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Port-au-Prince, (Pòtoprens in Kreyòl),
population 1.9 million, is the capital and
largest city of Haiti. Growth, especially in
the outer parts of the city in nearby plains
and hillsides, has raised the population of
the Port-au-Prince area to between 2.5 and 3
million people. It is located on a bay of
the Gulf of La Gonave. The city's layout is
somewhat similar to that of an amphitheatre:
commercial districts are near the water,
while residential neighborhoods are located
on the hills above.
Miami and Port-au-Prince signed a sister
city agreement on June 20, 1991.
The city currently exports coffee and sugar,
and has, in the past, exported other goods,
such as shoes and baseballs. Port-au-Prince
has food-processing plants and soap,
textile, and cement factories. The city also
relies on the tourism industry and
construction companies to move its economy.
Though unemployment is very high in
Port-au-Prince, it would be more accurate to
say that people are underemployed. Walking
down the streets of Port-au-Prince a person
can not help but recognize the extremely
high levels of activity, especially among
people selling goods and services right off
the streets.
Port-au-Prince has managed to maintain a
tourism industry despite political
instability. The Petion-Ville area of
Port-au-Prince is highly wealthy and is
generally the most common place for tourists
to visit and stay. Outside of the city are
the Plaine du Cul de Sac plains that run to
the Dominican public. A well known Cathedral
visited for its architecture by the tourists
is the Cathedrale de Port-au-Prince. The
Musee d'Art Haitien du Dolege St Pierre
contains some of the countries most art and
the Musee National is a historical museum
featuring King Henri Christophe's suicide
pistol and a rusty anchor that is claimed to
have been salvaged from the Santa Maria
ship. Some notable cultural sites include
the Notre-Dame Cathedral, a colonial
cathedral, the National Archives, National
Library, and National Museum. |
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© 2005 City of Miami
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