View source for Baie-Mahault

{{short description|Commune in Guadeloupe, France}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name               = Baie-Mahault
|commune status     = [[Communes of France|Commune]]
|image              = Mairie de Baie-Mahault.JPG
|caption            = The town hall of Baie-Mahault
|image coat of arms = CoA fr Baie-Mahault.svg
|map                = Locator map of Baie-Mahault 2018.png
|map caption        = Location of the commune (in red) within Guadeloupe
|arrondissement     = Basse-Terre
|canton             = [[Canton of Baie-Mahault-1|Baie-Mahault-1]] and [[Canton of Baie-Mahault-2|2]]
|intercommunality   = [[Communauté d'agglomération CAP Excellence|CAP Excellence]]
|INSEE              = 97103
|postal code        = 97122
|mayor              = Hélène Polifonte Molia<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|publisher=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=13 September 2022|language=fr}}</ref>
|term               = 2020&ndash;2026
|coordinates        = {{coord|16.27|-61.58|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m        =
|elevation min m    = 0
|elevation max m    = 112
|area km2           = 46.00
|population             = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date        = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes   = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
|website            = {{URL|https://www.baiemahault.fr/}}
}}

'''Baie-Mahault''' ({{IPA|fr|bɛ ma.o}}; {{langx|gcf|label=[[Guadeloupean Creole]]|Bémao}}) is a commune in the [[Overseas departments and regions of France|overseas department and region]] of [[Guadeloupe]], [[France]].<ref>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/metadonnees/geographie/commune/97103-baie-mahault Commune de Baie-Mahault (97103)], INSEE</ref> It is the second most populated [[Commune in France|commune]] of Guadeloupe, after [[Les Abymes]]. The extensive industrial zone of Jarry in Baie-Mahault is by far the most industrialized commune in the islands and the largest industrial park in the [[Lesser Antilles]]. It is part of the urban area of [[Pointe-à-Pitre]], the largest metropolitan area in Guadeloupe, located in the northwest.

The inhabitants of Baie-Mahault are called Baie-Mahaultiens.

==History==
Baie-Mahault may be named for a variety of [[mangrove]] called ''mahault'' or ''mahot'' common in this area.

On 29 November 1808, during the [[Napoleonic Wars]], boats from [[French corvette Lynx (1804)|HMS ''Heureux'']] attacked French vessels in the harbour and the batteries protecting them. The captain of ''Heureux'' was killed and one of his men was wounded. The British succeeded in destroying the guns of one of the two batteries, and in capturing a schooner.<ref>Long, William H. (1895) ''Medals of the British navy and how they were won: with a list of those officers, who for their gallant conduct were granted honorary swords and plate by the Committee of the Patriotic Fund''. (London: Norie & Wilson).</ref>

In 1843 there was a severe earthquake. In October 1865, a [[cholera]] epidemic flared up. In Guadeloupe, from October 1865 to June 1866, 12,000 inhabitants perished. Mahault Bay was the first and worst hit by the epidemic.

In 1910, the Darboussier Factory was constructed. In 1918, the TSF radio station was built. An electric generating plant was built in 1934 which supplied Guadeloupe. The [[1928 Okeechobee hurricane]] destroyed much of the town. The church and the presbytery were rebuilt in 1933. The Gabarre bridge and the industrial and commercial park of Jarry, the largest in Guadeloupe, were built. In 2001, Ary Chalus became mayor.

==Geography==
Baie-Mahault (''Mangrove Bay'') is located in the borough called Canton and it extends a vast plain of northeastern [[Basse-Terre Island]], where it meets [[Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe|Grande-Terre]]. A channel, navigable by smaller boats, of from 30 to 100 yards across, called ''Riviere Salee'' or ''Salt River'' separates the two islands. The Baie-Mahault area sets in marshlands and marine cul-de-sacs. The town prospered through fertile arable lands used to grow sugar cane. The mangrove swamps are a few miles east at the Salt River. Baie-Mahault is {{convert|7|km|mi|abbr=on}} northwest of the city of [[Pointe-à-Pitre]] and {{convert|8|km|mi|abbr=on}} west of [[Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport]].

