Martinique

Martinique, island in the Windward group in the east Caribbean, an overseas department of France since 1946. A volcanic island discovered by Columbus c.1502, Martinique was colonized by France as a sugar-growing center after 1635. Slave labor was used until 1848, and much of the present population is of African descent. The economy still rests on sugar, as well as rum, fruit, and tourism. The island is rugged and mountainous but very fertile. Its main town is Fort-de-France.