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When Christopher Columbus arrived on the Dominican Republic's shores in 1492, he proclaimed, "There is no island that is more beautiful in the world ". For visitors of the country today, the Dominican Republic definitely represents just that. It is simply a paradise to discover - golden sandy beaches, crystal clear turquoise waters, mysterious lush valleys, majestic tall mountains and wonderfully friendly people.

The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola. At 48,921 sq. km it is the second largest country in the Caribbean, about the same size as the combined area of the US states of Vermont and New Hampshire. The Dominican coastline stretches for 1,633km, and is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the north. The topography of the Dominican Republic consists of a diverse range of highland and lowland areas, offshore islands, rivers and lakes, all of which contribute in some way or other to adventure travel in the country.

Rivers and Lakes
Four major rivers drain the numerous highland areas of the Dominican Republic. The Yaque del Norte carries excess water down from the Cibao Valley and empties into Monte Cristi Bay. Likewise, the Yuna River serves the Vega Real and empties into Samana Bay. Drainage of the San Juan Valley is provided by the Yaque del Sur, which empties into the Caribbean, and the Artibonite River, which crosses the border into Haiti. The Yaque del Norte is the longest and most important river in the Dominican Republic.

Although it lies only 85km to the southwest of Pico Duarte, Lago Enriquillo is 40m below sea level and the lowest point in the West Indies. Other than this, the Dominican Republic is not blessed with many natural lakes. The only other one of any size is Laguna del Rincon in the Enriquillo Basin.

Highlands
Like Haiti, a large proportion of the Dominican Republic (about 80%) is mountainous; but unlike Haiti, much of the country's four main mountain ranges continue to enjoy forest cover, relatively fertile soils, and a degree of agricultural production. The most northerly of these ranges is the Cordillera Septentrional, which extends from the coastal town of Monte Cristi near the Haitian border to the Samana Peninsular in the east, running parallel to the Atlantic coast. The highest range in the Dominican Republic - indeed, in the whole of the West Indies - is the Cordillera Central. Connected to the Massif du Nord in Haiti, it gradually bends southwards and finishes near the town of Azua de Compostela on the Caribbean coast. The Cordillera Central is home to the four highest peaks in the West Indies: Pico Duarte (3,087m), La Pelona (3,085m), La Rucilla (3,049m) and Pico Yaque (2,760m). In the southwest corner of the country, south of the Cordillera Central, there are two, largely dry and rocky ranges. The more northerly of the two is the Sierra de Neiba, while in the south the Sierra de Bahoruco is a continuation of the Massif de la Selle in Haiti. The other main highland area, the Cordillera Oriental, is lower than the other mountain ranges. It is really a series of rolling hills extending west along the Atlantic coast parallel to the southern shore of Samana Bay, disappearing in the foothills of the Cordillera Central.

Highland Valleys
With mountain ranges running parallel to each other, the Dominican Republic boasts a number of highland valleys. Variously described as the 'bread basket' or 'food basket' of the Dominican Republic and a 'paradise' by Christopher Columbus, the Cibao Valley is the most fertile area in the country. Almost everything is grown either here or in the Vega Real (Royal Meadow), another fertile valley at the eastern end of the Cibao. Rather less productive is the semi-arid San Juan Valley south of the Cordillera Central and extending westward into Haiti. Still more barren is the Neiba Valley, tucked between the Sierra de Neiba and the Sierra de Bahoruco. This valley is also known as the Cul-de-Sac, although geologists often refer to this area as the Enriquillo Basin. Much of the land in the Enriquillo Basin is below sea level, resulting in a hot, arid, desert-like environment.

Lowlands
The Coastal Plain of Santo Domingo is the largest and most economically important of the lowland areas in the Dominican Republic. Stretching north and east of Santo Domingo it covers the area left by the Cordillera Oriental, extending as far as the Atlantic Ocean. West of Santo Domingo its width is reduced to 10km as it hugs the coast, finishing at the mouth of the Ocoa River. A few other small coastal plains can be found around the towns of Puerto Plata and Azua, as well as around Samana Bay and the Pedernales Peninsular in the southwest.

Islands
The two largest offshore islands are Saona and Beata: the former lies off the southeastern coast and the latter off the southern tip of the Pedernales Peninsular. Two smaller islands, Catalina and Alto Velo, lie to the west of Saona and Beata respectively. Otherwise there are three islands in Lago Enriquillo (Cabritos, Barbarita and Islita), and some sandy keys off the northern coastal town of Monte Cristi.

Places to go:
The Dominican is devided to 5 regions: North Coast, Samana Peninsula, East Coast, South Coast, and Interior of the country.

