L'Atlas de la Guadeloupe

Summary

This article is a review and introduction of the Atlas of Guadeloupe, published in 1982, which marked the completion of the series of atlases of French overseas departments. The atlas was conceived and directed by the geographer Guy Lasserre, with the collaboration of the Centre for Tropical Geography Studies in Bordeaux, ORSTOM, and numerous university researchers. The article first recalls the publication context and organizational framework, then systematically presents the contents of the atlas. In physical geography, the atlas provides detailed descriptions of the geology and geomorphology of Guadeloupe, with particular attention to volcanic landforms (such as the Soufrière volcano) and limestone landscapes (such as the Grands Fonds). The climatological chapters analyze the trade winds, the seasonal circulation, and the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes, especially the devastating Hurricane David of 1979. The vegetation and soil maps show the altitudinal distribution of ecosystems, from xerophytic coastal formations to hygrophilous mountain forests. In the socioeconomic sections, the atlas reveals the tertiary and assisted nature of the Guadeloupean economy: agricultural employment has sharply declined, industry provides limited jobs, while the tertiary sector—especially the civil service and tourism—has become the main source of employment, yet chronic unemployment persists. The atlas also covers energy, transportation infrastructure (roads, ports, airports), as well as administrative, health, educational, and religious facilities. Finally, it devotes a special section to the dependent islands (La Désirade, Les Saintes, Saint-Barthélemy, and Saint-Martin), highlighting their common traits and recent transformations due to tourism. The author concludes that this atlas is an undeniable success and a valuable working tool for regional planning, ranking among the highest-quality geographic reference works available for French tropical departments.