Tortuga (Haiti)

Tortuga
Île de la Tortue
Latòti
Island
Tortuga seen from space
Tortuga seen from space
Tortuga is located in Haiti
Tortuga
Tortuga
A map of Haiti with Île de la Tortue to the north.
Coordinates: 20°02′23″N 72°47′24″W / 20.03972°N 72.79000°W / 20.03972; -72.79000
CountryHaiti
DepartmentNord-Ouest
ArrondissementPort-de-Paix
Settled1625
Area
 • Total
180 km2 (69 sq mi)
Elevation
459 m (1,506 ft)
Population
 (2003)
 • Total
25,936
 • Density144/km2 (376/sq mi)
Time zone−5
 • Summer (DST)−4
ClimateAf

Tortuga Island[1][2] (French: Île de la Tortue, IPA: [il la tɔʁty]; Haitian Creole: Latòti; Spanish: Isla Tortuga, IPA: [ˈisla toɾˈtuɣa], Turtle Island) is a Caribbean island that forms part of Haiti, off the northwest coast of Hispaniola. It constitutes the commune of Île de la Tortue in the Port-de-Paix arrondissement of the Nord-Ouest department of Haiti.

Tortuga is 180 square kilometres (69 square miles)[3] in size and had a population of 25,936 at the 2003 census. In the 17th century, Tortuga was a major center and haven of Caribbean piracy. Its tourism industry and references in many works have made it one of the most recognized regions of Haiti.

  1. ^ United States, Hydrographic Office (1891). "Catalogue of Charts, Plans, Sailing Directions, and Other Publications of the Office, July 1, 1891". p. 34. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  2. ^ Royal Geographical Society (Great Britain); Shaw, Norton; Greenfield, Hume; Bates, Henry Walter (1834). "The Journal of the Royal Geographical Society". p. 130. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  3. ^ Schutt-Ainé, Patricia (1994). Haiti: A Basic Reference Book. Miami, Florida: Librairie Au Service de la Culture. p. 20. ISBN 0-9638599-0-0.