Môle Saint-Nicolas

Môle Saint-Nicolas, village, just northeast of Cap Saint-Nicolas, on the northwestern coast of Haiti. Situated on an inlet of the Windward Passage (a strait between Haiti and Cuba), it is the site where Christopher Columbus first landed (Dec. 6, 1492) on the island, which he named La Isla Española (taken into English as Hispaniola). Saint-Nicolas was named for the saint on whose feast day it was discovered. Fishing and charcoal production are the main industries of the village. Charcoal (which is made from trees) accounts for about two-fifths of the fuelwood used for Haiti’s energy needs. Pop. (latest est.) 3,328.