Dominican Republic Map

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The Dominican Republic is a country situated on the island of La Hispaniola. The country forms part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region with the nation of Haiti occupying the western third of the island. The Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea bound the country to the north-east and south-east, respectively.

The Dominican Republic is the second-largest Caribbean country covering a total area of 18,704 square miles. The estimated population of the nation is ten million.

Santo Domingo is the capital city. Covering a total area of 40.3 square miles, it is the largest city in the country.

On the discovery of Dominican Republic in 1492 by Columbus, the country was first named La Espanola. In 1795, the region passed into the hands of France from Spain. However, after a few years in 1814, Spain re-captured the country. A deep unrest with the Spanish regime caused the people to revolt against Spain and on December 1, 1821, the Spanish rule was overthrown. The Spanish forces did not lose courage and in 1822 re-conquered the colony. After nearly twenty-two years, in 1844, the Haitians were thrown out and the Dominican Republic was established. The country finally won independence from Spain on August 16, 1865.

Today, Dominican Republic is a developing country and functions in the framework of a Representative Democracy whwerby the President is both the head of state and government.

Leonel Fernandez is the current President.


The second-largest economy in Central American and the Caribbean, the economy of Dominican Republic rests primarily on the services sector. The abundance of natural resources in the country has led mining to develop rapidly. Agriculture is a significant part of the economy Tobacco, coffee and sugar are the main export items of Dominican republic.

As seen in the recent years, tourism is also boosting the economy. Some of the major tourist destinations include the Pico Duarte, Bahia de Las Aguilas, Jarabacoa, Constanza, Central Highlands, and the North Coast. The capital city, Santo Domingo is home to a number of tourist places like Museum of Alcazar, National Pantheon, Altar de la Patria, Independencia Park, Colon Park, the Puerta del Conde, the Puerta de la Misericordia, and the Catedral Santa Maria La Menor.

Last updated on : March 02, 2012