About
Named for an Amerindian word meaning "high ground," the mountainous country of Haiti is the second-oldest independent nation in the Western Hemisphere (surpassed only by the United States). African slaves established the nation in 1804, after an uprising against the colony's French government. Located on the western third of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea, Haiti is one of the world's poorest countries, as most of its 10.4 million inhabitants depend upon farming to feed themselves. This has resulted in an environmental crisis, as decades of clearing forests to uncover new farmland has led to widespread soil erosion, which in turn causes destructive flooding throughout the country. The government has been unable to manage Haiti's resources, and periodic political unrest continues to contribute to the country's troubles. There's a lot to discover about Haiti!