The Dominican Republic

1. The Dominican Republic A Geographic Overview Prepared by: Mr. M. Viola

2. Your Destination – San Jose de Ocoa

3. Your Destination – San Jose de Ocoa

4. Physical Geography - Climate • Tropical Maritime Climate • The D.R. Experiences a combination of these climates. • Tropical climate: A climate with continually high temperatures, and considerable precipitation during part of the year. • Maritime climate: A climate that is influenced by the moderating effects of the sea. A high moisture content is present in the air.

5. Physical Geography – Climate 2 • The temperature in the D.R. ranges between 25 and 32 degrees Celsius. • Note: that the moisture in the air due to marine influences lead to higher temperatures and humidity. • For most of the island, the rain season lasts from May to November.

6. Image of tropical climate

7. Physical Geography - Mountains • The D.R. has four mountain ranges, two of which are the major ones which extend across the island. • Cordillera Septentrional • runs parallel to the northern coast • There are several small plains that are between it and the coast • The Cordillera Central • This exists in the centre of the island and contains some of the highest mountains in the West Indies.

8. Mountain ranges

9. Mountain Range - Ocoa

10. Mountains – Puerto Plata

11. Physical Geography - Valleys • In between the mountain ranges there are a series of valleys. • These relatively flat low lands are the location in which food is grown. • The Cibao Valley – The largest valley on Haspanoila. • Most of the farming takes place within this valley that exists between the two mountain ranges.

12. Cibao Valley

13. Cibao Valley

14. Farming in Cibao Valley

16. Human Geography • Human Geography – What is it? • Answer: The branch of geography that studies how humans interact with the environment and how they are influenced by the environment. • Examples: Culture, economy, population, politics etc.

17. Demographics - Population • The 2007 population of the D.R. was approx. 9.7 million people. • Only 63% of the population lives in “urban areas” such as towns/cities. • The Capital city alone (Santo Domingo) is home to 3 million people. • The majority of the population (73%) is of a mixed racial heritage.

18. Demographics – Religion • The D.R. Is 95% Roman Catholic and was introduced by Columbus and Spanish missionaries. • The nation has two patron saints: • Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia (Our Lady Of High Grace) • Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes (Our Lady Of Mercy)

19. Economic Activity • A developing country that is primarily dependant on natural resources and government services. • Agriculture remains as a core source of jobs and food production for the island nation. • Primary economic activities: tourism, agriculture, mining • Santo Domingo (Capital) is the source of most of the D.R.’s GDP wealth.

20. Santo Domingo - Capital

21. Statistical Comparison • Fertility Rate (Amount of births per woman) Canada: 1.4 live births Dominican Republic: 3.1 live births What does this tell us about population growth?

22. Statistical Comparison 2 • Percentage of population under the age of 15: • Percentage of the population over age 65: • Canada: • 19 % under 15 • 13 % over 65 • Dominican Republic • 35 % under 15 • 5 % over 65 • What does this tell us about the age of their population?

23. Statistical Comparison 3 • Infant mortality rates: • (Amount of infant deaths per 1000) Canada: 5.5 /1000 Dominican Republic: 47/1000 What does this tell us about health care?

24. Statistical Comparison 4 • Human Development Index • The HDI is a more accurate measure of well being, going beyond GDP. • The HDI integrates measures of life expectancy, education/literacy and living standards into its rankings. • The closer to the value of one, the better the HDI. • The Dominican Republic’s HDI stands at 0.769 • Canada’s HDI stands at 0.967

25. Have a good & safe trip!!