The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two thirds of the island of Hispaniola. The beauty, diversity and rich culture of Dominican Republic is unparalleled by any of the other Caribbean Islands
Official Language: Total Population: National Tree: National Currency: Spanish 10,673,722 (2016) Mahogany Tree Dominican Peso
The Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración is a monument in the city of Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic. It was originally built during the dictatorship of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo in 1944 as "Trujillo's Monument to Peace."
Did You Know?
This tropical country is the second largest Island in the Caribbean. It measures 48,484 km2 (18,719 sq miles), making it approximately 20% larger than Switzerland.
The Puerto Plata region has not been hit by a Hurricane in over 100 years.
The capital City of Santo Domingo was the capital of the New World for over 150 years and was the first and last stop for all New World transactions.
Lake Enriquillo on the southwest side of the island is one of the lowest points in the Caribbean measuring at 39 meters below sea level.
The Dominican Republic has a topography so extremely diverse that it consists of white sandy beaches, tropical lush rainforests, desert like expanses, lush mountain ranges and abundant tropical farm lands.
There are 12 National parks in the Dominican Republic.
Pico Duarte is located on the central western portion of the island and is the highest mountain peak in the Caribbean. It measures 10,128 feet (3,088 meters) above sea level.
Popular destinations, such as Sosua, Cabarete, and Las Terrenas, have made the Dominican Republic as one of the top real estate investment opportunities in the world. Reasonably priced villas, condos, and lots appeal to a wide array of investors and budgets.
Fortaleza Oxama is the oldest fort in the Americas. Built by the spanish at the entrance of the Ozama river, Santo Domingo - 1600
Politics
Much like the United States, the Dominican Republic political has a President and two legislative chambers: the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. The Senate has 31 representatives, one for each province in the country and one for the national district. The Chamber of Deputies has 183 members. The president is elected by universal suffrage to a four- year term. Although there are about twenty political parties only three play any significant role in the political system.
History
The early inhabitants of the island were the Tainos who had a well structured society when the Europeans first discovered the island in the 15th Century. Since that time, there have been Spanish, French and American settlements and the population has grown to over 10 million inhabitants. To learn a bit more and see a chronological timeline of Dominican History, please press on the links below.
Points of Interest
Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic. Day trips to this vibrant city are offered from most of the major tourist areas. The Colonial Zone offers many treasures to explore including the Santa Maria Cathedral which was built in 1521, the Casas Reales Museum and the house of Diego Columbus, son of Christopher Columbus.