Country Information on Dominican Republic

Terrain Mountain ranges, which run from north-west to south-east, occupy about 80% of the Dominican Republic. The highest elevation is the Pico Duarte with 3,174 m, which is at the same time the highest elevation of the Antilles. Between the Cordillera Central and the Cordillera Septentrional the Valle del Cibao runs, a fertile and well-irrigated region. Also the coastal plain in the south-east is known for its fertile soils. Climate The climate is tropical with little seasonal temperature variation depending on the rainy or the dry season. It is hot and humid in the Dominican Republic throughout the year, with highest daytime temperatures on the coast between 25 and 30°C. The country's temperature variations are caused by altitude rather than seasons; thus it is cooler in the Cordillera Central than on the coast, and it can be chilly in the hills at night. The wettest times of the year are from May to June and from October to November. The country lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and is subject to severe storms from June to October, with occasional flooding. Fauna/Flora The vegetation of the Dominican Republic, like that of the other islands of the West Indies, is extremely varied. Succulents and briars, e.g., are found here as well as evergreen mountain forest or foggy forest. Among the species of indigenous trees are mahogany, rosewood, and cypress. Among the animals living in the wild there are reptiles and numerous species of birds. Continuing deforestation has led to enormous problems, such as floods after heavy rainfall. Deforestation affects above all the primeval forests and causes soil erosion and the silting-up of the coral reef which surrounds the island. History/Politics In 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered Hispaniola, which was inhabited by Indians. This was to be the beginning of European colonial activity in the Americas. Other colonial powers tried to challenge Spain's control of Hispaniola given the island's huge sugar cane production and key position for controlling trade flows between Europe and Mexico and Peru. According to the Treaty of Ryswick of 1697, Spain had to cede the western half of the island (Haiti) to France, with the eastern half also to come under French rule in 1795 according to the Peace of Basel. 1801 saw Haitian freedom fighter Toussaint Louverture gain control of the island and declare independence. Spain managed to regain control of the eastern part in 1809. The island's eastern part was to remain under Spanish rule until 1821, when independence was declared following popular revolt. In 1822, Haitian forces conquered the independent state, which remained under the rule of the neighbouring country until its renewed declaration of independence in 1844. During the 1860s, the United States of America started to exert more and more influence on the Antilles, leading to the establishment of an economic and political treaty in 1907. In accordance with the treaty, the United States invaded the Dominican Republic in 1916, installing a protectorate which was to last until 1924. After the country had regained its autonomy, dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo y Molina assumed power in 1930. He and his family ruled over the Dominican Republic until his assassination in 1961. The major part of the national economy became the dictator's personal corporation. From a modern perspective the era of the Trujillo regime was a phase of authoritarian and forced modernization. The strongly centralist policy conflicted with the federalist tendencies of the provinces and was sometimes pushed through by force of arms. After a popular uprising in 1963, the first democratic elections ever were won by the writer Juan Bosch from the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD). However, seven months later he was overthrown by a military junta. As a result of this forcible seizure of power, the military forces split into two factions, which fought each other violently. In 1965, the USA ended this civil war through a massive military intervention. When Jimmy Carter took office as president of the US in 1977, it changed its policy towards the Dominican Republic. The US put the government of President Balaguer, the then president, under pressure to respect human rights and to guarantee political pluralism. In the presidential and parliamentary elections of 1978 the PRD and thus the presidential candidate Silvestre Antonio Fernandez Guzman won a clear victory. The 1986 elections brought back Balaguer as president, who now pursued a populist policy. In 1990 and in 1994 he was able to remain in office by a narrow margin. After the presidential elections of 1996 he was succeeded by the candidate of the Dominican Liberation Party, Leonel Fernandez. In August 2000, Fernandez was succeeded by Hipólito Mejía from the Dominican Revolutionary Party Economy The cultivation of sugar cane, mining, and to a growing extent tourism are the basis of Dominican economy. Still, the economy concentrates on exports of agricultural commodities. 83% of Dominican farms have an area of cultivable land below 6.3 hectares, which is just about sufficient for subsistence cultivation in most cases. In the low-lying areas large-scale land-holding prevails. Mineral deposits are only mined on a small scale. Bauxite and nickel gained greater importance in the early seventies. The deposits of precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum, as well as the deposits of iron ore and salt are limited. The industrial sector processes mainly domestic raw materials. 15% of the country's workforce engage in the agricultural sector, 23% in manufacturing, and 62% in the services sector. Culture The culture of the Dominican Republic is a fusion of Amerindian, African, and Spanish influences. The American natives left various words and eating habits, African slaves brought their music and the seeds of voodoo which still survive on the island, and Spain gave the country its language. The African influence is most obvious in Dominican folk music, like the national dance, the merengue, the origin of which is still subject to discussion. There is a blend of Spanish and Afro-Caribbean rhythms in the merengue. Not only music, but also the arts in general, e.g. Dominican literature, were influenced partly by Spain, partly by African culture. The country's major cultural institutions, such as the National Art Gallery, are located in Santo Domingo. It is also assumed that Christopher Columbus' bones are buried in the cathedral of Santo Domingo. This city also features some of the most beautiful old colonial buildings that still exist in the Dominican Republic.