| St Martin/Saint Maarten |
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12 miles, 2 soverign nations, who would have thought it would work for 350 years?? St. Maarten/St. Martin is an island that has accommodations to suit almost everybody's budget or dream, right across the spectrum. You can find everything from 5 star, first class, world-renowned hotels to charming little guesthouses, all-inclusive resorts and time-share properties. An fact so unbelievable, it always has to be mentioned: The island of Sint Maarten-Saint Martin is the smallest land mass in the world to be shared by two different nations. Only 37 square miles are owned by France and the Netherlands Antilles. Since 1975, several versions of a legend about the division have become popular, especially in tourism publications. An often repeated story is that the island was divided into two sections through a race; the French-dominated community chose one person for the race and the Dutch-dominated community chose another. The two representatives were put back to back in one extreme of the island, and made to walk along the coast in opposite directions. They were not allowed to run. At the point where they eventually met, a line was drawn across the island, connecting their starting point with their meeting point. This became the frontier which divides Saint-Martin from Sint Maarten, according to the legend. The reason for the difference in size between the two sides was said to be that the French representative moved faster than the Dutch.
The French territory covers about two thirds of the island and is technically a part of Europe and the European Community. The Dutch side is a member island of the Netherlands Antilles and part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but not considered European territory. There is no real border, just modest monuments and signs. The island is known as an almost perfect holiday environment; beaches and nightlife are spectacular, shopping and dining the best in the Caribbean. To get a feel of the area covered by St. Martin, multiply 6 miles by 6 miles. That's 36 square miles... But not to worry, this is the biggest small island in the world. Without visiting, its impossible to imagine the variety of landscape, cultures and entertainment to be found here. St. Martin just doesn't FEEL that small... Its central mountain range provides for a rugged and interesting terrain, with winding roads up and down the hills, through small villages and still plenty of untouched land. The Caribbean's largest lagoon is the Simpson Bay Lagoon, landlocked with the exception of two narrow channels with draw bridges. The Lagoon is large enough to have a real sail and is home to a giant fleet of yachts, which are located in one of the luxury marinas or anchored in the sheltered waters. St. Maarten has become the yachting center of the Caribbean, home to some of the world's most outrageous megayachts. St. Martin is home to residents from over 90 different nations. The island broke out of the Antillean group of third-world economies and societies and became the exciting, active, bustling economic center of the Northeastern Caribbean. To be sure, there are problems associated with its rapid growth, but there are also stunning success stories to be told. The Concordia Agreement: The Dutch and the French side agreed more than 350 years ago that residents of either side of the island can be commercially active on the other side without any Red Tape or border difficulties. This contract of peaceful coexistence turns out to be the oldest active, undisputed treaty on our planet! Many hotels are located close to or directly on the beach or have swimming pools, or both. A number of larger resorts on the Dutch side have their own casinos, restaurants and nightclubs right on the premises. On some resorts, you'd never have to leave except to go sightseeing. TC Travel (Scottsdale AZ 602-363-8380) specializes in this destination for Families, Couples, Groups and Corporate Incentives. pictures courtesy of St. Martin Information Portal |
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