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Welcome to Dominica on the Paradise
Islands website.
Dominica (not to be
confused with the
Dominican Republic)
is the most southerly of
the Caribbean Leeward
island chain, located
north of
Martinique and
south of
Guadeloupe. The
Commonwealth of Dominica
("Nature Isle of the
Caribbean") is a fairly
large island of around
290 square miles and a
population of 72,000.
The island is a
democracy within the
Commonwealth of Nations
(republic) after being
granted independence
from the United Kingdom
in 1978. |
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Dominica
was settled by the
Caribs in the fourteenth
century and they called
the island "Waitikubuli".
On Sunday November the
3rd 1493 Christopher
Columbus named the
island "Domenica" which
means 'Sunday' in
Italian. The Spanish
never settle on the
island and it remained
in the hands of the
Caribs until 1635 when
the French claimed the
island and French
missionaries settled
Dominica shortly after.
The British invaded the
island in 1761 and took
control despite failed
attempts by the French
in 1795 and 1805 to
regain control.
Independence was granted
in 1978. |
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Dominica's capital is
Roseau (population
15,000) on the eastern
coast and other large
settlement is Portsmouth
(population 3,000).
Roseau is the main
cruise port for visiting
ships. Portsmouth is the
second largest town and
lies at the mouth of the
Indian River in the
north of Dominica. Until
1760 it was the capital.
The main airport of
Melville Hall is not
large enough to
accommodate large jets
and connecting flights
link Dominica with the
nearby islands of Puerto
Rico, Antigua and
Barbados, etc.
The official language
spoken on the island is
English (and French
patois). The Eastern
Caribbean Dollar is the
official currency,
although travellers will
have no problem using US
dollars. |
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Dominica
is a mountainous
volcanic island with
lush rainforests, rivers
and a wealth of natural
beauty. It is said that
the island has 365
rivers and numerous
waterfalls. The tropical
rainforest is well
protected and the Morne
Trois Pitons National
Park is recognised as a
World Heritage Site. The
island doesn't have many
typical pristine white
sandy beaches associated
with many other islands
in the Caribbean;
however, Dominica has
"nature" as it's tourist
attraction. |
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Travel, holiday, vacation and
cruise
guide to Dominica and the Caribbean. All text and images are Copyright
Paradise Islands
org. All photographs on this Caribbean travel guide website are obtained with
the permission of the owners and come from various sources
including the islands tourist boards. Some of our own photos
maybe reproduced with permission - please see notes
attached to each image to avoid any copyright penalty. |
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Quick Facts
Capital
Roseau
Main Airport
Melville Hall
Main Port
Roseau
Language
English
Currency
Eastern
Caribbean
dollar
Government
Independent
Island Size
290
Square Miles
Population
72,000
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Cruise Port Guide |
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