Location

Oriental part of the island of the española, in the Sea of the Carib, to the east of Cuba

Hourly reference

GMT - 4.

Surface

48.072 km².

Population

9.000.000 (Estimation of the UNO in 2005).

Density of Population

187,2 Inhabitants for km².

Capital

Santo Domingo. Population: Approximately 3 million.

Geography

The Dominican Republic is located in the island of the Española in the Sea of the Carib. The Dominican Republic occupies two thirds of the total surface of the island, the rest is occupied by Haiti. The landscape is mountainous and with big surfaces hoisted so much in valleys as plains and altiplanes. The soil is fertile enough. On the north coast, this and south-east there are excellent beaches of very thin sand.

Political system

Republic presidencialista. After successive attempts, it obtained the independence in 1865. Chief of State and of Government: President Leonel Fernandez (from the year 2004).

language

The Spanish is the official language.

Religion

The majority of the population is a catholic Roman. There are small Protestant and Jewish communities.

Electricity

110 volts CA, 60Hz. The plugs are 2 pegs.

Social conventions

The life in the Dominican Republic has Spanish influences and also North American. There is a pause to midday in the offices and trades to be able to eat, but the siesta is short and is not in the habit of eating very late. The use of informal clothes is very widespread but it is needed slightly more elegant to go out in the night (at least jacket, and depending on the occasion tie).

History
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Dominican_Republic