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Dominica is a Caribbean Island. Belonging to the Lesser
Antilles group, it has an area of 754 km2. It
is located between the islands of Guadalupe in the north
and Martinique in the south, being bathed on the east
coast by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west coast by the
Caribbean Sea. The most important cities are Roseau, the
capital, with 20,200 inhabitants (2004), Portsmouth
(3,600 inhabitants), Marigot (2,900 inhabitants),
Atkinson (2,500 inhabitants) and Mahaut (2,400
inhabitants). The island is of volcanic origin and
extremely mountainous. The climate is tropical,
moderated by NE winds, with abundant rainfall throughout
almost the entire year.
Economy
Dominica is one of the poorest nations in the
Caribbean. This situation is due, in large part, to the
number of hurricanes that devastate the region. In 1979,
for example, a violent hurricane almost completely
devastated the island. About 75% of the population was
displaced and that year's agricultural exports were
completely destroyed.
Although the national economy recovered in the 1980s,
thanks to aid from the USA, the UK, Canada and the
United Nations, per capita income remains very
low. Agriculture is the most important economic
sector. The dominant crops are bananas, yams, cassava,
coconut, orange and cinnamon. Exports, especially to the
United Kingdom, Jamaica and Italy, include bananas,
coconut oil and fruit juices. Imports consist of food
products and metals that come almost exclusively from
the USA. The extractive industry is reduced to pumice
and volcanic ash. The industry produces coconut soap,
copra oil, rum, clothing, furniture, paintings and
cardboard boxes.
Environmental indicator: the value of carbon dioxide
emissions, per capita, (metric tons, 1999) is 1.1.
Population
The population is 68 910 inhabitants (est. 2006), which
corresponds to a population density of 91.55 inhab./km2. The
birth and death rates are, respectively, 15.27% and
6.73%. Average life expectancy is 74.87 years. The value
of the Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.776 and the
value of the Gender-adjusted Development Index (IDG) was
not assigned (2001). The main ethnic groups are black,
with 91%, and mestizo, with 6%. The religion with the
greatest expression is Catholic. The official language
is English, although Patois is also spoken, a dialect of
French origin.
History
Dominica's great geostrategic position has sparked
several conflicts between Britain and France. In 1805
the French left the island with an English compensation
of £ 12,000. In 1978 the island became an independent
member of the Commonwealth and created its own
constitution. In 1981 the political life of the
territory was shaken by two coups d'état. But stability
has returned and the country has become a multi-party
republic in which the prime minister rules with a
legislative assembly.
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| 1UpTravel.com - Maps of Dominica |
| See the political and shaded relief maps of this island
between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean.
Has a combined map of Dominica, Guadeloupe and
Martinique. |
| http://www.1uptravel.com/worldmaps/dominica.html |
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| Dominica - Caribbean Travel Guide |
| Map offers visitors a simple outline map of the island
with key population centers, and landmarks indicated. |
| http://www.caribbeantravel.com/cgi-bin/gb_msg.pl?msg=destina |
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| Dominica - MapQuest |
| Detailed map of this small island nation in the
Caribbean clearly shows towns, villages, and land
features, such as bays, and mountains. |
| http://www.mapquest.com/cgi-bin/ia_find?link=btwn/twn-map_at |
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| Dominica - Maps.com |
| Locate two different maps of the Caribbean island.
Includes more versions that are available for purchase. |
| http://www.maps.com/cgi-bin/magellan/Maps___Caribbean___Domi |
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| Dominica - Merriam-Webster Altas |
| Access a compact atlas of this small island nation, and
peruse a political map, learn country facts, and read a
historical summary. |
| http://www.m-w.com/maps/dominica.html |
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| Dominica - National Geographic Map Machine |
| Navigate through the shaded-relief map, and find towns,
rivers, and mountainous regions. Includes a brief
overview of what runs the economy. |
| http://plasma.nationalgeographic.com/mapmachine/index.html?i |
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| Dominica - WorldAtlas.com |
| Christopher Columbus landed on this Caribbean island in
1493. Read some other notable facts, and take a look at
the map. |
| http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/namerica/crbmaps/dominica.h... |
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