| 
|
Country
name: Dominican Republic
The
Dominican Republic's political structure is based on democratic principles.
Every four years the country elects its president, vice president and
legislators.
Location:
The Dominican Republic
shares a border with Haiti on the second largest island in the area,
"Hispaniola". Occupying the
eastern two thirds of the island, the Dominican Republic is nestled
between the Atlantic Ocean on the north and the Caribbean Sea to the
south. Its geographyc coordinates are 17º 36'- 19º 58' north
and
68º 19'-72º 01' west.
Government: Democratic
Republic
Head
of State and Government: Leonel Fernández
Reyna
|
Population
The population of the Dominican Republic is more than 8.5 million people.
Time
Zone
Local
time is Caribbean Eastern Time (GMT -0400). In the winter it is an hour
ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the United States. The Dominican Republic
does not practice daylight savings time, as is customarily done in the
United States.
Capital
City
The capital of the Dominican Republic is Santo Domingo, which is the
oldest city in the new world. It has a population of almost 2.5 million
people. |
|
|
Location/Geography
The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds the island of
Hispaniola, which it shares with the Republic of Haiti. The country
is the second-largest island in the Caribbean, with a surface area of
48,198 square kilometers. Located in the heart of the Caribbean, the
Dominican Republic is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north
and to the south by the Caribbean Sea.
Language
Spanish is the official language of the Dominican Republic. However,
you'll be surprised how many hotel and tourist destination employees
speak English, French, German and Italian. If you decide to venture
outside of the tourist areas, it is helpful to learn some basic phrases
in Spanish. |
Currency
The Dominican Peso (RD$) is the official currency of the Dominican Republic.
You can find out the exchange rate atwww.xe.com/ucc. Major credit cards
and travelers' checks are accepted at many of the country's tourist
locations; ATMs are located in almost all of the Dominican Republic's
cities, as well as at most resorts.
Climate
The
Dominican Republic enjoys a tropical climate year-round. Depending on
your location, a typical day could have full sun or a combination of
sun and clouds. Its average annual temperatures ranges from 66°
to 93° F (19° to 34° C). The coldest season is between November
and April, and the hottest season is between May and October. |
|
