturdays, most banks are open from 8.00 to 12.00. Sundays and public holidays are usually non-working days. Some exchange offices operate around the clock. ATMs are ubiquitous, they usually accept Visa, MasterCard, Cirrus and dispense money in euros.
Euros and US dollars are generally accepted everywhere, as are credit cards. However, there are many places that do not accept cards, so you should check this in advance. It is recommended to always have cash with you for small purchases and transport fares.
Last changes: 05/12/2013Communication and communications
Telephone code: 590
Internet domain: .mf, .fr
How to call
To call from Russia to Saint-Martin on a landline, you need to dial: 8 - beep - 10 - 590 - 590 - subscriber's number.
To call from Russia to Saint-Martin on a mobile, you need to dial: 8 - beep - 10 - 590 - 690 - subscriber's number.
To call from Saint-Martin to Russia, you need to dial: 00 - 7 - area code - subscriber number.
To call from St. Maarten to the neighboring Dutch Sint Maarten, you need to dial: 00 - 599 - 5 - the subscriber's number.
Fixed line
Despite the fact that the Dutch part of the island is located next to the French part, calls from the French part of Saint Martin to the Dutch part of Sint Maarten are considered international and are charged as international calls.
Last changes: 05/12/2013shopping
St. Martin's Island has a well-deserved reputation for being a great shopping destination. Shopping is duty free in both parts of the island. Sellers pay only 3% VAT. Some sellers may attempt to add it as a separate expense item when selling an item, despite instructions from local tax authorities not to do so.
In both parts of the island there are a total of more than 500 "Duty Free" shops offering a large selection of jewelry, watches, electronics, crystal, clothing from the world's leading manufacturers, French perfumes, finest vintage wines and Havana cigars.
Last changes: 05/12/2013Sea and beaches
Beaches (there are more than 30 of them) are the main attraction of the island of St. Martin. Most of the beaches are well-maintained: cafes and restaurants, beach equipment, water activities. Umbrellas and sun loungers are mostly paid.
There are nudist beaches in Saint Martin, in this respect the French part of the island is more liberal than the Dutch.
Last changes: 05/12/2013History of Saint Martin
Before the discovery of America by Europeans, the island belonged entirely to the Arawaks, who called it the Island of Salt or the Land of Women.
Saint Martin Island was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493, but the Spaniards did not begin to develop it.
In 1631, the Dutch landed on the island and began to develop salt reserves on it. In 1633, Spain claimed the island, but then ceded it to the Netherlands and France, who divided Saint Martin in two in 1648. France began to own the northern part of the island, then including this territory in the colony of Guadeloupe.
In the 18th century, sugarcane plantations began to be created on the island, and Negro slaves from Africa were brought to work on them. Slavery was abolished by the French authorities only in 1848.
On February 22, 2007, the French northern part of the island withdrew from the French overseas department of Guadeloupe, and the overseas administrative-territorial unit of France, Saint-Martin, was formed.
The southern part of the island, as before, is part of the Netherlands Antilles (belongs to the Netherlands) and is called Sint Maarten.
Last changes: 05/12/2013Night life
There are over a dozen casinos on the island where you can play Black Jack, Roulette, Poker, Baccarat and more. The casinos are located on the Dutch side of the island, mainly around Philipsburg, Maho Beach, Cupecoy and Simpson Bay. In these same areas, you will also find bars, nightclubs, discos and adult entertainment. On the French side, casinos are not allowed by law.
Last changes: 05/12/2013The border between the French and the Dutch side is almost invisible, it can only be detected by the greeting signs on the road (Welcome!) - which are written in French and Dutch, respectively.
Since there are no sources of fresh water on St. Martin, all water is processed at the island's desalination plants. International brands of bottled water are sold everywhere, such as in Evian. Water is very expensive here!
Last changes: 05/12/2013How to get to Saint Martin
There are no direct flights from to. All international flights arrive in the neighboring Dutch part of the island - Princess Juliana Airport.
