St Maarten St Martin

• Location:
  Caribbean, located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean Sea; St Maarten lies east of the US Virgin Islands
  Geographic coordinates:
  18 4 N, 63 4 W
  Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
  Area:
  total: 34 sq km
  land: 34 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  note: Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin
  country comparison to the world: 236
  Area - comparative:
  one-fifth the size of Washington, DC
  Land boundaries:
  total: 16 km
  border countries (1): Saint Martin (France) 16 km
  Coastline:
  58.9 km (for entire island)
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
  Climate:
  tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in moderate temperatures; average rainfall of 150 cm/year; hurricane season stretches from July to November
  Terrain:
  low, hilly terrain, volcanic origin
  Elevation:
  mean elevation: NA
  elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
  highest point: Mount Flagstaff 386 m
  Natural resources:
  fish, salt
  Natural hazards:
  subject to hurricanes from July to November
  Geography - note:
  the northern border is shared with the French overseas collectivity of Saint Martin; together, these two entities make up the smallest landmass in the world shared by two self-governing states

Although sighted by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and claimed for Spain, it was the Dutch who occupied the island of St Martin in 1631 and began exploiting its salt deposits. The Spanish retook the island in 1633, but continued to be harassed by the Dutch. The Spanish finally relinquished the island of Saint Martin to the French and Dutch, who divided it amongst themselves in 1648.

The establishment of cotton, tobacco, and sugar plantations dramatically expanded African slavery on the island in the 18th and 19th centuries; the practice was not abolished in the Dutch half of Sint Maarten until 1863. The island's economy declined until 1939 when it became a free port; the tourism industry was dramatically expanded beginning in the 1950s. In 1954, St Maarten and several other Dutch Caribbean possessions became part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands as the Netherlands Antilles. In a 2000 referendum, the citizens of Sint Maarten voted to become a self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The change in status became effective in October of 2010 with the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles.

Marigot is the capital of Saint Martin, on the French side of the Caribbean island of St Martin.

Marigot st martin (french side) is the paradise of duty free trade, luxury and french fashion.

It's also a port with departures to St Barts and Anguilla.

What to visit while in Marigot St Martin :

- The market on the port.

- West indies mall next to the marina fort louis

- Marina royale of marigot

- Fort Louis Marigot

- Republic Street is the main street of Marigot with colonial facades dating from the 18th century.

- Catholic church dating from the 18th century.

Welcome to St Martin island. The tiny (37 square miles) island located in the Caribbean is shared by 2 nations : french and dutch caribbean. The island of St Martin has 37 beaches on its entire territory !!

St Martin (french side) is a french territory.

Sint Maarten (ducth side) in an independent country part of the Netherlands Kingdom.