Haiti was discovered by the Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus in 1492 who was the first European to set foot in the country. Initially, however, this country was home to the Amerindian tribes—the Taino-Arawak people. It was under the Spanish and the French and served as a colony. On 1 January 1804 the country finally declared its independence.

Haiti’s culture is a combination of various elements from the English, French, Spanish and Tainos. Kompa is the most popular music form in the country. It makes use of a number of musical instruments and is pleasant to the ears. Salsa, soca, zouk and merengue (from the Dominican Republic), are other forms of music in Haiti. Haitian art that is paintings, sculptures, etc. are also quite well known.

Haiti lies in the Caribbean Sea, west of the Dominican Republic. Its terrain is dominated by uneven land and mountains. Its landscape is known for beauty, but with widespread deforestation, the country has been losing on its natural resources. Bauxite, copper, gold, marble, etc. are some of the important natural resources found here. Chaine de la Selle is the highest point of elevation in the country.