Hours after President Jean-Bertrand Aristide left Haiti on Sunday, violence erupted in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince. Shops were ransacked, prisons were opened and gunfires can be heard everywhere.

Following are some basic facts about the country.

Official Name: Republic of Haiti

Location and Area: Western part of the island of Hispaniola with an area of 27,750 square km (10,714 square miles); 50 miles east of Cuba; 800 miles southeast of Miami

Capital: Port-au-Prince

Official Languages: Creole, French

Population: 7,527,817 with a growth rate of 1.8% per annum; 95%African descent, 5% mixed

Government: Republic type of government with a president directly elected by the people; a prime minister designated by thepresident from the majority party in the two-chamber Parliament, or in the absence of a majority, in consultation with the legislative leadership. Prime Minister : Yvon Neptune.

Currency: Gourde (Gdes); 1 US dollars = 40 Gdes (October 2003)

GDP: Gdes 4,312 million; annual rate of growth; +5% (projected 1997)

Minimum Wage: 90 gourdes per day

Time Zone: EST; GMT-5

Climate: Temperature is warm, ranging year-round from 21-33.8C in the coastal regions, and 50-75 in the mountainous areas; rainy seasons are April-May and August-October.

Highways: The highway system includes 4,050 km (2,515.5 miles) of roads; 950 km (590 miles) paved; 950 km (590 miles) otherwise improved; 2150 km (1,335 miles) unimproved.

Ports: Port-au-Prince and Cap-Hatien are the two major ports. Other ports include Miragoane and St. Marc.

Airports: Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince;served by the following carriers: ALM, Air Canada, Air France, American Airlines, COPA, Haiti Trans-Air, Halisa Air, Air Jamaica

Telecommunications: 55,000 telephone lines; 49 AM/FM radio stations; 5 television stations in Port-au-Prince; 1 Atlantic Ocean satellite station.

Energy: Three electric plants serve the Port-au-Prince area. Their installed capacities are 141 Megawatts, but their actual production is 50 mw. Haiti uses a 110 volt, 60 cycle system.

Trade: The United States is the main commercial partner of Haiti. It accounts for about 60% of the flows of exports and imports. Primarily Haiti exports coffee, mangoes, sisal and essential oils, while it imports petroleum products, foods, beverages and fats.