With beautiful white-sand beaches and a culture full of French flair, Martinique is part of the Lesser Antilles and lies in the semitropical zone; its western shore faces the Caribbean and its eastern shore fronts the more turbulent Atlantic. The surface of the island is only 420 square miles--50 miles at its longest and 21 miles at its widest point.

The terrain is mountainous, especially in the rain-forested northern part where Mount Pelée, a volcano, rises to a height of 4,656 feet. In the center of the island the mountains are smaller, with Carbet Peak reaching a 3,960-foot summit. The high hills rising among the peaks or mountains are called mornes. The southern part of Martinique has only big hills, reaching peaks of 1,500 feet at Vauclin and 1,400 feet at Diamant. The irregular coastline of the island provides five bays, dozens of coves, and miles of sandy beaches. Almost a third of the island's year-round population of 360,000 lives in the capital and largest city, Fort-de-France.

The climate is relatively mild, with the average temperature in the 75° to 85°F range. At higher elevations, it's considerably cooler. The island is cooled by a wind the French called alizé, and rain is frequent but doesn't last very long. Late August to November might be called the rainy season. April to September are the hottest months.

The early Carib peoples, who gave Columbus such a hostile reception, called Martinique "the island of flowers," and indeed it has remained so. The lush vegetation includes hibiscus, poinsettias, bougainvillea, coconut palms, and mango trees. Almost any fruit can sprout from Martinique's soil: pineapples, avocados, bananas, papayas, and custard apples.

Bird-watchers are often pleased at the number of hummingbirds, and visitors can also see the mountain whistler, the blackbird, and the mongoose. Multicolored butterflies flit about, and after sunset, there's a permanent concert of grasshoppers, frogs, and crickets.