Dutch Sint Maarten
Island, Leeward Islands , eastern West Indies.
Located northwest of Saint Kitts and Nevis , it covers an area of 33 sq mi (85 sq km). Discovered by Christopher Columbus , it was divided in 1648 between the French and the Dutch. The northern section of the island (20 sq mi [52 sq km]) is a dependency of the French overseas department of Guadeloupe ; its chief town is Marigot (pop., 1990: 26,000). The island's southern section (13 sq mi [34 sq km]) is administratively part of the Netherlands Antilles ; its main town is the island's capital, Philipsburg (pop., 1990: 32,000). The island's economy is based on tourism.