Blog Post #1

• President: Danilo Medina (2012)
• Land area: 18,680 sq mi (48,381 sq km); 
• Population (2016 est.): 10.65 million.
• Capital and largest city (2011 est.): Santo Domingo, 2.191 million

History

The Dominican Republic became a nation on February 27, 1844 when a group of revolutionaries seized power from the Haitian rulers of the island of Hispaniola. La Isla Española or Hispaniola was named by Christopher Columbus when he first discovered the island in 1492. In 1496, Spaniards set up first Spanish colony in Western hemisphere at Santo Domingo, and due ts location in the trade winds, it was the gateway to the Caribbean. The Dominican Republic became an independent state in 1844, after gaining its sovereignty from Spain.

Location

Dominican Republic, country of the West Indies that occupies the eastern two-thirds of Hispaniola, the second largest island of the Greater Antilles chain in the Caribbean Sea. The western portion of the island is occupied by the republic of Haiti. Dominican Republic covers 48,320 square kilometers of land and 350 square kilometers of water, making it the 133rd largest nation in the world with a total area of 48,670 square kilometers.

Interesting Facts

• The Dominican Republic is the only country in the world to have an image of the Holy Bible on its national flag. 
• “Catedral de Santa Maria La Menor” in the Dominican Republic is believed to be the oldest cathedral in the Americas. It dates back to 1540. The cathedral can be visited in the capital city of the country – Santo Domingo. 
• The island country saw difficult days of brutality, conspiracy, and downfall during colonial times. It was affected by a poor economy and political instability even after gaining independence. However, as of today, the country is improving with the help of agriculture and tourism. 
• The Dominican Republic is a popular destination for weddings and honeymoons. 
• The people of the region are not punctual. Say, if you had a meeting with someone at 8 pm, you could expect them to arrive by 8:45 or 9 pm. Arriving late is a norm in D.R., so do not fret when you have to wait for someone to arrive. 
• Voting is not permitted to the members of the armed forces and the national police.