Geography of the Dominican Republic

a beach in the Barahona province

This article details the geography of the Dominican Republic.

Location:: Caribbean, it occupies two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti
Geographic coordinates:: 19 00 N, 70 40 W
Map references:: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: Total: 48,730 km² Land: 48,380 km² Water: 350 km²

Coastline:: 1,288 km
Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: 24 nm Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 6 nm

Climate:: Tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall
Rivers:: Significant rivers include the Jimani River, Río Yaque del Norte, Río Jamao del Norte, Río Isabela and the Ozamas River
Terrain:: Rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed
Elevation extremes: Lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m Highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m

Natural resources:: Nickel, bauxite, gold, silver
Land use: Arable land: 21% Permanent crops: 9% Permanent pastures: 43% Forests and woodland: 12% Other: 15% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:: 2,300 km² (1993 est.)
Natural hazards:: Lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:: Water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation; Hurricane Georges damage
Environment - international agreements: Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution Signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:: Shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)