The most convenient flight options from Russia:
via Paris, with airlines: Moscow - Paris - Sint Maarten - Paris - Moscow (the cost of the flight is about 1400-1500 euros round trip). The duration of the flight from Moscow to Paris is 03 h 55 min, from Paris to Sint Maarten - 08 h 45 min (excluding connections).
via Amsterdam, with airlines: Moscow - Amsterdam - Sint Maarten - Amsterdam - Moscow (the cost of the flight is about 1200-1400 euros round trip). The duration of the flight from Moscow to Amsterdam is about 3.5 hours, from Amsterdam to Sint Maarten - about 8.5 hours (excluding connections).
Last changes: 05/12/2013Marigot 21:16 26°C
partly cloudy
Hotels
Saint-Martin has a decent selection of hotels for every taste and budget. But lovers of noisy animation and the all-inclusive system will be a little disappointed, such a service is missing here. Even breakfast in most hotels is not included in the price. If you want to save some money - choose apart-hotels with a kitchen, local supermarkets have everything you need for cooking. But the level of service, the condition of the rooms and their furnishing will be on top. The service is similar to hotels in the Dominican Republic.
Accommodation is best booked a few months in advance before the date of the proposed trip. The reception of some hotels is open only at certain times: at lunchtime and from 18:00 to 24:00.
Attractions
Saint Martin Island is a real tropical paradise with white sand, turquoise sea, beautiful nature. The extinct volcano Mount Flagstaff will be a bonus. But the main attraction of the island is not beautiful landscapes and not even some kind of natural reserve, but Princess Juliana Airport. Many tourists admit that they choose Saint Martin as their holiday destination for its sake. Here planes take off and land right over the heads of tourists. You can stand over a huge Boeing, take plenty of pictures of the planes (no one will drive you away, you can even stand on the platform). The main entertainment is to stand at the fence during the takeoff of the plane, the main thing is to hold on tight so as not to fly away with it.
Museums
The Museum of the History of the Island of St. Maarten in Philipsburg is dedicated to the times of slavery and the fate of local residents. Most of the expositions will tell about hard work on sugar plantations and salt mines. You can get acquainted with local painting in the Gallery of Haitian Art.
Climate Saint-Martin:: Low humidity, gentle trade winds, brief, intense rain showers. July-November is the hurricane season.
Resorts
The island has good beaches. There are practically no waves, the water is azure, and the beach is clean. A true tropical paradise. Maho Beach is famous for being part of the Princess Juliana Airport. The best beaches are Mullet Beach (the Dutch half) and Oriental Beach in the French part of the island.
A popular place to stay is the Marina Simpson bay area, famous for its good infrastructure, numerous bars and the proximity of the beach with airplanes. Sun lounger rentals cost between $8 and $15. In the Dutch part of the island, the official currency is guilders, in the French part, the euro. You can pay everywhere in dollars, since the main flow of tourists comes from the United States.
Leisure
The island of Saint Martin has everything for a wonderful holiday from the warm sea and clean beaches to opportunities to go scuba diving or go in for sports. On the Dutch side, there are many nightclubs, bars, casinos and shopping centers (Saint Martin is a duty-free zone, a real consumer paradise). The French side is famous for good restaurants and nude beaches.
Local hotels are famous for the fact that in addition to the usual yoga classes, there are trainers practicing martial arts, archery or fencing. There is a sporty atmosphere throughout the island.
Terrain of Saint-Martin:: Mostly flat
Transport
The easiest way to get to Saint Martin is by connecting flights in Paris or Amsterdam (by Air France or KLM), there are no direct flights from Russia. You can follow the shares of American airlines, the main thing is to have a US visa, since there is no visa-free transit for Russian citizens there.
Saint Martin is famous for a large number of cars on the roads and numerous traffic jams. If you want to explore the island on your own, it is better to rent a motorbike. Public transport is represented by taxis and buses.
