Dominican Republic, Haiti Island: the most populous in the Americas. Hispaniola Island - resorts of the Galapagos Islands Area of ​​Haiti

Map of the island of Haiti (Hispaniola).

The island of Haiti (in some sources – Hispaniola) is the second largest island in the Greater Antilles archipelago, located approximately 100 kilometers east of and approximately the same distance west of the island of Puerto Rico. The island of Haiti is washed by the open Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south. The word "Haiti" comes from a phrase in the language of the Taino Indians, translated as "Mountain Country". The second name – Hispaniola (La Española) was assigned to the island by Christopher Columbus and is literally translated into Russian as “Spanish”.

The determination of the geographical coordinates of the island of Haiti is carried out by its conditional geographical center: 19°00′ N. w. 70°40′w. d.

The area of ​​the island of Haiti and other small islands and rocks adjacent to it is approximately seventy-six and a half thousand square kilometers.

At the moment, there are two states on the island of Haiti: the Republic of Haiti (in the western part of the island) and the Dominican Republic (in the eastern part), which in a number of sources is also called the Dominican Republic or the Dominican Republic.

Southern coast of the island of Haiti.

Story.

The island of Haiti was discovered during the expedition of Christopher Columbus in 1492, receiving the name Hispaniola, after which its colonization by the Spaniards began. During colonization, the indigenous population of the island, represented by the Taino Indians, was practically exterminated.

In 1667, the western part of the island officially came under French control, while at the same time the Spaniards strengthened in the center and west, calling their part of the island Santo Domingo. During this period, both France and Spain began to import slaves from Africa to the island to work on plantations and in mines.

In 1803, a slave revolt broke out in the French part of the island of Haiti under the leadership of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, which spread to the eastern part. The result of the uprising was the proclamation of the independence of the Republic of Haiti in the western part on January 1, 1804 and the expulsion from the island of the Spaniards, who were able to regain control of Santo Domingo only in 1808, and even then, only for a short period.

In 1822, another uprising of the local population against the Spaniards broke out in Santo Domingo, which ended with the final liberation from Spanish rule. However, almost immediately, the eastern part of the island is occupied by troops of the Republic of Haiti.

In 1825, after delays, France recognized the independence of the Republic of Haiti, but on the condition that it pay a huge indemnity for the loss of property of the French living on the island at that time.

Levantado Reef in the north of Haiti in Samana Bay.

In 1844, after a successful anti-Haitian uprising in the eastern and central parts of the island, the independent Dominican Republic was proclaimed.

In 1905, exhausted by the confrontation with Spain and internal contradictions, the Dominican Republic became financially dependent on the United States.

From 1915 to 1934, the Republic of Haiti was occupied by US troops. The occupying forces bring to power in the country a government representing the mulatto minority. In 1916, American occupation befell the Dominican Republic after the assassination of the country's president.

During World War II, both the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Haiti entered the war on the side of the Anti-Hitler coalition, but their participation became more than a formality.

In 1957, the Duvalier family clan of dictators comes to power in the Republic of Haiti. The last representative of this dynasty, Jean-Claude Duvalier, was overthrown after popular unrest in 1986.

In 1965, after a pro-Soviet coup in the Dominican Republic, the United States once again occupied this country, establishing its democratic power.

At the beginning of the 21st century, the political situation in the Dominican Republic stabilized somewhat, and the country’s financial and economic indicators improved. At the same time, in the Republic of Haiti, numerous coups, popular unrest and foreign interventions have thrown the country back to the position of one of the poorest countries in the world.

A bay in the southwest of the island of Haiti.

Origin and geography of the island.

The island of Haiti, like the neighboring islands of Cuba, Jamaica and Puerto Rico, is the surface part of the North Caribbean underwater mountain range, which rose at the boundary of the collision of three geological plates. Therefore, experts classify all the islands of the Greater Antilles as volcanic. Their formation dates back to approximately the early Miocene period, and their age is estimated at approximately 6-7 million years.

To the west of Haiti across the Windward Strait lies the island of Cuba, to the east from Haiti it is separated by the Mona Strait, and to the southwest from the island of Jamaica by the strait of the same name. In the northwest, the islands of Haiti and Grand Iguana (Bahamas) are separated by a fairly wide Foster Strait.

