Dominican Republic Overview

Country Profile

The Dominican Republic is located in the northern Caribbean and covers an area of 48,700 square kilometers. It has a population of 8.23 million, most of whom are mixed white and mestizo (73%), with the rest mostly white and black. Residents are Catholic and the official language is Spanish. The currency is the peso and the capital is Santo Domingo.

Dominican Republic National Flag

The flag of Dominica contains a white cross which separates the background into two blue rectangles and two red ones In the center is an emblem. Red symbolizes struggle and blood, the white cross is a religious symbol and represents sacrifice, and blue symbolizes freedom.

History Summary

The country was originally inhabited by American Indians. In 1496, the Spanish established the colony of Hispaniola, centered in Santo Domingo; this was the first permanent European settler colony in America. In 1795 the land passed to the ownership of the French, eventually returning to the Spanish in 1809. On February 27, 1844, the east declared independence, establishing the Dominican Republic.

Economy and Culture Overview

The Dominican Republic is an agricultural country, with tourism, export processing, and remittances the three pillars of the economy. Sugar production also plays an important role in the economy, and animal husbandry and fishing is highly developed. The country is rich in mineral resources, primarily gold, silver, copper, iron, nickel, and bauxite.

Enrichi Lake Superior

Lagoons provide the location for the world-famous crocodile sanctuary, situated in the southwest of the country. Enrichi Lake Superior is about 40 meters below sea level, with water salinity higher than 50% of the Caribbean sea, and is the habitat of a large number of crocodiles.

Dominican Republic Map