Occupying the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, the Dominica Republic is part of the Greater Antilles island archipelago in the West Indies. It is a tropical country, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south. The island of Hispaniola is the second largest island in the Greater Antilles (Cube is the largest) and as a result of its size and tropical location, the Dominican Republic has a great variety of geographical features.

The geography of the Dominican Republic is widely diverse, with dry semi-desert plains, tropical rain forests, and mountain ranges, resulting in a beautiful mix of vegetation and unique animal life.

Mountain Ranges: A large portion of the Dominican Republic landmass is mountainous. The mountains run from northwest to southeast across the island, and continue as submarine mountain ranges that eventually connect with those of Central America. The Dominican Republic has four main mountain ranges, which unlike Haiti have remained covered in forests and other vegetation. The oldest and highest range, the Cordillera Central (~60 million years old), spans both Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The Sierra de Samana forms a rocky peninsula in the northwest Dominican Republic and is a source of marble mining and export. The Cordillera Septentrional are located north of the Cordillera Central range, and are mined for the unique Dominican amber that is estimated to be about 20 million years old.

Valleys and Plains: The highland valleys located between the parallel mountain ranges are among the most fertile regions in the country – commonly called the “bread basket” of the Dominican Republic. Cibao Valley and Vega Real are two of the major regions for agricultural production in the country.

Located in southwestern Dominican Republic, the Enriquillo Basin is a hot, dry, desert-like region. Historically a sea channel, the valley became a semi-desert to desert habitat following the elevation of the surrounding land.  Located in this region is Lago Enriquillo, a large inland salt-water lake that is the lowest point in the West Indies (40 meters below sea level).

Coastal Plains: The Atlantic coastal plans receive annual precipitation that makes the region favorable for agriculture, as well as a center for livestock breeding and production. In contrast, the Caribbean coastal plans are characterized by poor soil conditions, but are a region with prominent limestone features such as subterranean caves and karstic surface features. Any agriculture in this region is dependent on irrigation through the river system and pumps.

Images that could be included with the text for this page: www.dominicantoday.com
Region: Cordillera Central Mountains

Region: Enriquillo Basin - Flamingos over Lago Enriquillo

Lago Enriquillo – www.wikipedia.com