St. Martin/Sint Maarten

Geography
Halfway between Puerto Rico and Guadelope, St. Martin is situated in the middle of the Caribbean Sea and neighbours Anguilla, St. Bart, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Kitts and Nevis. The average elevation is 20 metres, and its highest point is Pic Paradis at 424 metres.

About St. Martin/Sint Maarten
The Netherlands and France share the island of St. Martin, with France controlling the northern half and the Netherlands the southern region.

According to legend, the great Christopher Columbus landed on the island on the feast day of St. Martin of Tours, hence the name. Despite quarreling over the island, the French and Dutch agreed to joint possession in 1648. Each island section spells its name differently (St. Martin for the French and St. Maarten for the Dutch) and embodies its own persona and culture, but these qualities ensure that St. Martin has a multinational identity and wide-ranging diversity that is endearing to both locals and tourists.