Fort-de-France, << `fawr` duh FRAHNS >> (pop. 81,017), is the capital of Martinique, an island in the Caribbean region. Martinique is an overseas region and an overseas department of France. French regions are administrative divisions that resemble states in the United States, and each region has one or more departments. Fort-de-France lies on the west coast of Martinique.
Fort-de-France has palm-lined streets and colorful buildings. La Savane, a large waterfront park, lies along the Baie des Flamands, which is south of the city. Fort-de-France is a shipping center for sugar, rum, fruit, and other products of Martinique. The city attracts many tourists. Fort Saint-Louis, a French naval base that dates back to the 1600’s, is there.
Fort-de-France was founded in 1675. It was called Fort Royal until the late 1700’s, when it received its present name. The city has been the capital of Martinique since 1692. Fort-de-France was partly destroyed by an earthquake in 1839 and by a fire in 1890.