The island of Haiti has a complex geometric shape. The coastline winds strongly along its entire length, forming numerous bays and bays of varying sizes. Among the most significant bays washing the island are the bays of Gonave (on the west coast), Samana (in the northeast) and Deverger (in the south).

Off the coast of Haiti there are several inhabited and uninhabited islands and rocks, among which it is worth noting Gonave (in the Gulf of Gonave), Tortue (off the northwest coast), (USA) and Vash (off the southwest coast), Saona and Mona (off the east coast and in the Mona Strait).

The relief of the island of Haiti in its central and western parts is predominantly mountainous, and only in the west and southwest do flat lowlands stretch in a narrow strip from north to south. Four massive mountain ranges stretch from east to west of the island, the largest of which is the Cordillera Central (Cordillera Central), where the highest point of both Haiti and the entire Antillean archipelago is located - Mount Duarte Peak, 3087 meters above sea level . In the south of Haiti, beyond the low-lying Cibao Valley, the mid-elevation Central Plateau and the shallow Cul de Sac depression, stretch the mountain ranges of Sel, Haut, Sierra de Bauroco, Mato and Sierra de Neiba. In the northern part of the island, it is worth noting the Northern ridges, which are a continuation of the Central Cordillera, the medium-high Cordillera Oriental and the rather high (about 1200 meters) Cordillera Septentrional.

The rivers on the island of Haiti are deep and full-flowing, but not long. Among the most significant rivers of the island are the Artibonite, which flows in the west and flows into the Atlantic Ocean, the Yaque del Norte in the northern part of the island, and the Osama, which flows into the Caribbean Sea in the south. In addition to rivers, there are quite a lot of lakes in Haiti, the largest in area are Enriquillo (in the border areas of the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Haiti), as well as Somatre (in the central part of the island).

The coast of Lake Enquillo.

Climate.

The climate on the island of Haiti should be classified as tropical trade wind type. The air temperature does not fluctuate significantly depending on the time of year. On the coast of the island, the weather is consistently warm with a temperature of + 22-27 degrees. In the interior of the island, in areas protected from the trade winds, the temperature can even rise to +30-35 degrees. Almost the entire territory of the island receives quite a lot of precipitation in the form of tropical downpours throughout the year. The greatest amount of precipitation falls between early June and mid-December. On average, over a year, on the slopes of mountain ranges located in the path of sea trade winds, sometimes more than 2000 millimeters fall, and in the middle part of the island and mountain valleys - about 400-1100 millimeters. Between the beginning of August and the end of September, the island is most likely to experience hurricanes and typhoons originating in the central Caribbean Sea.

The La Esperilla district in the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo.

Population.

According to UN data as of 2013, more than 20 million people lived throughout the island of Haiti, of which about 9.2 million were in the Republic of Haiti and about 11 million in the Dominican Republic. The ethnic composition of the island's population is uneven. Thus, in the Republic of Haite, the Negroid population makes up more than 95% of the total number living in the country, while mulattoes and whites account for only about 5%. In the Dominican Republic, mulattoes predominate (73%), while whites and blacks make up approximately 27% in approximately equal proportions. The official languages ​​in the Dominican Republic are Spanish, and in the Republic of Haiti are French and Haitian Creole, which is a modified French.

The capital of the Republic of Haiti is the city of Port-au-Prince, located on the shores of the Gulf of Gonave and populated by almost nine hundred thousand inhabitants. At the same time, the capital of the Dominican Republic is the city of Santo Domingo, located on the southeast coast of the island and having a population of more than 2 million people. Among the large settlements on the island of Haiti are the cities of Delmas and Carrefour (Republic of Haiti), as well as Santiago (Dominican Republic).

The form of government in both the Republic of Haiti and the Dominican Republic is a presidential republic with a legislative body - parliament.

The national currencies of the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Haiti are respectively the Dominican Peso (DOP, code 214) and the Haitian Gourde (HTG, code 332). However, in both countries, both the US dollar and the euro are accepted quite freely as means of payment.

The village of Cap-Haitien in the Republic of Haiti.

Flora and fauna.

The flora of the island of Haiti is represented mainly by evergreen massive tropical forests, where more than 100 species of woody plants grow. Among them, it is worth noting logwood, rosewood, rambi and yamasin palms, which are native to the island. On the slopes of the Cordillera Central mountain range there are significant areas of coniferous-hard-leaved forests, in the central regions of Haiti there are deciduous forests, where, in addition to woody plants, quite a lot of shrubs grow.

