Tortuga was a great pirate haven due to the only natural harbor on the southeast side of the island. The south side is divided into three major areas, Basse-Terre where most farmers lived, the Middle Plantation and La Ringot where a lot of tobacco was grown and the Mountain where the first plantations where made. There are no beaches or harbors in the north and the only place for people to settle on Tortuga was the southern side of the island. The north side of the island is extremely rocky and inhabitable and there are a few trees that grow but no soil. He noted the shape of the island resembled a turtle and thats where the islands name comes from. The first European to spot the island was Christopher Columbus in 1492 when his ships entered the "Windward Passageā. Tortuga was popular during the Buccaneering Era and was inhabited by the group of buccaneers who were plundering the Spanish Main. Tortuga, also known as Ile de la Tortue is an island off the coast of Hispaniola that was one of the earliest havens of pirate activity in the Caribbean during the 17th century along with Port Royal on British Jamaica. Tortuga - Instituto Hidrografico de la Marina / la Roca (1654)
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