Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a Caribbean country on the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antilles. It covers the eastern five-eighths of the island, shared with Haiti, which makes Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands, together with Saint Martin, shared by two independent states. In terms of territory, the Dominican Republic is the second largest state in the Antilles after Cuba. The capital and largest city of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo lies on the south coast. Dominican Republic ranks first in the Caribbean for biodiversity. All climatic zones are represented on the island, with the exception of the eternal snowbelt, with tropical jungles and extensive pine forests in the mountains. More than 12% of the country's total land area is protected, with 14 national parks and 9 nature reserves. Of the 5600 plant species on the island 36% are endemic. There are no large mammals or predators on the island. The relatively small size of the island and the isolated geological development are responsible for the unusually low number of mammals. However, here you can see the "winter" whale mating. They occur every year between January and March on the Dominican coast. It is estimated that up to 3,000 whales breed here each year. Weighing around 40 tons and measuring 15-20 meters, these giants can be seen from tens of meters away. The national park at Lake Enriquillo is home to one of the last wild colonies of the American Crocodile, and there are also many iguanas on the shore and on the island in the middle of the lake.