The territory of Haiti seemed to have been specially created by unknown forces for relaxation. The Dominican Republic, which occupies a large part, is a paradise on earth, a secluded corner of the planet, where you cannot but like a vacation, no matter how whimsical the tourist is. Incredibly beautiful landscapes, warm water of the Caribbean Sea and a little cool Atlantic Ocean, delicious local cuisine, peace and tranquility - that's what Haiti is!
Where is the island of Haiti? Geographic location
Is the second largest among the Greater Antilles. Located in the West Indies, it is washed by the Caribbean Sea on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. If you look at the world map, you will see that the island is located between Cuba (on the west side, they are separated by the Windless Strait) and Puerto Rico (on the east, they are separated by the Mona Strait).
The area is 76,480 square kilometers and the population in 2009 was 20,123,000.
Description of the island of Haiti
In early December 1492, the tireless navigator and discoverer Christopher Columbus discovers the unexplored territory of the island of Haiti. Then he said that "this is the most beautiful land that human eyes have seen." After that, the arrangement begins here in full swing: first, the Spanish name La Espanona was assigned to the land, and then the inhabitants of civilized Europe gradually began to contribute to Indian culture. The island began to bring a good income to the country, life was in full swing here, seemingly carefree, with barbecue and canoes, 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 - 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 you already know, most of the island of Haiti is the Dominican Republic. It occupies the south coast and is divided into 31 regions. By the way, the capital (Santo Domingo) is the oldest city here.
The second most important settlement reads 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 the Dominican Republic endlessly. No wonder 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. Here, stable atmospheric pressure and a tropical climate are more comfortable than humid. So you can feel great in this area!
Sights of the Dominican Republic
Many believe that, having arrived in the Dominican Republic, they can only enjoy a beach holiday and marine entertainment. But in fact, there are enough activities here, one of which is sightseeing. Of course, it will not be possible to find historical places in this part of the island of Haiti, but nature is such that there is 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 built of stone using old technologies. In the village there is an amphitheater, which is an exact copyGreek architectural structure. The museum presents an exposition dedicated to the pre-Columbian era. She will tell tourists how the Arawak Indians lived before the Europeans came here.
There is a grandiose 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 form of a cross and is a kind of reminder that America is a Christian state. The most important here is the ashes of Christopher Columbus.
Also in Santo Domingo there is a unique museum of its kind "World of Amber". It presents a large collection of these stones, among which there are also 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. Behind it there is a park, this is a very important place for the patriots of the Republic. They especially appreciate the Altar of Freedom (the 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 plays the role of the workplace of the president. If you look at the photo of this building, you can see the resemblance to the White House. And very large.
List of a few moreRecommended attractions to visit:
- Del Este National Park.
- Captain's Palace.
- Ruins of a Franciscan monastery.
- Ozama's Fortress.
- The ruins of the hospital of St. Nicholas from Bari.
- Caves of Los Tress Ojos.
- Church of Saint Barbara.
Weather conditions
Speaking about the "behavior" of nature, one cannot help but consider 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 is shifting and geological faults appear, therefore today the territory is recognized as a seismically active zone.
One of the most powerful earthquakes occurred in 2010. And not just once. The first was January 12th. The epicenter was located 15 km from the capital of the Republic of Haiti, which suffered greatly, as did its inhabitants. Then they did not give an unambiguous 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 area of the city of Port-au-Prince. Then only 3 people were injured (according to official data), and the magnitude was 4.7 points.
Now for something more pleasant. The climate is tropical, with relatively humid summers and dry winters. The temperature of water and air practically does not change during the year. And they are about the same with each other. It is recommended to come to the Dominican Republic in winter, as at this time it is more comfortable here - 26-28 degreesheat.
Interesting facts about Haiti and the Dominican Republic
- As of 2010, 34.4% of the population lives below the poverty line. But this does not prevent them from remaining friendly and benevolent people.
- Rum is considered a particularly popular Dominican product. Centuries-old traditions and modern technologies have merged in it. Twice Ron Barceló Imperial has been voted the best rum in the world.
- The semi-precious stone larimar is mined here, which is found in only one other place in Spain. Some tourists come just for it. It ranges from bright blue to deep blue.
- Military and policemen cannot participate in elections.
- Only in the Dominican Republic you can see the ricordi iguana. She has red eyes, which makes her different from others.
What will make your holiday in the Dominican Republic memorable?
Holidays on La Espanona (the former name of the island of Haiti) will be remembered by everyone, from gently hugging warm water to adventures, the most common of which is diving. And what nature is here! Of course, you need to take more pictures so that later 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 hard 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. Paintedplates, 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 inhabitants of the Dominican Republic!
