什么是海地

正式名称海地共和国（Republic of Haiti）

西印度群岛国家，位於伊斯帕尼奥拉岛西部，东部为多明尼加共和国。面积27,700平方公里。人口约6,965,000（2001）。首都︰太子港。大多数人口是黑人或黑白混血儿。语言︰海地克里奥尔语和法语（均为官方语）。宗教︰天主教和巫毒教。货币︰古德（G）。海地多山而崎岖不平，约五分之二的土地高於490公尺。山脉间交错着富饶但人口过度集中的低地。气候属热带气候，但因山脉变得和缓，常有周期性的乾旱和飓风。阿蒂博尼特河是最长的河流。海地是美洲最贫穷的国家，经济为发展中的市场经济，以农业和轻工业为主；咖啡是主要经济作物。政府形式为多党制共和国，两院制。国家元首为总统，政府首脑是总理。

有关海地的早期历史，参阅Hispaniola。在最初的图森－路维杜尔和後来的德萨利讷领导下发动暴动推翻法国的统治（1791～1804），海地从以前的奴隶之岛获得独立。新共和国包含了整个伊斯帕尼奥拉岛，1809年西班牙恢复了在该岛东部的统治。在布瓦耶当政时期（1818～1843）又重新统一；在东半部发生暴动将他推翻後，便成立了多明尼加共和国。由於常发生政变和暗杀，政府变得不稳定。1915～1934年间被美国占领。1957年独裁的杜华利取得政权，他无视国内经济萧条和政局不安，一直统治到1971年他去世为止。其子尚－克劳德继承其位，但1986年被迫流亡。1990年海地首次举行总统大选，阿里斯蒂德当选。1991年军事政变将他推翻，後来数万名海地人企图搭船逃亡至美国。军事政府在1994年垮台，流亡的阿里斯蒂德返国组织新政府。1995年他的同事普雷瓦尔（R. Preval）接管政权，2000年阿里斯蒂德再次取得总统职位。

Haiti

Country, West Indies. It occupies the western third of the island of Hispaniola, with the Dominican Republic to the east. Area: 10,695 sq mi (27,700 sq km). Population (2000 est.): 6,868,000. Capital: Port-au-Prince. Almost the entire population is black or mulatto. Language: Haitian Creole and French (both official). Religion: Roman Catholicism; voodoo (voudou). Currency: gourde. Most of its land is mountainous, with about two-fifths above 1,600 ft (490 m). The mountain ranges alternate with fertile but overpopulated lowlands. Its climate is tropical, modified by the mountains, and subject to periodic droughts and hurricanes. Its longest river is the Artibonite. The poorest country in the Americas, it has a developing market economy based in large part on agriculture and light industries; coffee is the main cash crop. It is a multiparty republic with two legislative houses; the chief of state is the president, and the head of government is the prime minister. For its early history, see Hispaniola. Haiti gained its independence when the former slaves of the island, initially led by Toussaint-Louverture, and later by Jean-Jacques Dessalines, rebelled against French rule in 1791-1804. The new republic encompassed the entire island of Hispaniola, but the eastern portion was restored to Spain in 1809. It was reunited under Haitian Pres. Jean-Pierre Boyer (1818-43); after his overthrow the eastern portion revolted and formed the Dominican Republic. Haiti's government was marked by instability, with frequent coups and assassinations. It was occupied by the U.S. in 1915-34. In 1957 the dictator Francois (“Papa Doc”) Duvalier came to power. Despite an economic decline and civil unrest, Duvalier ruled until his death in 1971. He was succeeded by his son, Jean-Claude (“Baby Doc”) Duvalier, who was forced into exile in 1986. Haiti's first free presidential elections, held in 1990, were won by Jean-Bertrand Aristide. He was deposed by a military coup in 1991, after which tens of thousands of Haitians attempted to flee to the U.S. in small boats. The military government stepped down in 1994, and Aristide returned from exile and resumed the presidency. His associate Rene Preval took office in 1995, and in 2000 Aristide again claimed the presidency.