The Dominican Republic  is a Latin American country located on the eastern two-thirds of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, bordering Haiti. Hispaniola is the second-largest of the Greater Antilles islands, and lies west of Puerto Rico and east of Cuba and Jamaica.

Dominicans sometimes refer to their country as Quisqueya, a name for Hispaniola used by indigenous Taíno people meaning "mother of all lands".

Columbus claimed Hispaniola in 1492, and it later became the major launching base for the Spanish conquest of the Caribbean, as well as the American mainland.

The culture of the Dominican Republic has many elements that originate in Spain but also the culture is blended with African and indigenous American cultural elements

The white sand beaches, impressive mountain ranges veined with spectacular rivers and waterfalls, and saltwater lakes teeming with exotic wildlife are just part of the Dominican Republic’s appeal.

Whether you’re looking to party, relax or explore, the Dominican Republic has a lot to offer.

The rugged Cordillera Central (mountains) include Pico Duarte, the country's highest point, and the highest point in the Caribbean. Several peaks here exceed 5,000 ft. Lesser ranges cover the northern coastlines, and the southwestern border areas with Haiti.

The country is a tropical, maritime nation. Wet season is from May to November. Most rain falls in the northern and eastern regions. The average rainfall is 1346 mm, with extremes of 2500 mm in the northeast and 500 mm in the west. The mean annual temperature ranges from 21°C in the mountainous regions to 25°C on the plains and the coast. The average temperature in Santo Domingo in January is 23.9°C and 27.2°C in July.

Compared to the tropical conditions in the west, the lowlands of the southeast are exceptionally dry, with very little usable plant growth.

Lake Enriquillo, on the southwestern border, is the largest lake, while the largest rivers include the Yaque del Norte and Yuna. Dozens of smaller rivers and streams run from the mountains to the sea.

The culture of the Dominican Republic has many elements that originate in Spain but also the culture is blended with African and indigenous American cultural elements.

You can learn Spanish in Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo:

• Spanish Courses in Santo Domingo

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