Larry John Haiti Presentation

8/3/2019 Larry John Haiti Presentation

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Larry JohnLarry John

Presentation on HaitiPresentation on Haiti


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HaitiHaitiHaiti, officially theHaiti, officially the Republic of HaitiRepublic of Haiti , is, is

aa CaribbeanCaribbean country. It occupies the western, smallercountry. It occupies the western, smallerportion of the island ofportion of the island of Hispaniola, in theHispaniola, in the GreaterGreater

AntilleanAntillean archipelago, which it shares with thearchipelago, which it shares with the DominicanDominicanRepublic.Republic. AyitiAyiti (land of high mountains) was the(land of high mountains) was the

indigenousindigenous TanoTano oror AmerindianAmerindian name for the island. Thename for the island. Thecountry's highest point iscountry's highest point is Pic la Selle, at 2,680 metersPic la Selle, at 2,680 meters

(8,793(8,793 ft). The total area of Haiti is 27,750 squareft). The total area of Haiti is 27,750 squarekilometers (10,714kilometers (10,714 sqsq mi) and its capital ismi) and its capital is PortPort--auau--Prince.Prince. Haitian CreoleHaitian Creole andand FrenchFrench are the officialare the official

languageslanguages


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Types of landformsTypes of landforms

Haiti, occupying the western third of the island ofHaiti, occupying the western third of the island ofHispaniola,Hispaniola, consists ofconsists oftwo peninsulas, separated by the Gonave Gulf.two peninsulas, separated by the Gonave Gulf.

Haiti is the third largest country in theHaiti is the third largest country in the CaribbeanCaribbean behindbehind CubaCuba andandthethe Dominican RepublicDominican Republic..

It's a rugged, mountainous land, dominated by three main massifsIt's a rugged, mountainous land, dominated by three main massifs((mountain rangesmountain ranges) all shown on the map. The highest point is Pic La Stelle) all shown on the map. The highest point is Pic La Stellein the Massif De La Selle. It stands at 8,793 ft. (2,680 m).in the Massif De La Selle. It stands at 8,793 ft. (2,680 m).

Haiti has the second longest coastline (1,771 km/1,100 mi) in theHaiti has the second longest coastline (1,771 km/1,100 mi) in theCaribbean, with Cuba having the longest.Caribbean, with Cuba having the longest. La Gonava and La Tortue are itsLa Gonava and La Tortue are its

most significant islands.most significant islands.Lake Azuei and Lake of Miragoane are the lakes of note. The only majorLake Azuei and Lake of Miragoane are the lakes of note. The only majorriver is the Artibonite; it rises in the Dominican Republic and flows acrossriver is the Artibonite; it rises in the Dominican Republic and flows acrossthe border into Haiti. There are a few dozen smaller rivers and hundreds ofthe border into Haiti. There are a few dozen smaller rivers and hundreds of(small) streams.(small) streams.


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Pictures of landformPictures of landform


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Haitis soilHaitis soil

The soils in the mountains are thinThe soils in the mountains are thinandand lose fertility quickly when cultivated.fertility quickly when cultivated.

TheThe lowerlower hills are covered withhills are covered with red claysred clays andandloams. The alluvial soils of the plains and valleysloams. The alluvial soils of the plains and valleysare fertileare fertile but over cultivated, owing tobut over cultivated, owing tohighhigh population densitiespopulation densities in those areas.in those areas.

Deforestation has caused much soil erosion, andDeforestation has caused much soil erosion, andas much as oneas much as one--third of Haitis land may havethird of Haitis land may haveeroded beyond recoveryeroded beyond recovery


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Haitis soil contdHaitis soil contd

Te a fatigeTe a fatige," said 70 percent of Haitian," said 70 percent of Haitianfarmers in a recent survey when askedfarmers in a recent survey when asked

about the major agricultural problems theyabout the major agricultural problems theyfaced. "The earth is tired.faced. "The earth is tired.


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Settlement patternsSettlement patterns

Haiti is densely populated, particularly on the plains,Haiti is densely populated, particularly on the plains,although cultivated plots and settlements are also foundalthough cultivated plots and settlements are also foundon the hills and steep mountains. More than twoon the hills and steep mountains. More than two--thirdsthirds

of the people live in rural areas, primarily as subsistenceof the people live in rural areas, primarily as subsistencefarmers or agricultural labourers. Ruralfarmers or agricultural labourers. Rural populationpopulationdensitiesdensities are high, which places a strain on theare high, which places a strain on theenvironment and on the wellenvironment and on the well--being of the people. Thebeing of the people. Thepopulation is still increasing in the countryside, despitepopulation is still increasing in the countryside, despite

growing migration to the cities. Most farms are verygrowing migration to the cities. Most farms are verysmall and are worked by their ownerssmall and are worked by their owners


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Pictures of settlement patternsPictures of settlement patterns


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Why floods occur in Haiti?Why floods occur in Haiti?

. Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.With oil too. Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.With oil tooexpensive for the impoverished nation, charcoal from burnt treesexpensive for the impoverished nation, charcoal from burnt treeshas provided 85% or more of the energy in Haiti for decades. As ahas provided 85% or more of the energy in Haiti for decades. As aresult, Haiti's 8 million poor have relentlessly hunted and choppedresult, Haiti's 8 million poor have relentlessly hunted and chopped

down huge amounts of forest, leaving denuded mountain slopesdown huge amounts of forest, leaving denuded mountain slopesthat rainwater washes down unimpeded. But as of 2004, only 1.4%that rainwater washes down unimpeded. But as of 2004, only 1.4%of Haiti's forests remained. For example :of Haiti's forests remained. For example :--Jeanne and Gordon wereJeanne and Gordon werenot even hurricanesnot even hurricanes----merely strong tropical stormsmerely strong tropical storms----when they stuckwhen they stuckHaiti, but the almost total lack of tree cover contributed to theHaiti, but the almost total lack of tree cover contributed to thedevastating floods that killed thousands. And it doesn't even take adevastating floods that killed thousands. And it doesn't even take atropical storm to devastate Haititropical storm to devastate Haiti----in May 2004, three days of heavyin May 2004, three days of heavy

rains from a tropical disturbance dumped more than 18 inches ofrains from a tropical disturbance dumped more than 18 inches ofrain in the mountains, triggering floods that killed over 2600 people.rain in the mountains, triggering floods that killed over 2600 people.


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Pictures of FloodsPictures of Floods


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Haiti earthquakeHaiti earthquake

Haiti has had a numerous amount ofHaiti has had a numerous amount ofearthquakes however on Tuesday afternoon,earthquakes however on Tuesday afternoon,January 12th, the worst earthquake in 200 yearsJanuary 12th, the worst earthquake in 200 years-- 7.0 in magnitude7.0 in magnitude -- struck less than ten milesstruck less than ten milesfrom the Caribbean city of Portfrom the Caribbean city of Port--auau--Prince, Haiti.Prince, Haiti.The initial quake was later followed by twelveThe initial quake was later followed by twelveaftershocks greater than magnitude 5.0.aftershocks greater than magnitude 5.0.

Structures of all kinds were damaged orStructures of all kinds were damaged orcollapsed, from shantytown homes to nationalcollapsed, from shantytown homes to nationallandmarks.landmarks.


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Pictures from earthquakePictures from earthquake


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Pictures from earthquake contdPictures from earthquake contd


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Haiti hurricaneHaiti hurricane

In many ways, the hurricane season of 2008 was the cruelest everIn many ways, the hurricane season of 2008 was the cruelest everexperienced in Haiti. Four stormsexperienced in Haiti. Four storms--Fay, Gustav, Hanna, and IkeFay, Gustav, Hanna, and Ike----dumped heavy rains on the impoverished nation. The ruggeddumped heavy rains on the impoverished nation. The ruggedhillsides, stripped bare of 98% of their forest cover thanks tohillsides, stripped bare of 98% of their forest cover thanks to

deforestation, let flood waters rampage into large areas of thedeforestation, let flood waters rampage into large areas of thecountry. Particularly hardcountry. Particularly hard--hit was Gonaives,hit was Gonaives, the fourth largest city.the fourth largest city.According toAccording to reliefweb.org the rains from 2008's four storms killedreliefweb.org the rains from 2008's four storms killed793, left 310 missing, injured 593, destroyed 22,702 homes, and793, left 310 missing, injured 593, destroyed 22,702 homes, anddamaged another 84,625. About 800,000 people were affecteddamaged another 84,625. About 800,000 people were affected----8%8%of Haiti's total population. The flood wiped out 70% of Haiti's crops,of Haiti's total population. The flood wiped out 70% of Haiti's crops,resulting in dozens of deaths of children due to malnutrition in theresulting in dozens of deaths of children due to malnutrition in the

months following the storms. Damage was estimated at over $1months following the storms. Damage was estimated at over $1billion, the costliest natural disaster in Haitian history. The damagebillion, the costliest natural disaster in Haitian history. The damageamounted to over 5% of the country'samounted to over 5% of the country's $17 billion GDP,$17 billion GDP, a staggeringa staggeringblow for a nation so poor.blow for a nation so poor.


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Pictures from hurricanePictures from hurricane


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Pics from hurricane contdPics from hurricane contd

Larry John Haiti Presentation

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