Dominica

Coordinates: 15°25′N 61°20′W / 15.417°N 61.333°W / 15.417; -61.333

Dominica (/ˌdɒmɪˈnkə/ DOM-i-NEE-kə;French: Dominique; Island Carib: Wai‘tu kubuli), officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island country in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its area is 750 square kilometres (290 sq mi) and the highest point is Morne Diablotins, at 1,447 metres (4,747 ft) elevation. The population was 72,301 at the 2014 census. The capital is Roseau, located on the leeward side of the island.

The island was originally inhabited by the Kalinago/Arawak and later colonised by the Europeans, predominately by the French, who arrived at the island on Sunday, 3 November 1493 ("Sunday" = "Domenica" in Italian). Great Britain took it over in 1763 after the Seven Years' War and gradually established English as the official language. The island republic gained independence in 1978.

Its name is pronounced with emphasis on the third syllable, related to its former Dominique. Dominica has been nicknamed the "Nature Isle of the Caribbean" for its unspoiled natural beauty. It is the youngest island in the Lesser Antilles, still being formed by geothermal-volcanic activity, as evidenced by the world's second-largest hot spring, Boiling Lake. The island has lush mountainous rainforests, and is the home of many rare plants, animals, and bird species. There are xeric areas in some of the western coastal regions, but heavy rainfall occurs inland. The Sisserou parrot (also known as the imperial amazon), is found only on Dominica and is the island's national bird and features on the national flag. Dominica's economy depends on tourism and agriculture.

Latest News for: Dominica

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Comparing Caribbean citizenship by investment programs: Antigua vs. Dominica

Israel National News 05 Dec 2024
Comparing several offers from Caribbean countries helps determine the appropriate one .......
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Bombshell update of Canadian couple found murdered in burned-out car in Dominica | Daily Mail Online

The Daily Mail 01 Dec 2024
A US chocolatier charged with murdering a millionaire Canadian entrepreneur and his girlfriend in Dominica has been granted bail as he awaits trial ... Jonathan Lehrer (pictured) is accused of killing Daniel Langlois , 66, and Dominique Marchand, both from Quebec, after they were found inside a charred vehicle in Dominica ... Dominica News Online said....
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Commonwealth of Dominica Reiterates Support for Morocco's Territorial Integrity… (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Morocco)

Public Technologies 28 Nov 2024
"We welcome the growing international momentum and consensus, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, in favor of the Moroccan Autonomy Plan and the Kingdom's sovereignty over its Sahara," Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica stressed....
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Inside divine Dominica: The Caribbean's captivating 'nature island' is undergoing changes - but it's still ...

The Daily Mail 27 Nov 2024
A helicopter buzzes back and forth near Trafalgar Falls, one of Dominica’s prized natural sights ... And what used to be known as Princess Margaret Hospital (Dominica was the last of the Caribbean islands to be colonised) is now called the Dominica China Friendship Hospital ... On a visit to Dominica, Mark Palmer checks into Secret Bay resort (pictured)....

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