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It is noted that the Dominican Republic in the West Indies occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, that it shares with Haiti. Its location equals that of Vermont and New Hampshire combined. Duarte Peak, at 10,417 ft (3,175 m), is the highest point in the West Indies.

It is noted that the Dominican Republic covers two thirds of the Hispaniola Island, it shares the beauty of the island with Haiti. "It is noted that the most beautiful destination that human eyes have ever seen" is what Columbus said during the time he landed here in 1492. He was of course prejudiced, in desperate need of a modest success and hadn't seen any and all land for many time then, but there is still quite a bit of truth in this man's observation.

One of the originalthings the Spaniards did in this man's charming new discovery of his or hers is massacre all the inhabitants. Throughout 13 years 600,000 Taino indians were killed.

The Taino, a native Indian tribe, lived on the large island of Hispaniola, of which part is now called the Dominican Republic, since the 7th century. The Spanish, under the leadership of Christopher Columbus, arrived in 1492, and brought with them smallpox and other diseases, severely reducing the number of native inhabitants. The first settlement was established four years later and a plantation economy prospered, allowing the Spanish to use the island as a waypoint for Spanish domination of the area, until the end of the 18th century when the French took over the governance of Santo Domingo. Over the next several decades, political unrest found the country floundering economically, and many citizens fleeing to other areas. In 1861, a pact was signed with the Spanish government, voluntarily handing control over as a colonial island. This led to more political upheaval, including a war and two assassinations. In the early 20th century, the United States intervened politically and economically, with an eventual U.S. Marines occupation of the island in 1916. While opposed by the citizens, the U.S. brought stability, allowing a new government to be established. The U.S. left the area in 1924. In the mid to late 20th century, political firestorms were the norm on the island, with a stable economy developing only in the past 50 years.

The Dominican Republic enjoys a tropical climate with an annual average temperature of 77 degrees Fahrenheit. There is a “wet season” from May to November, with an annual rainfall of more than 59 inches. While rare, cyclones do occur, especially in the southern coastal region.

As the second largest Caribbean nation, the Dominican Republic claims a population of over 10 million people. The majority of citizens are classified as multiracial, with combinations including African, Taino Indian, and European ancestry. However, there is still a percentage of individuals who are Asian, German Jews, and a number of U.S. citizens living as expatriates.