The fauna of Haiti, like other Caribbean islands, is not very diverse. Mammals here are represented only by domestic animals, bats and rodents. There are always a lot of birds on the coast of Haiti and the coastal islands, and in the central regions of the island, especially in the areas of rivers and lakes, there are a large number of reptiles, among which crocodiles and lizards predominate.

A typical beach on the east coast of the Dominican Republic.

Tourism.

Despite the fact that the natural conditions are almost the same both in the west of Haiti and in the east, tourism is developed only in the Dominican Republic. All last-minute holiday tours in the Dominican Republic (as well as in other resorts on Earth) are provided by the hottours.in.ua agency, which guarantees its clients maximum convenience and service when traveling to various countries.

The prospects for the development of tourism in the Republic of Haiti are undermined by the unstable political situation in the country and the increased, especially recently, crime situation.

As for the Dominican Republic (Dominican Republic), everything is done for tourism here, since it has long become a prevailing sector of the national economy. Almost the entire coast of the country is divided into resort areas that function autonomously from other territories of the country. They include airports, seaports, a chain of hotels of various classes and beach complexes. Both residents of the USA and Canada, as well as Europe, visit the resorts of the Dominican Republic quite willingly. Over the past three years, the flow of tourists visiting the Dominican Republic has tripled and now amounts to 120 thousand people a year.

One of the beaches on the Caribbean coast of the Dominican Republic.

Galapagos is an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. The islands are best known for the large number of native species and Charles Darwin's research there, which was the first impetus for Darwin's evolutionary theory of the origin of species.

What does the most beautiful pigeon in the world look like? What was the albatross afraid of? What did the sea lion do to the iguana? This is in the report.

1. This photo was taken to show how the planting process occurs. We got to the islands by yacht; such concrete paths were not everywhere:

2. We witnessed a funny picture. The iguana was swimming about its business, and then the sea lion imposed its communication on it and began to catch it by the tail. This is a little exercise for him, but the lizard is very tense:

3. The iguana was more and more worried every minute, I felt very sorry for her. The lion, having played enough, finally let her go and swam away. The dissatisfied lizard went back to the shore and, it seemed to me, regretted a hundred times that she had started the voyage at all:

4. Iguanas have spots of different colors on their bodies. The color depends on what the lizards eat. Those with a reddish belly prefer algae of a similar color:

5. Basking in the sun:

6. I remembered an interesting legend. The ancient Indians believed that the world was located inside a giant house, and these creatures played the role of its walls:

7. There is a similar shot in the film “Pirates of the Caribbean”. These islands are of volcanic origin. The lava came into contact with water and froze. In some places through holes formed. When contacting a wave, the following effect is obtained:

8. The height of the fountain reached 20 meters, and a rainbow appeared:

9. Eh, it’s a pity I didn’t have time to film the reaction of the seagulls sitting nearby. The poor fellows were seriously afraid and scattered in different directions.

10. Sunbathing:

11. They say it is fashionable to keep them as a pet. Would you have such a pet?

12. We were walking along the path and came across an albatross. By the way, it was isolated as a separate species and called “Galapagos”. He watched us with interest:

13. We walked around the yellow-billed one from the side. He sat, motionless, hatching eggs. Female albatrosses, having put them aside, calmly go about their business, leaving the males to take the rap:

14. And again the iguana. I'm starting to think these lizards are tanning fans:

15. Bird love. A bunch of couples are affectionate with each other:

16. The cute actions continue:

17. By the way, if these comrades take off, the feeling of miniature will disappear as if by hand: their wingspan reaches more than three meters!

18. Blue-footed boobies. During the mating season, they measure the blueness of their paws. The brighter the color, the greater the chance of finding a match:

19. A bird whose exterior resembles our sparrow:

20. The landscape would be absolutely beautiful if it weren’t for the dirty stones:

21. I would like to stay in this place longer and take pictures, take pictures... But, as usual, there was little time.

22. The photo shows the huge wingspan of albatrosses:

23. By the way, they cannot fly up like ordinary birds. Therefore, they dive down from the cliff, pick up speed, spread their wings and only then soar into the sky. Many were afraid to jump down. They shifted in place hesitantly before performing this action.

