Dominica is located in Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago.
Land in Dominica is rugged mountains of volcanic origin.
Dominican land covers an area of 754 square kilometers which is slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
As for the Dominican climate; tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall.
Dominican(s) speak English (official), French patois.
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Roseau Portsmouth Marigot Berekua Atkinson Mahaut Saint Joseph Wesley Salisbury Castle Bruce | La Plaine Pointe Michel Woodford Hill Calibishie Soufrière Colihaut Rosalie Pont Cassé |
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Dominica (general) Saint Andrew Saint David Saint George Saint John Saint Joseph | Saint Luke Saint Mark Saint Patrick Saint Paul Saint Peter |
Dominica was the last of the Caribbean islands to be colonized by Europeans due chiefly to the fierce resistance of the native Caribs. France ceded possession to Great Britain in 1763, which made the island a colony in 1805. In 1980, two years after independence, Dominica's fortunes improved when a corrupt and tyrannical administration was replaced by that of Mary Eugenia CHARLES, the first female prime minister in the Caribbean, who remained in office for 15 years. Some 3,000 Carib Indians still living on Dominica are the only pre-Columbian population remaining in the eastern Caribbean.
The Dominican economy depends on agriculture, primarily bananas, and remains highly vulnerable to climatic conditions and international economic developments. Production of bananas dropped precipitously in 2003, a major reason for the 1% decline in GDP. Tourism increased in 2003 as the government sought to promote Dominica as an "ecotourism" destination. Development of the tourism industry remains difficult, however, because of the rugged coastline, lack of beaches, and the absence of an international airport. The government began a comprehensive restructuring of the economy in 2003 - including elimination of price controls, privatization of the state banana company, and tax increases - to address Dominica's economic crisis and to meet IMF targets. In order to diversify the island's production base, the government is attempting to develop an offshore financial sector and is planning to construct an oil refinery on the eastern part of the island.
Dominican natural resources include timber, hydropower, arable land
known as "The Nature Island of the Caribbean" due to its spectacular, lush, and varied flora and fauna, which are protected by an extensive natural park system; the most mountainous of the Lesser Antilles, its volcanic peaks are cones of lava craters and include Boiling Lake, the second-largest, thermally active lake in the world
Dominican religion is Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), other 6%, none 2%.
Natural hazards in Dominica include flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months.