Gustavia, Saint Barthélemy

Gustavia
Quartier and town
City of Gustavia

View over Gustavia
Coordinates: 17°53′52.47″N 62°51′2.0″W / 17.8979083°N 62.850556°W / 17.8979083; -62.850556
Country France
Overseas collectivity Saint Barthélemy
Founded 1785
Government
 • Overseas Colectivity of Saint Barthélemy President (Territorial Council Pres.) Bruno Magras
Population
 • Total 2,300
Time zone Atlantic

Gustavia is the main town and capital of the island of Saint Barthélemy (often abbreviated to Saint-Barth in French, or St. Barts in English). It was named after King Gustav III of Sweden.

History

Saint Barthélemy was first claimed by France, in 1648. The island was given to Sweden in exchange for trade rights in Gothenburg in 1784 and Sweden founded the Swedish West India Company. Prospering during the Napoleonic Wars, assets were low thereafter, and the island was sold back to France in 1878.

The eventual site of Gustavia was first called Le Carénage after the shelter it provided to damaged ships. According to the archives the name Gustavia appeared between December 28, 1786 and February 9, 1787. Gustavia remains as a reflection of the Swedish period.

Three forts built in the mid- to late 17th century protected the harbour: Oscar (formerly Gustav Adolf), Karl and Gustav. The Anglican Episcopal Church on the harbourfront was built in 1855.

Amenities

The sites of Fort Karl, overlooking Shell Beach south of town, and Fort Gustav, at the base of the lighthouse to the north, are popular with hikers. Fort Oscar, at the tip of Gustavia Peninsula, houses the Gendarmerie. There is a museum at the end of Victor Schoelcher Road on the peninsula. Gustavia has a few restaurants serving American, Italian, French and other types of food. Gustavia has many high-end boutiques that are an essential source of revenue for the island, and one of the most high class luxury hotels on the island. There is a Royal Swedish Consulate at Gustavia (Consul Dantes Magras).

Climate

Gustavia
View of Gustavia

The climate is a tropical one with only minor variations in temperature. The island’s small surface area of 24 square kilometres (9 sq mi) allows it to take advantage of the smooth and pleasant blow of trade winds. Average water and air temperatures move around 27 °C (81 °F), and the year is divided into two seasons: a dry one, referred to as Lent (Careme), and a more humid one in winter. This latter season sets in between May and November, and the ever-present sun is overcast by short passages of rainclouds with brief showers of 10 to 15 minutes. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system Gustavia has a tropical savanna climate, abbreviated "Aw" on climate maps.[1]

Economy

The official currency of Saint Barthélemy is the euro.

Notable people

Eugénie Blanchard - was the oldest verified person in the world at the time of her death. She spent most of her life in Gustavia.

References

  1. ↑ "Gustavia, Saint Barthélemy Köppen Climate Classification". Weatherbase.com. Retrieved 2015-06-19.

External links

Wikisource has the text of the 1905 New International Encyclopedia article Gustavia.
Government
General information

Coordinates: 17°53′52.47″N 62°51′2.0″W / 17.8979083°N 62.850556°W / 17.8979083; -62.850556

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, April 11, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.