24. Beautiful:

27. This dove is considered the most beautiful in the world:

28. Coast:

29. Cute Lizard:

30. Backstage:

31. This is the Galapagos, the island of Hispaniola.

ESPAÑOLA ISLAND

The southernmost and at the same time the most ancient island of the Galapagos archipelago with the highest altitude of 206 meters above sea level. The western side of the island - Punta Suarez - is one of the most popular places among tourists due to the gushing jets of water reminiscent of geysers. The island is home to a large colony of California sea lions and marine iguanas, a colony of gannets and albatrosses. Beautiful sandy beach - Gardner Bay. There is also an interesting dive site here. You can find stingrays on the sandy bottom, and schools of reef fish walk along the walls. There are Galapagos brown and whitetip sharks, giant manta rays and schools of eagle rays.

TALES FROM OUR TRAVELERS

"Thorny bushes serve as a refuge for very peculiar reptiles. First of all, the land iguana, or conolophus subcristatus, lives here, a distant relative of the marine iguana, from which it differs in a more massive physique and a shorter tail. In addition, the land iguana, as a rule, , is painted in brighter colors, varying from bright yellow to reddish brown. It never approaches the seashore, but at night hides in crevices or in a shallow hole, which it digs in the ground. These animals live alone or in pairs and do not seem as peaceful as their marine relatives. During the mating period, fierce fights occur between males. Unlike other iguanas, which use their tail as a powerful weapon, these lizards use well-developed teeth, inflicting strong bites on their opponents. Land iguanas - vegetarians. They feed on leaves and shoots, but prefer the juicy fruits of cacti. Lizards do not hesitate to devour huge quantities of prickly pear leaves along with sharp spines, which they throw out intact. These animals have been severely damaged by humans and have now disappeared from many of their original habitats.

The English navigator William Dampier says that when he landed in the Galapagos Islands in 1684, he was struck by the sight of giant tortoises (Testudo). "When the Spaniards first discovered these islands, they found here many guanos (seabirds) and turtles... there are so many of them that five or six hundred people can feed on them for several months, without using any other food. They are unusually large and fatty, and their meat is so tender that no poultry can compare with them in taste." The sad story of these giants, whose shells reach one and a half meters, and whose weight sometimes exceeds 250 kg, can be summarized in a few lines.

The same terrestrial turtles, which should not be confused with sea turtles, have been found among fossil remains in many places around the globe, mainly in the USA (Wyoming and Nebraska), Europe and India (Siwalik Mountains). Apparently, land turtles were widespread during the Tertiary period, especially in the Miocene and Pliocene about six million years ago. In subsequent geological periods they gradually disappeared, perhaps due to climate change, and perhaps having lost the fight against other species, especially mammals, which reached a higher development and were able to survive due to better adaptability to environmental conditions. Nowadays, these giants are found only on the Mascarene Islands in the Indian Ocean and on the Galapagos archipelago, which in this case acts as a refuge for animals that are extinct in all other parts of the globe.

Although there are close similarities between all Galapagos tortoises, scientists classify them into about fifteen species. In all likelihood, in distant geological times, the entire archipelago was one single massif, with the individual islands connected by land bridges, similar to those that today connect the individual volcanoes of Isabela. Those giant turtles that crossed the ocean themselves or drifted at the behest of currents, having made their way from the South American continent, spread to the land that emerged from the sea. A series of subsequent land subsidences divided the massif into separate islands, and the turtles became separated into isolated groups, each evolving according to its genetic potential. Mutations began, apparently varying due to changes in the environment. This is how isolated species appeared, which even turtle hunters recognized in the old days. This extremely interesting example of evolution did not escape the attention of Charles Darwin, and from it he drew his conclusions regarding the differentiation of species descending from common ancestors.

Scientists still cannot explain why land turtles suddenly became sedentary and did not attempt to swim across the straits between the islands, after they ventured a much longer and more dangerous ocean voyage from the South American continent.

