Words: 435
History * The Taino – indigenous inhabitants of Hispaniola prior to the arrival of the Europeans – divided the island into five chiefdoms and territories. * Christopher COLUMBUS explored and claimed the island on his first voyage in 1492; it became a springboard for Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and the American mainland. * In 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821 but was conquered and ruled by the Haitians for 22 years; it finally attained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844 Music * The music of the Dominican Republic is known primarily for merengue, though bachata, salsa and other forms are also popular. * Merengue is a musical genre native to the Dominican Republic. * Swift beats from guira or maracas percussion sections, and drums such as the tambora. * The accordion is also common, and is mostly heard in merengue tipico. Other instruments influences by Cuban son and mambo music frequently include a piano, saxophone, trombone and trumpet. Geography Location:| | Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti| | | | | Climate:| | tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall| | | Terrain:| | rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed| | | | | Natural hazards:| | lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts| | | | Geography – note:| | shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti| | | Cuisine * Dominican cuisine is predominantly Spanish, Taino, and African. * The typical cuisine is quite similar to what can be found in other Latin American countries, but many of the names of dishes are different. * Lunch usually consists of rice, meat (such as chicken, beef, pork, or fish), beans, and a side portion of salad. * “La Bandera” (literally “The Flag”) is the most popular lunch dish; it consists of meat and red beans on white rice. * Sancocho??is a stew often made with seven varieties of meat. Tourism Tourism is fueling the Dominican Republic’s economic growth. For example, the contribution of travel and tourism to employment is expected to rise from 550,000 jobs in 2008 * With the construction of projects like Cap Cana, San Souci Port in Santo Domingo, and Moon Palace Resort in Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic expects increased tourism activity in the upcoming year. * Ecotourism has been a topic increasingly important in the nation, with towns like Jarabacoa and neighboring Constanza, and locations like the Pico Duarte, Bahia de Las Aguilas and others becoming more significant in efforts to increase direct benefits from tourism.