Santo Domingo
Christopher Columbus' brother, Bartolome Colon, founded the Dominican Republic's capital city, originally named La Isabela, in 1496. A number of New World 'firsts' occurred here, including the first cathedral, university, monastery and hospital. This is also where Spanish conquistadors set off to conquer the rest of the Caribbean, and regions of North, Central and South America. The city definitely experienced its share of trouble over the following centuries. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1562; captured, looted and burnt down by Sir Francis Drake in 1586; attacked by both British and French forces over most of the 17 th century; and dominated by Haitian forces, more or less until Trujillo took power in 1936, and re-named the city after himself - Ciudad Trujillo. Upon his death in 1961, the name was changed back, and after a military coup and an American invasion in 1965, peaceful order finally returned to the city. Since that time it has exploded with industry and urban migration. Today Santo Domingo is a bustling and cosmopolitan city with 2.5 million inhabitants. It boasts activities to offer everyone - museums, ballet, opera, baseball games, and the greatest options of nightlife, restaurants and shopping to be found in the Dominican Republic. The most popular draw is the heart of the city, Zona Colonial (Colonial Zone), located on the western bank of the Rio Ozama . It's here you'll find cobblestone streets, historical monuments, and wonderful old-world Spanish architecture that remains relatively in tact. While there are dozens of things to see and do in the Zona Colonial, visitors should also see the museums housing the history of the country, such as the Museo del Hombre Dominicano (Museum of Dominican Man); and the Museum of Modern Art; the palm-lined Malecon (boardwalk along the ocean), to get a taste of the city's night life; the Estadio Quisqueya, to watch a game of the Dominican's most beloved, national sport, baseball; and Los Tres Ojos (The Three Eyes), a group of large caves and freshwater lagoons, used by the country's original inhabitants, the Tainos, for religious ceremonies; and Faro del Colon, built in the shape of a cross and also projects a cross shaped beam of light into the sky at night

Samana
The largest city on the peninsula, located approximately 210 km east of Puerto Plata, is called Santa Barbara de Samana, or Samana, for short, and is a port town that overlooks the country's largest bay, Bahia de Samana. The town was destroyed by fire in 1946 but was rebuilt to include a few large resorts, hotels, bars and restaurants. The majority of Samana's visitors come for the amazing Humback whale-watching excursions. During January through March, about ten thousand of these amazing creatures return to this area from the North Atlantic, to nurse their young and mate. Boat excursions from the town's port take groups just outside the bay to witness these incredible creatures frolic in the sea. National and international efforts have been undertaken to protect these incredible mammals in the warm waters of the Dominican Republic. Other excursions in Samana include walking the Bridge To Nowhere; a visit to Cayo Levantado , or 'Bacardi Island' - the island used in the famous 1970's Bacardi rum commercials; or to Playa Rincon, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the country.

Culture
A plethora of cultures have left their stamp on Dominican society. Traditional Taino foods and medicines are familiar today, and Taino words - like hammock and tobacco - still pepper the language. Spanish settlers gave the country their language, the Roman Catholic faith and a deep strain of machismo. Africans brought here as slaves brought their own faith, inextricably bound in the dominant European offering, as well as art and music. Even US troops left their mark - Dominicans love baseball. It is a heady mixture.

Music and dance is at the heart of Dominican culture. The most popular form is merengue, which will be blasted, full volume, almost anywhere you go in the country. A tad more pastoral is bachata, Dominican country music, with plenty of songs about heartbreak and loss. Salsa probably makes the third favorite musical type in the DR's holy trinity, though you'll find plenty of jazz, rock, hip-hop and just about anything else that'll keep your feet moving.

art scene is also quite healthy, thanks in no small part to dictator Rafael Trujillo. Creative freedom was not a hallmark of his reign, but the man did have a soft spot for painting. He founded the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes (National School of Fine Arts) in 1942, basically instituting the country's fine painting tradition. 'Primitive' art, which relies less on perspective and shading and more on color and action, is also popular; keep your eyes open for it. And to check out what's happening in edgier scenes, drop by the Museo de Arto Moderno in Santo Domingo.

Architecture is another important part of Dominican culture, from the well-preserved colonial Spanish buildings of Santo Domingo, the Americas' first European city, to the brightly colored farmhouses of the countryside. Color and style are ignored by no one in the DR, which makes for some very interesting sightseeing.

While in the Dominican Republic, remember that politeness and a polished appearance will get you farther in just about any situation. Whining or complaining, on the other hand, will make you look foolish and do nothing to change your situation. Roll with the punches, relax and enjoy yourself; after all, how often do you visit a tropical paradise?

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