Armored reptiles live in a wide variety of environments. They are found in the driest places, especially among cacti and other thorny plants, where they feed on leaves and shoots. But preference turns out to be more “fertile” areas on the slopes of the islands, exposed to humid winds, as is observed, in particular, on Santa Cruz. Here, among the tiny lakes, turtles find grassy pastures, and grass, according to recent observations, is the favorite food of turtles. In addition, there is water absolutely necessary for turtles, and researchers have seen them literally rush into the lake and begin to drink greedily. The lifestyle of land turtles forces them to undertake real migrations throughout the year. One cannot help but be surprised that such heavy and clumsy animals periodically embark on long journeys. But they are famous for covering up to sixteen kilometers in two to three days. Like tanks, turtles climb slopes covered with rock debris, or even small cliffs, carefully checking the stability of the ground at every step. These seasonal movements are driven by the need for food. The turtle is looking for places where greenery can remain in the midst of a long dry season. The migration route is also determined by the location of natural reservoirs, which have probably been visited by turtles for centuries, judging by the paths laid by many generations of turtles.

However, periodic migrations are also caused by sexual instinct. During the breeding season, turtles disperse to low-lying areas. Females prefer loose sandy soil in warmer, and therefore lower, areas, where they lay eggs, then covering them with a layer of sand. On rocky ground they make do with cracks in the lava. Each clutch contains from six to eleven eggs, often stacked in two or three rows, separated by layers of sand or small pebbles. After the mating season ends, turtles return to wetter areas. Having barely escaped the shell, the little turtles are ready to leave their shelter and begin an independent life. At first they grow very quickly, and their weight triples in the first two years. After this, growth slows down. Turtles are very durable and can live 300-400 years. It is possible that those turtles who witnessed the appearance of adventurers Pissarro and Drake on the islands are still alive.

There is still much to be studied in the habits of these giant reptiles, if only in order to organize their effective protection from direct and indirect human influence. For these purposes, there is a research station named after Charles Darwin, controlled by an international organization, on the coast of Santa Cruz Island. She studies turtles. First of all, they must be registered, then tagged in order to track their movements. After unsuccessfully trying to apply paint marks, biologists began carving numbers into the shells. If the turtle is longer than 30 cm, this operation does not cause any harm to it. Thanks to the tags, it was possible to collect a lot of information. In one or two centuries, scientists at the Galapagos station will determine for sure whether tortoises are truly as long-lived as previously thought."

Notes on the margins of expedition diaries

The island of Haiti is located between Cuba and Puerto Rico. It was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492, who named it "La Isla Hispaniola", which means "Spanish Island".
At the end of the 15th century, his brother Bartolomeo founded the colony of Nueva Isabella (the modern city of Santo Domingo) in the southern part. Gold was found in the east, and the poor western third became the possession of France. The French and Spanish colonies were separated by a 375 kilometer border. These colonies later became the Republic of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, respectively. Historically, the neighbors have not had the best relations. Haiti tried several times to conquer neighboring lands, but could not hold them.

By the end of the 17th century, Haiti had become the richest colony in the New World and surpassed North America in exports. Large-scale production of rum, coffee and sugar was established here.
Haiti Island and:

Today, Haiti is the most populous island in the Americas and the 22nd largest in the world. Its area is 76.5 thousand square meters. km, of which 48.4 thousand sq. km occupies the Dominican Republic. The island is known for frequent earthquakes, the last of which occurred in 2010.

The population of Haiti is about 20 million, of which 9.5 million are Dominicans.

The Dominican Republic is more successful than its neighbor. Many illegal immigrants from Haiti move here to work.

The island of Haiti has a humid tropical climate. About 50% of the area is occupied by wet forests, 20% by dry forests. The remaining parts are savannah and wetlands.

Among the animals and birds there are crocodiles, lizards, sea turtles, herons, flamingos and even a black centipede, which poses a great danger to human life. The stung person is paralyzed and rarely survives. However, tourists do not have to worry, since centipedes live far from populated areas, in the very depths of the island.

Haitian cuisine is dominated by beans, rice, meat, poultry, corn, fish, vegetables and fruits. Among the most popular dishes:

Rum is the national drink of the entire island, with the addition of which various cocktails and liqueurs are also made.

Haiti

The eastern part is occupied by the Dominican Republic, the island in the western part belongs to the Republic of Haiti - the poorest country in America. The average annual air temperature here is 25 degrees, the thermometer can drop to 15 degrees above zero.

The population of the republic often suffers from natural disasters, famine and coups d'etat. The 2010 earthquake killed more than 200 thousand people and caused a cholera epidemic to spread.