==Climate==
Baie-Mahault experiences a good amount of rainfall during the year, with a wetter season between July and November which coincides with hurricane season. The town receives 1500&nbsp;2000&nbsp;mm of rainfall. Tropical heat brings constant highs of around 32&nbsp;°C (89&nbsp;°F) that drop to 20&nbsp;°C (68&nbsp;°F) at night. [[Trade winds]], called ''alizés'', blow from the northeast and often temper the climate. The hurricane season occurs from June to November.
{{Weather box
|collapsed=y
|location = Baie-Mahault
|metric first = true
|single line = true
|Jan high C = 27
|Feb high C = 27
|Mar high C = 28
|Apr high C = 28
|May high C = 29
|Jun high C = 31
|Jul high C = 31
|Aug high C = 31
|Sep high C = 32
|Oct high C = 31
|Nov high C = 29
|Dec high C = 28
|year high C = 29
|Jan low C = 22
|Feb low C = 22
|Mar low C = 23
|Apr low C = 24
|May low C = 24
|Jun low C = 25
|Jul low C = 25
|Aug low C = 26
|Sep low C = 26
|Oct low C = 25
|Nov low C = 24
|Dec low C = 23
|year low C = 23
|Jan rain mm = 122
|Feb rain mm = 112
|Mar rain mm = 112
|Apr rain mm = 89
|May rain mm = 97
|Jun rain mm = 112
|Jul rain mm = 155
|Aug rain mm = 183
|Sep rain mm = 196
|Oct rain mm = 196
|Nov rain mm = 180
|Dec rain mm = 140
|year rain mm = 1692
|Jan sun = 8
|Feb sun = 8
|Mar sun = 8
|Apr sun = 9
|May sun = 9
|Jun sun = 8
|Jul sun = 9
|Aug sun = 9
|Sep sun = 8
|Oct sun = 9
|Nov sun = 8
|Dec sun = 8
|year sun = 8
|source 1 = [http://www.weatherbase.com/weather], [http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather BBC Weather]
|date=August 2010
}}

==Population==

{{Historical populations
| align = none
| cols = 1
| percentages = pagr
| source = SPLAF<ref name=splaf>{{cite web|url=http://splaf.free.fr/domurb.php?depnum=971 |title=Agglomérations et villes de la Guadeloupe|author=SPLAF (Site sur la Population et les Limites Administratives de la France) |access-date=23 February 2021}}</ref> and INSEE (1967-2017)<ref name=pophist>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-97103#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE</ref>
| graph-pos = right
|1961 |7293
|1967 |7398
|1974 |8348
|1982 |10475
|1990 |15036
|1999 |23389
|2007 |28379
|2012 |29976
|2017 |30929
}}

==Economy==
The town is surrounded by one major crop: sugarcane. A sugar factory is southwest of Baie-Mahault. Cane cutters cut cane and sometimes transport it by ox-cart. Southwards, are some banana and pineapple plantations. As the town sits on two bays, there is no surprise that there is a [[fishing]] port. Basse-Terre grows more crops than Grande-Terre, but has fewer people and most of them are in the [[primary sector]].

The {{convert|300|ha|acre}} artisanal, commercial, and industrial park of Jarry, with more than 3,500 companies is among the very largest industrial parks of France. It accommodates the Port authority of Guadeloupe, the Complex World Trade Center (logistical center of the CCI of Pointe-à-Pitre), the oil terminals of the SARA (Société Anonyme de la Raffinerie des Antilles), and two power plants.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.baie-mahault.net/ville-baie-mahault/la_zone_de_jarry/la_zone_de_jarry.asp| title= Z.A.C. de Jarry| language= fr| access-date= February 19, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100318020232/http://www.baie-mahault.net/ville-baie-mahault/la_zone_de_jarry/la_zone_de_jarry.asp| archive-date= 2010-03-18|url-status = dead}}</ref> The industrial and commercial park of Jarry-Moudong is regarded as the economic lung of the Guadeloupe with employment of more than 10,000. Jarry is ideally located between [[Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport]] and the port, and also accommodates a free zone the EEC intended for the operations of international trade for its warehouses.

==Sights==
There are two hotels: Hotel-o-Matic in Jarry, and Villa Baie Mahault within walking distance of Baie-Mahault.

At the end of the borough, below the town hall, a landing at the edge of the lagoon, is the starting point of tours of the bay.

The shopping center of [[Carrefour]], in [[Destrellan]] is located in Baie-Mahault, sells French imports, such as cologne, perfumes, clothing, food, etc. It is the busiest and largest supermarket zone anywhere in the [[Lesser Antilles]], an average of between 5000 and 10,000 shoppers per day.

