Welcome to Dominica, "the Nature Island of the Eastern Caribbean"
The Caribbean Island of Dominica (pronounced Dom -in-eek -a) is located between the two French islands of Martinique in the south and Guadeloupe in the north. Located approximately 15 degrees North and 61 degrees West. It is south of Puerto Rico and north of Barbados.
The official name of our island is the Commonwealth of Dominica,mostly used in official communique. The indigenous Carib Indians named the island, "Waitikubuli" which means, "Tall is her body", in the Carib language.
Dominica is one of only a couple islands in the Caribbean, with populations of the pre-Columbian Carib Indians. About 80% of the population is Roman Catholic. English is the official language, spoken with a melodic French lilt, but a large portion of the population speaks Kwèyòl (Creole), with a few northern villages speaking Kokoy.
The island is a rugged mass of towering mountains which runs through its center, almost like a backbone. It has defied the ravages of commercial exploitation and deforestation from the time of Columbus to today. At least 60% of this nature paradise is still covered by lush Tropical Oceanic Rainforest and other verdant vegetation. Water is one of the island's most abundant natural resources, numerous rivers gush out of the mountains to create spectacular water falls and gorges.
Dominica boasts three National Parks, one of which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the first UNESCO site in the Eastern Caribbean.
Dominica is celebrating it's 30th year of Independence on November 03, 2008.
For more information on Dominica, please visit, Discover Dominica at www.discoverdominica.com