Standard of living
Local residents of both parts of the island are engaged in agriculture and traditional crafts, serve tourists and receive subsidies from France and the Netherlands. There is no own production here, everything is brought from the USA, Mexico and France.
Saint Martin has resources like: : Salts
Cities
The island of Saint Martin is divided into two parts: the north belongs to France, and the south belongs to the Netherlands. To visit each half (depending on which part of the island you are going to), Russians need a French or Dutch visa, but the border between them is conditional, no one checks the documents.
The city of Marigot is the capital of the French part of the island. A former fishing village, it was made a city only in the recent 2006. It is famous for its low-rise buildings and an authentic market square where you can buy local sauces and coconut oil.
Philipsburg is the capital of the Dutch part of the island. There are two streets connected by a narrow lane. Local architecture copies the old Dutch building.
The island of St. Martin, also known as the island of Saint Martin, is located in Surprisingly, two states are located on this small piece of land - France and the Netherlands. Moreover, this is the smallest inhabited island in the world. All these incredible facts Thousands of tourists are attracted here every year, since the weather contributes to quality rest - the warm sea, clean beaches and the sun, which shines almost all year round.
Island location
Saint Martin's Island is located in the northern ridge of the Eastern Caribbean. Part of the Small archipelago
The northern part of the coast of the island is occupied by the French overseas community, and the southern part is considered a self-governing autonomy, but it is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Dutch part of the island is called Sint Martin.
Each part has its own capital. The French is called Marigot, and the Dutch is Philipsburg.
A remarkable fact is that the island received its name from the British. The primordial local natives always called it Narikel Gingira, which literally means This is really a piece of paradise, so it’s not for nothing that many tourists from all over the world are interested in where the island of St. Martin is located.
Geography
The area of the smallest inhabited island on the planet is only 87 square kilometers. Most of them belong to the French side - about 53 square kilometers, the remaining 34 - under the jurisdiction of the Dutch.
The island of St. Martin is distinguished by a hilly relief. There are many mountains and hills, the highest point is Mount Peak Paradise. Its height is 424 meters above sea level. It is located in the French part of the island. Climbing the mountains is convenient and pleasant, most of the hills are covered with forests and greenery.
Climate
The island has a pronounced maritime tropical climate. The rainy season here begins in April and lasts until about November. Rains are heavy, but most often short-lived.
Saint Martin is subject to trade winds at this time of the year, which neutralize the high humidity. Therefore, even in these months it is comfortable to rest here. The heat is not so strong due to the wind.
In the winter months, the temperature drops to 27-29 degrees above zero during the day and 20-22 degrees at night. Humid climate in winter is almost not felt. For tourists on the island there are about 30 beaches, almost all of them have white sand, which makes the rest unforgettable. Tourist places are located on both Dutch and French territory.
History of the island
Before the island belonged to the Arawak Indian people. They called it "Land of Women". It was a peaceful tribe that was mainly engaged in agriculture. The first to know where the island of St. Martin is, the British. On November 11, 1493, it was put on the world map. Until today, this date is considered the main holiday on the island.
French colonists came here only in 1620. They actively began to cultivate the cultivation of tobacco. And in 1631, the Dutch founded their base on the island. The first governor was Jan Claeszon van Kampen, who began to extract salt.
In 1633, Saint-Martin came under the protectorate of the Spaniards, who held it for several decades, repulsing the attacks of the Dutch. They left it only in 1648, when it ceased to be of strategic importance. Under the Treaty of Munster, he passed to the Netherlands. Ultimately, the French colonists also restored their settlements here.
Population and language
In total, a little less than 75 thousand inhabitants live on the island. Only a quarter of the population is white.
Saint Martin - the island of two masters. It received this name not by chance. Today, both the Dutch and the French peacefully coexist there in a small area, having a single spoken language - this is the Saint-Martin dialect of East Caribbean. At the same time, Dutch is considered official on the side of the Netherlands, and French, respectively, on the side of France. In addition, English, Spanish and Papiamento Creole are extremely common.
