The Republic of Haiti, located on the western part of the island of Hispaniola, is one of the oldest sovereign nations in the Americas. Haiti achieved independence from France in 1804 after a long and bloody struggle. The official name of Haiti is the Republic of Haiti, but the country is also known by several synonyms. Some of these synonyms include Ayiti, which is the Haitian Creole name for the country, and the Pearl of the Antilles. Haiti is also known as the land of mountains, as it is home to several mountain ranges, including the Massif du Nord and the Chaîne de la Selle.