Dominica, or the Commonwealth of Dominica, is a self-governing island nation. Roseau, the capital, is situated on the island’s leeward side. It is a component of the Windward Islands in the Caribbean Sea’s Lesser Antilles archipelago. The island is located between Guadeloupe and Martinique, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. It covers an area of 750 square kilometers (290 square miles) and is topped by Morne Diablotins at a height of 1,447 metres (4,747 feet). At the time of the 2014 census, the population was 72,301.
The island was initially inhabited by the Kalinago and was subsequently colonized by Europeans, mostly the French, beginning in the 1690s, long after Columbus visited the island on Sunday, 3 November 1493; the island’s name is taken from the Latin for “Sunday.” Following the Seven Years’ War, Great Britain seized control in 1763 and eventually established English as the official language. In 1978, the island republic declared independence.
Its name is spoken with a strong emphasis on the third syllable, which corresponds to its French given name, Dominique. Dominica has been dubbed the Caribbean’s “Nature Isle” due to its pristine natural beauty. It is the Lesser Antilles’ youngest island, currently being created by geothermal-volcanic activity, as demonstrated by Boiling Lake, the world’s second biggest hot spring. The island is covered in beautiful mountainous rainforests and is home to a variety of endangered plant, animal, and bird species. While parts of the western coastal zones are xeric, significant rainfall occurs inland. The Sisserou parrot, sometimes known as the imperial amazon, is Dominica’s national bird and is shown on the island’s flag. The Dominican Republic’s economy is based on tourism and agriculture.
