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Dominican Republic geography
The Dominican Republic Geography lies in the
Caribbean, the eastern two thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the
Carribean sea and the North Atlantic Ocean east of Haiti. To find this
country on the map, you have to look at Central America and the Caribbean.
The total area that the Dominican Republic encompasses is 48,730 square
kilometers, slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire. It has
1,288 kilometers of coastal waters, rugged high lands and mountains with
very fertile valleys. The main natural resources are nickel, Bauxite, gold
and silver.
The country has four mountain ranges, with the main one being the
Cordillera Central. This is a broad mass of mountains that extends across
the Dominican Republic. There are steep slopes and deep canyons. Two of
the highest peaks, Pico Duarte and Monte Tina are over 9000 feet high
and are actually the highest peaks in the Caribbean. Along the northern
coast, you will find the Cordillera Sepentrional, which extends to the
Samana Peninsula. The Sierra se Neiba and the Sierra de Baboruca are the
mountains of the southwest and these are more than 5000 feet high.
In between the mountain ranges are fertile valleys where most of the
country's agriculture takes place. The eastern section of the plain
between the two cordilleras has such dark fertile soil that Christopher
Columbus named it La Vegas Real – the Royal Plain. This extends about 100
miles
eastward from Santa Domingo.
While the Dominican Republic is best known for its beaches, there are also
many rivers and lakes. The Yaque Norte, for example, is the longest river
in the country – about 125 miles long. Lake Enriquillo is a large
saltwater lake that lies in a deep depression between the two southern
mountain ranges.
The most current issues facing the Dominican Republic today is the
shortage of water. The soil is eroding into the ocean and damaging the
coral reefs and another major problem is deforestation. The biggest
downside of the Dominican Republic is that it is in the middle of a
hurricane belt and is subject to severe storms from June to October. This
country also endures occasional floods and periodic droughts.
There is spectacular scenery here in this tropical paradise, with the
mountains, the lakes and the sea. It is the perfect place for an
adventurous vacation.
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