 Location The Dominican Republic is located in the heart of the Caribbean. Cuba lies to the West, Puerto Rico to the East. It is the second largest country in the Caribbean after Cuba, occupying 48,734 km2, or two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, the first island sighted by Christopher Columbus back in 1492. The Dominican Republic boasts over 1,500 km of white and golden sandy beaches. The north of the island is on the Atlantic Ocean and the south lies on the Caribbean Sea. The terrain is mountainous in the central and western regions, while extensive lowlands dominate the east. The rugged Cordillera Central (mountains) include Pico Duarte, the country’s highest peak and the highest point in the Caribbean. This is a land of rivers, waterfalls, alpine landscapes, and tropical rainforests. With over 300 varieties of orchids and coconut palms stretching to the horizon, iguanas, crocodiles, and the green cockatoo, Dominican Republic really is a tropical paradise. The climate is Caribbean or tropical. Average annual temperature fluctuates between 18°C/65°F and 27°C/81°F. There is only one season: Summer.
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