The terrible earthquake of 2010 killed 200,000 people.

In the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has the lowest standard of living, so security is very difficult here. Tourists should be very careful, for example, they are not recommended to visit the slums surrounding the main cities such as Cap-Haitien and Port-au-Prince. These areas are controlled by local gangs.

Next to criminal Haiti is the Dominican Republic, an island of pleasures and paradise. This is where millions of tourists flock every year.

Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic Haiti is a unique place on earth, the beauty of its landscapes will not leave anyone indifferent. It is not for nothing that many couples choose it for their wedding. Photographs taken in the lap of pristine nature can satisfy even a true aesthete.

The exotic nature and richness of the animal world can be seen during numerous excursions that are organized for vacationers in the Dominican Republic. The best time to relax in this wonderful place, filled with an incredible atmosphere of silence and bliss, is from December to March. It is at this time that weather conditions are most optimal. However, the cost of travel packages is at its peak.

In other months it is also pleasant to fly to the Dominican Republic; beach holidays are available here all year round.

Despite the fact that the Dominican Republic is not the richest country in America, entire chains of fashionable hotels with their own tropical beaches are lined up along its long snow-white beaches. The territories of some are so large that they have to be moved around on special trains. Almost all of them have an all-inclusive system, which is especially convenient if you are traveling with children.

The largest city is Santo Domingo. It has many attractions:

• Cathedral of Santa Maria with the remains of Columbus
• San Francisco Temple
• Church of San Nicolas
• National Library
• Dominican Man Museum
• Modern Art Museum.

Santo Domingo does not know peace and quiet. Even at night there is an active life here with dancing until dawn.

The territory of Haiti seems to have been specially created by unknown forces for relaxation. The Dominican Republic, which occupies the largest part, is a paradise on earth, a secluded corner of the planet where a vacation cannot but be enjoyed, no matter how whimsical the tourist may be. Incredibly beautiful landscapes, warm water and a little cool of the Atlantic Ocean, delicious local cuisine, tranquility and tranquility - that’s what Haiti is!

Where is the island of Haiti? Geographical position

It is the second largest among the Big Ones. It is located in the West Indies, washed on one side by the Caribbean Sea and on the other by the Atlantic Ocean. If you look at the world map, you will see that the island is located between Cuba (on the western side, separated by the Windless Strait) and Puerto Rico (on the east, separated by the Mona Strait).

The area is 76,480 square kilometers, and the population in 2009 was 20,123,000 people.

Description of the island of Haiti

In early December 1492, a tireless navigator and discoverer discovers the uncharted territory of the island of Haiti. Then he said that “this is the most beautiful land that human eyes have seen.” After this, development here begins in full swing: first, the land was given the Spanish name La Españona, and then the inhabitants of civilized Europe gradually began to contribute to Indian culture. The island began to bring good income to the country; life was in full swing here, seemingly carefree, with a barbecue and a canoe, tobacco and a hammock. So other states began to learn about these delights.

The island of Haiti today is divided by two Republics: the first has the same name, and the second is Dominican. The latter occupies 2/3 of the entire territory and is considered more developed and comfortable. The population is almost equal in both Republics, only Haiti has an area of ​​27,750 square kilometers, and the Dominican Republic - 48,730. The capital of the first is Port-au-Prince, and the second is Santo Domingo.

Dominican Republic

As is already known, most of the island of Haiti is the Dominican Republic. It occupies the southern coast and is divided into 31 regions. By the way, the capital (Santo Domingo) is the oldest city here.

The second most important settlement is Santiago. Other cities of the Republic:

• La Vega.
• San Francisco de Macoris.
• San Cristobal.
• San Pedro de Macoris.
• La Romana.
• Puerto Plata.

You can talk about it endlessly. It is not for nothing that they say that it is better to see once than to hear 100 times. The Dominican Republic (the island of Haiti) is an exotic nature, amazingly beautiful coral reefs, several hundred kilometers of snow-white beaches, lakes with emerald water, rivers with crystal clear water, and unruly waterfalls. It has its own history, way of life, unique flavor and friendly people. And by the way, the Dominican Republic is considered the most environmentally friendly place on earth. There is stable atmospheric pressure and the tropical climate is more comfortable than humid. So you can feel great in this area!

