Place details
Place nameDominican Republic
Other namesRepública Dominicana, République dominicaine, Dominikanische Republik, DOM, DM, ISO626, DR00, Santo Domingo, Dominican
Latitude19
Longitude-70.667
SourceThesaurus of Geographic Names
Overview
Comprises E section of Hispaniola island (W section is Haiti) & smaller islands; area was inhabited by Caribs, who had conquered Arawaks, when Columbus arrived in 1492; part of Spanish colony of Hispaniola through 17th cen.; held by French 1785-1809; official language is Spanish.