Physical Geography The Dominican Republic is an island paradise in the heart of the Caribbean. The Dominican Republic shares a border with Haiti on the island of Hispaniola. The Dominican Republic is between the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south. The Dominican Republic has diverse photogenic land. Three large mountain ranges run through the island, including the nearly two-mile peak of Antilles. The Dominican Republic has mountains and valleys, and is known for its beautiful white sand beaches.

Map of the Caribbean

History of The Dominican Republic Five hundred years ago, the Dominican Republic began to write its history. In 1492, Christopher Columbus arrived on the island. He named it Hispaniola. Toward the end of the 17 th century, the French colonized the western part of the island. In 1795, Spain relinquished power of the eastern part of the island to France, leaving the entire island under French power. The colony temporarily returned to Spanish hands, until December 1821 when a group of men led by Jose Nunez de Caceres declared temporary Independence.

The Dominican Republic’s Government System The Dominican Republic is a representative democracy with a president, similar to the United States. The Constitution of the Republic outlines three clear branches of power. They are the Executive, Legislative and Judicial. Every four years they vote to elect both the president and various other authorities.

Economy The Dominican Republic is one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America. However, 70% of the people are affected by poverty, and unemployment is high. Throughout history, the economy has been based on the production and export of sugar. Sugarcane is still the main crop along with rice, plantains, and bananas.

Culture of The Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic’s main sport is baseball. Without a doubt, it’s league is the best after the MLB. More than 500 of the Dominican Republic baseball players have been key members in the MLB. The most popular food dish on the island is called La Bandera. It is made with meat, rice, and red beans. Another food that is popular on the island is plantains, which are in the banana family. Although they look like bananas, they not to be eaten raw. Most of the time, they are fried or baked as part of a dish.

Culture The official language spoken in the Dominican Republic is Spanish. 95% of the people in the Dominican Republic are Catholic, followed by other Christian denominations. The Merengue is a form of music most strongly identified with the Dominican Republic. Carnival is an annual celebration of independence. It is celebrated across the entire country.

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