Sights of the Dominican Republic

Many people believe that when they come to the Dominican Republic, they will only be able to enjoy beach holidays and sea activities. But in fact there are plenty of things to do here, one of which is sightseeing. Of course, you won’t be able to find historical places in this part of the island of Haiti, but the nature is like no other place on the planet.

An interesting place to visit is the village of Altos de Chavon, which is located near Punta Cana. It is themed and stylized as an early colonial settlement. The buildings here are made of stone using old technologies. The village has an amphitheater, which is an exact copy of a Greek architectural structure. The museum features an exhibition dedicated to the pre-Columbian era. She will tell tourists how the Arawak Indians lived before the Europeans came here.

There is a grand museum in the capital. It is called the Columbus Lighthouse and is a huge area where you can find a lot of interesting things, including memorable places. This large building is built in the shape of a cross and is a kind of reminder that America is a Christian state. The most important thing here is the ashes of Christopher Columbus.

Also in Santo Domingo there is a unique museum of its kind, the World of Amber. It presents a large collection of these stones, including very rare specimens. For example, with plants and insects inside, or even blue or red.

Another city worth visiting on the island of Haiti is Puerta del Conde. It was built to protect the capital, and here in 1844 the independence of the Republic was proclaimed. It is a fort, today open to tourists. There is a park behind it, this is a very important place for the patriots of the Republic. They especially value the Altar of Freedom (mausoleum with the founders of the Dominican Republic), which, like other elements of the park, is dedicated to the struggle for independence and freedom.

In honor of the centenary of the recognition of the independence of the Republic, a palace was built, which today serves as the president’s workplace. If you look at the photo of this building, you will notice the resemblance to the White House. And it’s very big.

A list of a few more attractions that are recommended to visit:

• Del Este National Park.
• Captain's Palace.
• Ruins of a Franciscan monastery.
• Ozama Fortress.
• Ruins of the hospital of St. Nicholas of Bari.
• Caves of Los Tress Ojos.
• Church of St. Barbara.

Weather

Speaking about the “behavior” of nature, one cannot help but consider the question of why earthquakes often occur on the island of Haiti. The answer is simple - in this place (that is, in the Caribbean Sea), the earth's crust shifts and geological faults arise, which is why today the territory is recognized as a seismically active zone.

One of the most powerful earthquakes occurred in 2010. And more than once. The first was on January 12th. The epicenter was located 15 km from the capital of the Republic of Haiti, which was very badly damaged, as were its inhabitants. Then they did not give a clear answer about the number of victims - either tens or hundreds of thousands. The magnitude was 7-7.3 points.

The second earthquake on the island of Haiti occurred on February 22, and again in the Port-au-Prince area. Then only 3 people were injured (according to official data), and the magnitude was 4.7 points.

Now about something more pleasant. The climate here is tropical, with relatively humid summers and dry winters. The temperature of water and air practically does not change throughout the year. Moreover, they are also approximately the same among themselves. It is recommended to come to the Dominican Republic in winter, as at this time it is more comfortable here - 26-28 degrees Celsius.

• According to 2010 data, 34.4% of the population lives below the poverty line. But this does not prevent them from remaining friendly and friendly people.
• Rum is considered a particularly popular Dominican product. It combines centuries-old traditions and modern technologies. Twice Ron Barceló Imperial rum was recognized as the best in the world.
• Semi-precious stone is mined here, which is found only in one other place in Spain. Some tourists come just for it. It ranges from bright blue to deep blue.
• Military and police cannot participate in elections.
• Only in the Dominican Republic can you see the Ricordi iguana. She has red eyes, which makes her different from the others.

What will you remember about your vacation?

A holiday on La Españona (the former name of the island of Haiti) will be memorable for everyone, from the gently hugging warm water to the adventures, the most common of which is diving. And what nature is here! Of course, you need to take more pictures so that you can remember the wonderful days and buy souvenirs. They will remind you of the Dominican Republic even more colorfully. Moreover, these souvenirs are unique. For example, high-quality coffee, the best of which is difficult to find in the world, or cognac. Lots of jewelry made of pure gold, amber, and even earrings with larimar. In addition to rum, cigars are also the hallmark of the country. Painted plates, clay dolls without faces, figurines, shell jewelry, exotic fruits, handmade carpets - you can find anything. The main thing is not to spare money, because these souvenirs are made with love by the residents of the Dominican Republic!