Often referred to as “the paradise for hikers”, Dominica is an increasingly popular destination. Indeed, hikers will find local nature perfect for outdoor activities. Pristine rainforests, a boiling lake and awesome rivers are just some of natural attractions of the island. Dominica has also become a popular destination for scuba diving as its underwater world is no less beautiful. It is considered the best place in the Caribbean to see dolphins and whales.
Natural attractions remain the main attraction of the island. The Morne Trois Pitons National Park is added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This is the place where travelers will find tropical forests, picturesque volcanoes, lakes with freshwater, scenic valleys, hot springs and more than fifty fumaroles. Morne Trois Pitons volcano, the height of which is 1342 metres, is the biggest attraction of the park, but there are four more volcanoes there. The park occupies the area of more than 7000 hectares, which is, actually, quite a big part of whole Dominica. Rich flora and fauna make this national park even more valuable.
Continue your travel with a visit to the Emerald Pool. This is an incredibly green pool, which is formed below a 12m high waterfall. The pool, swimming in which is allowed, can be reached from the harbor or after a walk through a rainforest. While a ride on a ship to the harbor is easier, a walk will be more rewarding as during it it’s possible to see giant trees, amazing birds and other inhabitants of the tropics.
Roseau, the capital of the country, is conveniently located between the Caribbean Sea, the Bruce Mountain and the Roseau River. This is quite a small and cozy city, where guests will find French colonial buildings, charming restaurants and family-run hotels. Despite its size, the city offers a good choice of night clubs and other entertainment. The main landmarks of the area include Roman Catholic Cathedral, the Government House, Old Market Plaza and Botanical Gardens.
History and Entertainment
Before the Europeans reached the island, it had been populated by the belligerent Caribbean tribes. At the beginning of the 17th century, the island was visited by Frenchmen. In 1635, France officially proclaimed the island to be its colony. The colonization process constrained belligerent natives. For many years, they had resisted European colonizers.
Until the 18th century, France and Great Britain had competed for the right to possess the island but they did not manage to strengthen their positions in the new lands. In the second half of the 19th century, Great Britain achieved its purpose. In 1871, Dominica officially became a part of the Federation of the Leeward Islands. The island had been its part until 1936. Even when it had left the Federation, Dominica still was a colony of Great Britain.
In 1967, the island gained a right of the partial self-government. It gained complete independence in 1978. Nowadays, almost 74 000 people reside on the island and the most of them are engaged in the tourism sector. The backbone of the economy of the country is tourism and agriculture. Dominica is one of the global leaders in growing bananas.
