Heres a few Quick Items to Know before Going to the Dominican Republic
You have toured most of Europe and you have gone to the most exotic places in Asia. If you want to go somewhere unique this time around, try exploring the Dominican Republic. An exotic country cradled by the crystal-clear azure of the Caribbean Sea, Dominican Republic is where you'll find some of the best tourist havens in the world. With its fascinating historical background, engaging culture, hospitable people, fine cuisine, exquisite beaches, and breathtaking vistas, you should make this Latin American country your next travel destination. But before you pack your bags and head to the airport, here are some important things you need to know about Dominican Republic:
Fast facts and figures about Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a major Roman Catholic country in Latin America covering an area of 48,442 km. The country is made up of 31 provinces with Santo Domingo as its capital. Its population is 87th in the world with a number of more than 9 million as of the 2006 statistics. Its current form of government is Republic with Leonel Fernandez as the president. The Dominican Republic flag is mainly composed of three colors: white, red, and blue. Meanwhile, the country's mother tongue is Spanish.
Brief history of Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492 and was turned into the representative seat of the Spanish Royal Court in the Americas. In 1697, however, a third of the land came to the possession of the French army and was then called Haiti. Haiti became rich because of its numerous sugar plantations. For several years after that, the Haitians and the Spanish frequently fought, which caused the land to be separated. The Haitians eventually won in 1844 and named the land officially as the Dominican Republic. Despite being united as a nation, the land was still riddled with political and civil unrest. In 1916, the United States of America finally decided to intervene until 1924 when a proper Dominican government was set in place.
The fascinating culture of Dominican Republic
Before Christopher Columbus set foot on the Dominican Republic, the country was already inhabited by the indigenous Tainos. However, the Tainos were almost gone during the French and Spanish rule when they were enslaved to hard labor. Today, Dominican culture is predominantly Spanish with African elements. Although the national language is Spanish, many Dominicans also speak in Haitian Creole, French, and English. There are even occasional Italian and German languages spoken to some degrees. Moreover, Tainos may have been gone for hundreds of years and yet, their culture is still evident in the Dominican cuisine. As for music style, Dominicans step up to the beat of carnival life of African and Spanish influences. Sports (especially baseball) and music are also a huge part of the Dominican life. As they say it, Dominican life is never boring with its artful expression of life.
The natural features of Dominican Republic
As a tropical country, Dominican Republic is famous for its white-sand beaches. Aside from the much-hyped and anticipated carnivals, the country also boasts its numerous awe-inspiring mountains and beaches. There are a lot of vast rivers, as well, which provides electricity to most of the country. Aside from these geographical wonders, the Taino archaeological and heritage sites also make for excellent tourist destinations, as well as the various museums, historical landmarks, and interesting structures.
Today, Dominican Republic is slowly recuperating following years and years of political and civil strife. Fortunately, its current government is doing its best to once again go up the ladder of economic success. High employment rate and profit distribution continue to be the main concerns for Dominican residents. To help counter the nation's present problems, the current president has made efforts to promote tourism.
It is important that you know these information as they will help you sum up what Dominican Republic is all about. After all, you can't go to a place which you know nothing about, can you? So now that you know the 411 on the Dominican Republic, what are you still waiting for? Go pack your bags and head to this beautiful country now!
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