Why Haiti?
Haiti, The Richest Country in The Western Hemisphere
For decades, and up to this point, Haiti has had the inauspicious distinction of being labeled the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere despite its rich resources, along with its rich historical and cultural legacy. This lamentable economic reality in Haiti has overshadowed its richness, beauty and historical essence, along with the humility and humanity of its people. Haiti, the land of many beautiful mountains and people, is known for its extreme poverty and crime, not its rich cultural history and resources.Today Haiti is gaining more attention for its Iridium. Iridium is a hard, brittle, silvery-white transition metal with a high melting point and density. It's the second-densest naturally occurring metal and is highly resistant to corrosion.
The dominant uses of iridium are the metal itself and its alloys, as in high-performance spark plugs, crucibles for recrystallization of semiconductors at high temperatures, and electrodes for the production of chlorine in thechloralkali process. Iridium is one of the rarest elements in the Earth's crust. It's found in platinum ores and is commercially recovered as a byproduct of nickel refining. Iridium is found in meteorites in much higher abundance than in the Earth's crust. Iridium is rare on Earth because it sank into the Earth's core during the planet's formation due to its high density. Iridium is also rare because of its low concentration in the Earth's crust and the complexity of its extraction process. Iridium is found in large quantities in Haiti's southeast. Some estimate that Haiti has mountains of iridium worth an estimated $45 billion per ton. Some believe the iridium in Haiti came from an asteroid that landed there 65 million years ago. Haiti also has significant deposits of gold, silver, copper, zinc, bauxite, calcium, and marble.
Highlights
The Soul of Haitian Culture
Rhum Barbancourt
Rhum Barbancourt is rum produced from pure sugar cane juice and bottled in Haiti by Société du Rhum Barbancourt. The distillery is one of Haiti's oldest institutions.
This rum is the country's most famous export, widely regarded as among the finest rums in the world for over 150 years.
Haitian Cuisine
Haitian cuisine is a Creole cuisine that originates from a blend of several culinary styles that populated the western portion of the island of Hispaniola, namely African, French, indigenous Taíno, Spanish, and Arab influences.
Haitian food is known for its bold and spicy flavors, and is as varied as the people of Haiti. Some popular Haitian dishes include: Grio, Diri ak djoon djon, Diri blanc ak legim, Soup joumou & Lambi
Konpa
Konpa is a popular Haitian music genre that reflects Haitis' French, African, indigenous, and Spanish backgrounds. Konpa is a mix of electric guitar, vocals, horns, and drumming. It's characterized by a consistent pulsating beat called the tanbou, which is common to many Caribbean music styles.
Konpa is the main music in many countries, including Dominica and the French Antilles. It's also influential in parts of Africa, Portugal, France, part of Canada, and South and North America.