Economy of the island
The main income item of the island's economy is tourism. The official currency is the euro, but American dollars are freely accepted everywhere, and most prices in shops and hotels are indicated in this currency, since the main flow of tourists still arrives from the United States. You can freely pay with a credit card anywhere, and the standard of living on the island is the same (and even slightly higher) than in Western Europe.
The Dutch part of the island is a well-known offshore. A large number of companies are registered in this territory, but business is carried out outside it and are exempt from taxes. Companies also benefit from the absolute absence of property taxes.
At the service of those wishing to fly to the island of St. Martin - Princess Juliana Airport. It is named after the Dutch princess, who came here a year after its opening, in 1944.
The airport is quite small. The runway is only 2.3 kilometers long. Therefore, only experienced and confident pilots fly here.
Landing on St. Martin's Island is considered one of the hardest in the world. Not only is the length of the runway very short, but in addition it also adjoins the seashore. As a result, a passenger liner has to be landed literally over the heads of tourists vacationing on the largest local beach - Maho.
Beaches on the island
Maho is one of the largest beaches that Saint Martin is famous for. The description of it always begins with the feeling that tourists experience when passenger liners arriving on the island fly 15-20 meters above their heads.
Largely for this reason, Maho is extremely popular among spotters - people who are fond of watching aircraft. The beach itself is small, its length is about 300 meters, and its width is several tens of meters. In one of the eateries, it is obligatory to announce the approach of the next plane through the loudspeaker. Also everywhere along the beach there are boards on which the schedule of the next flights is written in chalk.
Due to the fact that Maho is regularly exposed to strong air currents from airliners, it is completely devoid of vegetation. Also because of this, there are almost always strong waves on the coast, which, in turn, attracts windsurfers. It is very dangerous to be in the central part of the beach during the landing of an airliner - it is fraught with injuries (fatal outcomes are not ruled out), which tourists are constantly warned about by local administration employees. After all, the wind speed at this time reaches 160 kilometers per hour. However, many deliberately ignore these warnings, wanting to experience the thrill.
In 2008, the island of St. Martin was badly damaged by the hurricane. France did a lot to minimize the damage. Hurricane Omar washed away all the sand from it and had to be re-imported.
Attractions of the island
Also, tourists are attracted by the highest point of the island - Mount Peak Paradise. It has two viewing platforms, each of which offers an unforgettable view of the Caribbean Sea and the island coast. In order to climb the island, most often they use a car, since the road is very steep and rocky. A bicycle or a moped will not pass here.
The island is also popular among nudists. There are many beaches where wearing clothes is optional. For example, on the Dutch side, this is the Kupekoy beach, located at the very foot of the cliff. True, in the territory of the Netherlands this is the only such place, on any other beach you will definitely be fined.
In French territory, the favorite beach of nudists is Papagayo. Here it is officially allowed. On other beaches, those who want to sunbathe topless are most often tolerated. Especially if it's a weekday and there aren't many visitors.
Football team
One of the most interesting and amazing facts is that the island has its own football team. True, she is not a member of FIFA, therefore she does not participate in qualifying matches for the world championships. But he regularly plays in competitions held under the auspices of CONCACAF - the Football Federation of North and Central America.
The last time the Saint Martin team tried to break into the CONCACAF Gold Cup was in 2012. To do this, it was necessary to successfully perform at the Caribbean Cup. However, in the group stage, the team suffered three defeats - 0:7 from Haiti, 0:9 from Puerto Rico and 0:8 from Bermuda.
In general, the team is considered one of the weakest in CONCACAF. It has been in existence since 1994. On the this moment played 26 matches, 17 of which lost. In 6 meetings, the guys managed to win. The most successful year for the Saint Martin team was 2001, when they defeated the teams of Montserrat and Anguilla with a score of 3: 1. These victories remain the largest in its history.
The largest defeat to the St. Martins was inflicted by the Jamaican team in 2004. The game ended with the score 12:0.