Yuri, N2TTA will be active as HH2AA from Haiti, IOTA NA - 096, in ARRL DX SSB Contest, 2 - 3 March 2024.
He will operate in Single Operator Low Power Category.
Recent DX Spots HH2AA
QSL via EB7DX.
Ads for direct QSL:
DAVID LIANEZ FERNANDEZ, P.O.BOX 163, 21080, HUELVA, Spain.
QTH Locator - FK38uk.
Haiti
In the Taino language the name of this island sounds like "great land", indigenous tribes called it "Kiskeya" ("mother of the earth"), Columbus, who discovered this corner of the land for Europeans, gave it the name "Española" or "little Spain", and the modern name of the island in translation from the Arawak language sounds like "country of high mountains". All these names belong to the exotic corner of the planet, washed on all sides by the waters of the Caribbean Sea - the island of Haiti.
Haiti is the second largest of the Greater Antilles in the West Indies. Its closest neighbors are Cuba and Puerto Rico. The island is home to two states, the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Haiti. It is here that one of the most mysterious religions, voodoo, originated.
The Discovery of Columbus
Columbus' expedition arrived on the island on December 6, 1492. It was from here that Europeans in particular and mankind in general began to get acquainted with unexplored worlds, and it was here that the very first Spanish colony of La Navidad was established. The Spaniards, who dreamed of untold treasures, instead of riches found here warlike tribes of Indians, who seriously resisted the foreigners. Slave exploitation and diseases brought from Europe, which proved fatal to the natives, did their work, and very soon the indigenous inhabitants of the island simply disappeared.
How the "piece of the pie" was divided and what came out of it in the end
Spain was the first, but by no means the only country to be attracted by exotic landscapes and magnificent nature. Among all those who wanted to get their rightful part in paradise especially distinguished the French, who first established themselves in the west, and already in 1697 owned a third of the island. The result of the treaty was the French colony of San Domingo. In 1795, as a result of the war between France, Spain and Great Britain, the island passed completely to the French.
In the eighteenth century, San Domingo became France's most prosperous overseas possession. The colony's prosperity was directly linked to the lucrative sugar cane plantations, the production of which reached 86,000 tons per year, accounting for a third of total French exports.
Since by that time the entire local population had been exterminated, labor on the plantations was provided by slaves imported from other countries. The number of black slaves increased rapidly: by the end of 1789, there were 500,000 slaves for 36,000 whites. At this time, the Haitian Revolution was launched, which lasted until 1804. At the end of the revolution, the slaves gained their freedom and the state gained a new title. The former colony was now replaced by a free republic.
On this happy note, the history of bloodshed does not end, but resumes with renewed vigor. A succession of coups, conspiracies and bloody battles stretched over many years. Freed from the colonizers, the state of San Domingo soon fell back under the control of the Republic of Haiti, and 40 years later the Spaniards, who owned the eastern part of the island, decided to secede and declared the Dominican Republic. A little later, the Republic of Haiti tried to seize the territory of the neighboring state, but was unable to hold it.
What to see
Haiti is an island with a rich history, which could not but be reflected in its land. A fortress was built to repel numerous attacks, which the islanders consider a symbol of their independence. To this day, the fortress is considered the largest in the entire Western Hemisphere.
The island has several unusual national parks and reserves. Fort de Pin in the east of the island is famous for its relict pine forest, La Visite in the southwest - a huge massif of rain forest and limestone caves. Locals have laid out about 30 hiking trails here, which they use daily to hike to and from the market. The same trails are also available for hikers, as there are amazing views of the cliffs and other natural attractions along the way.
At the western end of the island lies Makaya Park, which has earned the status of the best park in the country. The mountain range is covered with lush tropical vegetation, and deep gorges create steep, impregnable slopes. Another historic park, La Citadelle, a UNESCO heritage site, is hidden in the center of the Du Nord mountain range.
There are also lakes worthy of travelers' attention. One of these lakes is located on the border with the Dominican Republic and is called Etan-Somatre. The lake is impressive in size - almost 30 kilometers long and about 10 kilometers wide. Despite the fact that the water in the lake is salty, it is favored by crocodiles. Tourists come here to see flocks of flamingos, which also live along the shores, but it is hardly possible to swim here - the external calm is deceptive!
Lake Tru-Kaiman, created artificially, is the complete opposite of the above described natural water body. If near the first one there are neither mountains nor special vegetation, then here natural beauties are presented in abundance. The towering hills running a little further away, bright greenery pleasant to the eye, fabulous dawns and sunsets - it is worth seeing with your own eyes.
The peculiarities of the national cuisine
The colonial past is reflected in many areas of life for modern islanders, including cuisine. The basis of local dishes is French cuisine, but unexpected combinations of ingredients peculiar to African or Caribbean culinary habits endow the dishes with special exoticism and interesting flavor.
Since the population of the island lives quite modestly, meat is not often on their tables. The main components of their daily diet are rice, millet, cereals, local vegetables and fruits. But in restaurants you can taste "grill" (roasted pork under marinade), "la bandera" (assortment of boiled or roasted meat, rice, beans, vegetables and fried bananas). Instead of bread, familiar to Europeans, here they eat sweet yams, for breakfast they like "manga" (mashed banana). The islanders are not indifferent to the gifts of the sea: you should try local lobster, smoked herring with avoca and any fish cooked on coals.
Among alcoholic beverages, rum, which Haitians prepare according to an ancestral recipe, is particularly popular. This rum is the basis for most of the alcoholic cocktails served in local bars. Haitians are not so creative when it comes to soft drinks: they prefer chilled drinking water with a little sugar and ice.
Despite the fact that the country is considered one of the poorest, and more than sixty percent of the local population is not literate, tourists are treated with respect. The country is still far from a developed tourist business, so it is better to stay in special resort areas or in large cities. And, of course, the main attraction of this island are its picturesque beaches, where you can experience a real nirvana, relax from the bustle of the big city and do water sports.
