Dominican Republic - One Photo Per Post

[italiano_pellicano]

The Dominican Republic in Spanish: República Dominicana, pronounced*[re?pu?lika ðomini?kana]) is a nation on the island of Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries. Both by area and population, the Dominican Republic is the second largest Caribbean nation (after Cuba), with 48,442*square kilometres (18,704 sq*mi) and an estimated 10 million people.[2][7]Inhabited by Taínos since the 7th century, the territory of the Dominican Republic was reached by Christopher Columbus in 1492 and became the site of the first permanent European settlement in the Americas, namely Santo Domingo, the country's capital and Spain's first capital in the New World. In Santo Domingo stand, among other firsts in the Americas, the first university, cathedral, and castle, the latter two in the Ciudad Colonial area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
After three centuries of Spanish rule, with French and Haitian interludesFatima, the country became independent in 1821 but was quickly taken over by Haiti. Victorious in the Dominican War of Independence in 1844, Dominicans experienced mostly internal strife, and also a brief return to Spanish rule, over the next 72 years. The United States occupation of 1916?1924, and a subsequent, calm and prosperous six-year period under Horacio Vásquez Lajara, were followed by the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina until 1961. The civil war of 1965, the country's last, was ended by a U.S.-led intervention, and was followed by the authoritarian rule of Joaquín Balaguer, 1966?1978. Since then, the Dominican Republic has moved toward representative democracy,[1]and has been led by Leonel Fernández for most of the time after 1996.The Dominican Republic has the second largest economy in the Caribbean.[9][10]Though long known for sugar
production, the economy is now dominated by services.[1]The country's economic progress is exemplified by its advanced telecommunication system.[11]Nevertheless, unemployment,[1]government corruption, and inconsistent electric service remain major Dominican problems. The country also has "marked income inequality".[1]International migration greatly affects the country, as it receives and sends large flows of migrants. Haitian immigration and the integration of Dominicans of Haitian descent are major issues; the total population of Haitian origin is estimated to be 800,000.[12]A large Dominican diaspora exists, most of it in the United States, where it comprises 1.3 million.[13]They aid national development as they send billions of dollars to their families, accounting for one-tenth of the Dominican GDP.[1][14]The Dominican Republic has become the Caribbean's largest tourist destination; the country's year-round golf courses are among the top attractions.[11]In this mountainous land is located the Caribbean's highest mountain, Pico Duarte, as is Lake Enriquillo, the Caribbean's largest lake and lowest elevation.[15]Quisqueya, as Dominicans often call their country, has an average temperature of 26*°C (78.8*°F) and great biological diversity.[11]Music and sport are of the highest importance in Dominican culture, with merengue as the national dance and song and baseball the favorite sport

[italiano_pellicano]

Punta Cana , Republica Dominicana

image hosted on flickr


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2572/...e2a0d4_b_d.jpg

[CarlisleSg]

Cool! is that place for real? It's HUGE!

[fastboyRD]

image hosted on flickr

[wolfer007]

还不错！

[italiano_pellicano]

image hosted on flickr

It's breathtaking! por Michelle Brea, en Flickr

[italiano_pellicano]

http://www.redchilena.com/comun/gale...mages/ma28.jpg

[italiano_pellicano]

image hosted on flickr

9Jun4974 por SkyHoppers Aerial Adventures, en Flickr

[italiano_pellicano]

image hosted on flickr

Punta Cana - Santo Domingo por Patassini Alessandro, en Flickr

[italiano_pellicano]

image hosted on flickr

9Jun2992 por SkyHoppers Aerial Adventures, en Flickr

[italiano_pellicano]

image hosted on flickr

9Jun4978 por SkyHoppers Aerial Adventures, en Flickr

[italiano_pellicano]

image hosted on flickr

9Jun4980 por SkyHoppers Aerial Adventures, en Flickr

[italiano_pellicano]

image hosted on flickr

9Jun4969 por SkyHoppers Aerial Adventures, en Flickr

[italiano_pellicano]

image hosted on flickr

9Jun4967 por SkyHoppers Aerial Adventures, en Flickr

[italiano_pellicano]

image hosted on flickr

9Jun4896 por SkyHoppers Aerial Adventures, en Flickr

[fastboyRD]

Thanks for opening this thread. Here is my contribution:

[Linguine]

thanks for the marvelous photos from Dominican Republic...

[italiano_pellicano]

really nice pic

[Bogdy]

photo:Chavon Bridge by Enrico Antongiovanni on panoramio

[Bogdy]

image hosted on flickr

Punta Cana by Thierry Chevallier, on Flickr