Dominica
Commonwealth of Dominica | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms
| |
| Motto:"Après Bondie, C'est La Ter"(Antillean Creole) "After God is the Earth" "Après le Bon Dieu, c'est la Terre" | |
| Anthem:Isle of Beauty, Isle of Splendour | |
 | |
| Capital and largest city | Roseau 15°18′N61°23′W/ 15.300°N 61.383°W |
| Official languages | English |
| Recognised national languages | |
| Ethnic groups (2001) | Black 86.8% Mixed 8.9% Carib Amerindian 2.9% White 0.8% Other 0.7%[1] |
| Demonym(s) | Dominican |
| Government | Parliamentary republic |
| Sylvanie Burton[2] | |
| Roosevelt Skerrit | |
| Independence | |
• from theUnited Kingdom | 3 November 1978 |
| Area | |
• Total | 790 km2(310 sq mi) (184th) |
• Water (%) | 1.6 |
| Population | |
• July 2009 estimate | 72,660 (195th) |
• 2011 census | 71,293 |
• Density | 105/km2(271.9/sq mi) (95th) |
| GDP(PPP) | 2011 estimate |
• Total | $977 million[3] |
• Per capita | $13,815[3] |
| GDP(nominal) | 2011 estimate |
• Total | $489 million[3] |
• Per capita | $6,909[3] |
| HDI(2007) |  0.724high·73rd |
| Currency | East Caribbean dollar(XCD) |
| Time zone | UTC–4(Eastern Caribbean) |
| Driving side | left |
| Calling code | +1-767 |
| ISO 3166 code | DM |
| Internet TLD | .dm |
| |
The Commonwealth of Dominicais an island nation in the Caribbean Sea. It is an English-speaking country.[4]It is between theFrench-speaking territories ofGuadeloupeandMartinique.The island is 751 km² (290 mi²) in area.Roseauis its capital. Portsmouth is another main town. Almost 70,000 people live on the island.
Thecurrencyof the island is theEast Caribbean dollar.
The island's name comes from theLatinforSunday,Dies Dominica.It is not theSpanish-speakingDominican Republicin theGreater Antilles.
The country isnicknamedtheNature Island of the Caribbean.
Dominica is most famously depicted inJean Rhys' classicprequeltoJane Eyre,Wide Sargasso Sea.
History[change|change source]
The indigenous Carib people lived in Dominca before it was found by Europeans. They called itWai‘tu kubuli,which means "Tall is her body."
Christopher Columbuscame to Dominica in 1493. In 1763, it became a territory of theUnited Kingdomfrom which itsindependencewas received on 3 November 1978.
In August 1979,Hurricane David,wiped out its entireinfrastructure.On 21 November 2004, the island was hit by its most destructiveearthquakein history; Portsmouth and the northern area were deeply affected.
On 18 September 2018, Hurricane Maria, the most powerful storm to hit the island, severely damaged its infrastructure and cut off all its communications to the outside world. The Assessment Capacities Project estimates that the hurricane has caused $1.37 billion in losses across the island, which is equal to 226 percent of its 2016 GDP. As of April 12, there are 65 fatalities confirmed across the island, including 34 who are missing and presumed to be dead.[5]
In 1980,DameEugenia Charlesbecame its prime minister, the first female government leader in the West Indies.
Geography[change|change source]
Dominica is anisland nationin theCaribbean Sea.It is the northernmost of theWindward Islands.
Dominica is largely covered byrainforest.It is home to the world's second-largesthot spring,Boiling Lake.[6]
Morne Trois Pitons National Parkis a tropical forest with scenic volcanic features. It was recognised as aWorld Heritage Siteon 4 April 1995.[7]
Administrative divisions[change|change source]
Dominica is divided into 10 parishes, given below with their 2011 Census populations:
- Saint Andrew Parish(9,471)
- Saint David Parish(6,043)
- Saint George Parish(21,241)
- Saint John Parish(6,561)
- Saint Joseph Parish(5,637)
- Saint Luke Parish(1,668)
- Saint Mark Parish(1,834)
- Saint Patrick Parish(7,622)
- Saint Paul Parish(9,786)
- Saint Peter Parish(1,430)
Sports[change|change source]
Cricketis a popular sport on the island. Dominica competes intest cricketas part of theWest Indies cricket team.
Netball,basketball,rugby,tennisandassociation footballare gaining popularity as well.
Gallery[change|change source]
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Scotts Head, Dominica -
Charlotteville, Dominica -
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Karibik - Our Lady of Fair Haven Cathedral
Related pages[change|change source]
References[change|change source]
- ↑"Dominica Ethnic groups 2001 Census".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-01-30.Retrieved2012-05-25.
- ↑"Office of the President".Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica.Retrieved17 December2016.
- ↑3.03.13.23.3"Dominica".International Monetary Fund.Retrieved2012-04-18.
- ↑The Commonwealth Website
- ↑"Hurricane Maria".Wikipedia.2018-11-03.
- ↑"Disaster Officials Issue Warning as Things Cool Down At Dominica's Boiling Lake".Caribbean 360. November 22, 2016. Archived fromthe originalon 27 November 2016.Retrieved17 December2016.
- ↑"Morne Trois Pitons National Park by World Heritage Sites".Whc.unesco.org.Retrieved16 December2016.
Other websites[change|change source]
- Dominica in the NewsArchived2021-07-04 at theWayback Machine
- SaKaFeteArchived2005-08-19 at theWayback Machine
- Official Tourism WebsiteArchived2018-09-14 at theWayback Machine
- World Creole Music FestivalArchived2017-09-18 at theWayback Machine
Media related toDominicaat Wikimedia Commons
