| The second largest nation in the Caribbean, the
Dominican Republic is located on the island of Hispaniola, which is part
of a group of islands called the Greater Antilles. The Dominican Republic
occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island and Haiti occupies the western
portion. To the north is the Atlantic Ocean and to the south is the Caribbean
Sea. The Dominican Republic's island neighbours include Cuba and Jamaica
to the west and Puerto Rico to the east. |
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| The country is crossed by four parallel mountain
ranges running northwest to southeast, with fertile valleys in between.
The largest is the Cordillera Central, extending from northwest of Santo
Domingo into Haiti. Its peak, Pico Duarte, is 3,175 metres high. It is
the highest point in the Caribbean and is sometimes covered with snow and
frost during the winter. Along the north coast is the Cordillera Septentrional.
South of the Cordillera Central are the Sierra de Neiba and the Sierra
de Bahoruco ranges. Between the Sierra de Neiba and the Sierra de Bahoruco
is Lake Enriquillo, the largest natural lake in the country, with the lowest
elevation in the Caribbean islands. This is also the only salt water lake
in the world inhabited by crocodiles. |
| The
northern coast of the rocky shelf on which Hispaniola sits provides an
excellent breeding ground for humpback whales. During the first few months
of the year, humpback whales can be seen off the northern coast of the
Dominican Republic near Puerto Plata. |
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| More than a third of the coast is bordered by
golden sandy beaches, especially the northern Atlantic coast. Most of the
country's tourist hotels and resorts are concentrated in this area. Between
the Cordillera Central and the Cordillera Septentrional lies a fertile
stretch called the Cibao Valley. This area, as well as the lowlands in
the southeastern region, are the most fertile areas of the country.
The Dominican Republic is geographically
diverse for its size. Its vegetation zones range from evergreen forest
in the highlands to the desert-like environment around Lake Enriquillo. |
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| The island enjoys a tropical maritime climate
year-round. There are almost no seasonal differences in temperature. Most
of the temperature differences are caused by variations in altitude. The
average temperature is about 20°C, although at low altitudes such as
Lake Enriquillo, the temperature can rise to 40°C. Humidity is about
70% most of the time.
The rainy season is from May to November, with
rainfall heaviest in the northern regions and lighter in the southwest.
The hurricane season lasts from June to November, with August and September
being the peak months. In September 1998, Hurricane George caused major
damage and many deaths in the southeastern region. |
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