BASSE-TERRE

one of the two major islands of Guadeloupe (q.v.). administrative capital of Guadeloupe (an overseas dpartement of France), on the Caribbean island of Basse-Terre. The town, dating from 1643, is situated on the southwestern coast of the island between the sea and the 4,813-foot (1,467-metre) peak of Soufrire and is some 4 miles (6 km) from the island's southern tip. There is a deepwater anchorage but no harbour. Basse-Terre yielded commercial paramountcy to the town of Pointe--Pitre on the adjoining Grande-Terre island in the late 18th century. The port of the town was destroyed by hurricanes in 1979, a serious blow to the efforts to expand and modernize the economy. The island's banana crop was severely damaged by drought in 1994 and by hurricane in 1995. Pop. (1990) 14,000.