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~ General Information of the Dominican Republic ~ |
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| In 1492, Christopher Columbus was delighted to discover ”the most beautiful piece of land that the eye had ever seen“. The island was called ”Hispaniola“ by the Spaniards and became their starting point for conquering the New World. They built the first cities on the American continent here, including Santo Domingo, which still shows signs of its old colonial past (Cathedral of Santa María la Menor, Alcázar de Colón, etc.). In 1655, the French arrived in the western part, occupying it officially in 1697 (through the Treaty of Ryswich). A century later, the Spanish side was transferred to France through the Treaty of Bâle and in 1822, the Republic of Haiti was proclaimed. On 27th February 1844, the eastern part was liberated and the Dominican Republic was proclaimed. |
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The history of the country in the 20th century is ful of excitement. lt was ruled by the Americans (1916-24), was a dictatorship under General Trujillo from 1930-61 and survived a civil war in 1965. In 1966 the Dominican Republic became a
democracy, with a president elected every four years. The current President is Dr. Leonel Fernández, who was elected in the year 1996. The topography of the Dominican Republic is very varied. The ”Pico Duarte“ is the highest mountain on the Antilles, at 3087 m, and ”Lake Enriquillo“, which is 45 m below sea level, is also the lowest point in the Dominican Republic. The climate is pleasantly tropical all year round, with an average daily temperature of 82°F (25°C). |
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| A refreshing breeze comes in off the sea all day. Apart from the
weather, the beaches make up the island’s ”capital“. The sand is
white, sloping gently down to the sea and generally protected by reefs. The water has a temperature of about 79°F (26°C) and is crystal
clear. Beautiful coconut palm forests line the edges of the beaches. The tourist centres are well developed and can be reached via five international
airports. The currency is the Dominican peso. Foreign currency may be brought in and taken out. Tourism is the country’s main source of income, followed by sugar, tobacco, coffee, fruits, and vegetables. The Dominicans love their traditional dance, the ”Merengue“. But they are also keen on sport. Many Dominicans are professional baseball players in the top international baseball leagues (EUA). Golf is also becoming more popular in this wonderful location. The golf courses are open all year round. There is no handicap-limitation except for tournaments. Teetime and Protime reservation are recommended and esential from december to march. 9 holes can be played everywhere at a reduced green fee. Services, not listed under ”YES” will not be available. You can order this golf guide free at the publisher´s or the Tourist Offices of the Dominican Republic. List of hotels pages.
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