The main sport arena is a single velodrome, the [[Vélodrome Amédée Détraux]], in Gourde-Liane, near Destrellan, and a stadium called Fiesque Duchesne. Artists that have performed there include [[Ray Charles]], [[George Benson]], [[Diam's]], [[Al Jarreau]], [[James Brown]] and [[Lionel Richie]].

The industrial park of Jarry has an oil terminal, two electrical and thermal power stations for the many industrial and commercial businesses, and a logistic center for the CCI.

A sandy beach near Mahault Bay is protected by [[coral reef]]s.

On Pointe Double, you can see a lighthouse and a weather station.

A [[Leprosy|lepers']] house, was operated by the ''Soeurs de la Charite'' until 1954.

==Sectors==
The settlements depending on the commune are:

* Agathon
* Beausoleil
* Belcourt
* Bragelogne
* La Jaille
* Calvaire
* Convenance
* Moudong
* Jarry
* La Retraite
* Gourde-Liane
* Fonds Richer
* Wonche
* Destrellan
* Trioncelle
* La Retraite

==Education==
Public preschools include:<ref name=PSlist>"[http://www.ac-guadeloupe.fr/sites/default/files/liste_des_ecoles_publiques_et_privees_sous_contrat.pdf LISTE DES ECOLES PUBLIQUES ET PRIVEES SOUS CONTRAT]." {{Interlanguage link|Académie de la Guadeloupe|fr}}. Retrieved on 10 March 2018.</ref>
* Ecole maternelle Bourg 2
* Ecole maternelle Lucette Irène Celani
* Ecole maternelle de Convenance
* Ecole maternelle Edinval Félix
* Ecole maternelle Rosita Kammer
* Ecole maternelle Merosier Narbal

Public elementary and primary schools include:<ref name=PSlist/>
* Ecole primaire Louis Andrea 1
* Ecole primaire Louis Andrea 2
* Ecole primaire de Convenance
* Ecole primaire de la Jaille
* Ecole primaire Cora Mayeko
* Ecole élémentaire Bragelogne 1

Public junior high schools include:<ref name=secschoollist>"[http://www.ac-guadeloupe.fr/sites/default/files/documents/www_etablissements_du_2nd_degre_public_2017-2018.pdf Établissements du 2nd degré PUBLIC 2017-2018] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307035501/http://www.ac-guadeloupe.fr/sites/default/files/documents/www_etablissements_du_2nd_degre_public_2017-2018.pdf |date=2018-03-07 }}." {{Interlanguage link|Académie de la Guadeloupe|fr}}. Retrieved on 10 March 2018.</ref>
* Collège Maurice Satineau
* Collège Gourdeliane

Public senior high schools include:<ref name=secschoollist/>
* [[LP Augustin Arron]]
* [[LPO Charles Coeffin]]

Private primary schools under contract include:<ref name=PSlist/>
* Ecole primaire privée Massabielle II

Private secondary schools under contract:<ref>"[http://www.ac-guadeloupe.fr/sites/default/files/documents/www_etablissements_du_2nd_degre_prive_2017-2018_0.pdf  Etablissements du 2nd degré privé sous contrat 2017-2018] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307035435/http://www.ac-guadeloupe.fr/sites/default/files/documents/www_etablissements_du_2nd_degre_prive_2017-2018_0.pdf |date=2018-03-07 }}."{{Interlanguage link|Académie de la Guadeloupe|fr}}. Retrieved on 10 March 2018.</ref>
* [[LP/LT Bel Air]]
* [[Collège/LP Saint-Joseph de Cluny]]

==Notable residents==
*[[Christine Arron]] - Lived in the commune during her childhood.
*[[Francky Vincent]] - Very popular [[Guadeloupean]] singer, once lived in the commune.
*[[Johan Petro]] - Part-time resident
*[[Thomas Lemar]] - Footballer

==See also==
*[[Communes of the Guadeloupe department]]
*[[Pointe-à-Pitre]]
*[[Les Abymes]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Baie-Mahault}}
* [https://www.baiemahault.fr/ Official website] {{in lang|fr}}

{{Guadeloupe communes}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baiemahault}}
[[Category:Communes of Guadeloupe]]
[[Category:Port cities in the Caribbean]]