This page will gradually fill up over time and I may add additional pages as required by my
long-winded commentaries about the History, the people, the politics, the geography and the
economy of the Dominican Republic.
To begin with, the Dominican Republic is not to be confused with the Island of Dominicana ,
which lies well to the East in the island chain known as the Windward and Leeward Islands in
the Atlantic Ocean.
The Dominican Republic occupies about 2/3 of the large Island of Hispaniola, just Southeast of
Cuba, in the Caribbean Sea. The Western 1/3 of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, while
the remainder is occupied by the Dominican Republic.
long-winded commentaries about the History, the people, the politics, the geography and the
economy of the Dominican Republic.
To begin with, the Dominican Republic is not to be confused with the Island of Dominicana ,
which lies well to the East in the island chain known as the Windward and Leeward Islands in
the Atlantic Ocean.
The Dominican Republic occupies about 2/3 of the large Island of Hispaniola, just Southeast of
Cuba, in the Caribbean Sea. The Western 1/3 of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, while
the remainder is occupied by the Dominican Republic.
I'll preface this section with the disclaimer that I am not a historian. I will do my best to report
the facts as best I can and hope you, the reader, will bear with me. If you detect errors, please
notify me by Email and I will make such corrections as are warranted for accuracy's sake. I have
no desire to be accused of rewriting history. Enough of that has already been done by others.
The Island of Hispaniola was discovered by Christopher Columbus on his first voyage, after
having discovered the Islands of the Bahamas and Cuba.
The flagship Santa Maria was destroyed by the reefs on the North Coast of Hispaniola near
present day Cap Haitian. Columbus established the temporary colony of "La Navidad" from the
extra crew members of the party, which, at this point, were too numerous to be carried by the Nina
and Pinta.
From this point, Columbus proceeded Eastward, exploring the North Coast of Hispaniola.
The Nina and Pinta departed from Samana Bay and proceeded back to Spain.
Upon discovering, during his second voyage, that the people he had left at La Navidad had all
been eliminated by the natives, Columbus then established a colony at "La Isabela", about 30
kilometers west of the present village of Luperon on the North Coast of present day Dominican
Republic.
The maps below are an approximation of Columbus's first and second voyages and the
route(s) shown are a rendition from his ship's log and are somewhat vague in accuracy.
These maps are in "Thumbnail" form and may be expanded by "double-clicking" on them.
the facts as best I can and hope you, the reader, will bear with me. If you detect errors, please
notify me by Email and I will make such corrections as are warranted for accuracy's sake. I have
no desire to be accused of rewriting history. Enough of that has already been done by others.
The Island of Hispaniola was discovered by Christopher Columbus on his first voyage, after
having discovered the Islands of the Bahamas and Cuba.
The flagship Santa Maria was destroyed by the reefs on the North Coast of Hispaniola near
present day Cap Haitian. Columbus established the temporary colony of "La Navidad" from the
extra crew members of the party, which, at this point, were too numerous to be carried by the Nina
and Pinta.
From this point, Columbus proceeded Eastward, exploring the North Coast of Hispaniola.
The Nina and Pinta departed from Samana Bay and proceeded back to Spain.
Upon discovering, during his second voyage, that the people he had left at La Navidad had all
been eliminated by the natives, Columbus then established a colony at "La Isabela", about 30
kilometers west of the present village of Luperon on the North Coast of present day Dominican
Republic.
The maps below are an approximation of Columbus's first and second voyages and the
route(s) shown are a rendition from his ship's log and are somewhat vague in accuracy.
These maps are in "Thumbnail" form and may be expanded by "double-clicking" on them.
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| Dominican Republic History |
Approximate track of the first Voyage of Columbus
This represents a blow-up of the track taken by
Columbus in his exploration of the Caribbean. The
pink line is an approximation of the track taken by
the Pinta.
Columbus in his exploration of the Caribbean. The
pink line is an approximation of the track taken by
the Pinta.
Representation of the Second Voyage of Columbus.
It was during this voyage that he dscovered the
elimination of the colony at "La Navidad" and
subsequently established the colony of "La Isabela"
near the present village of Luperon.
It was during this voyage that he dscovered the
elimination of the colony at "La Navidad" and
subsequently established the colony of "La Isabela"
near the present village of Luperon.