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Location - The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern five-eighths of Hispaniola, an island it shares with Haiti, which occupies the western three-eighths of the island.

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Oceans - The nation's shores are met by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south.

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Discovery - Christopher Columbus first landed in Santo Domingo on December 5, 1492. The region then became the first European colony in the 'New World.'

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Second largest in the Caribbean - With 76,000 sq km, the island is the second largest in the Caribbean region, smaller only than Cuba.

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Origin behind the name - The country was named after Saint Dominic de Guzmán, the Spanish Catholic saint who founded the Dominican Order.

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Name change - For much of its history, the Dominican Republic was called Santo Domingo. It was not until the 18th century that it came to be called by its current name.

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Spanish domain - The country was dominated by the Spaniards for centuries and was even invaded by Haiti. But it returned to Spanish rule soon after and only became an independent nation in 1865.

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Religion - Most Dominicans are Catholic. Religion is such a fundamental aspect of its culture that the country's coat of arms bears a Bible, a cross, and a ribbon with the national motto: 'God, Fatherland, Freedom.'

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University - The Americas' first university was founded in Santo Domingo in 1538.

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Most sought-after beach - Punta Cana, located in the district of La Altagracia, is one of the country's most visited places.

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Meaning of the name - The name Punta Cana derives from the amount of sugarcane found in this region, which is located on the tip of the island.

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Most populated cities - Among its most populated cities are: Santo Domingo, Santiago de los Caballeros, Santo Domingo Norte, Santo Domingo Este, and San Felipe de Puerta Plata. But Santo Domingo is home to over a third of the country's population.

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The capital - Santo Domingo was founded in 1496 by the Spanish and is one of the oldest cities in America.

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Attractions - Among Santo Domingo's many attractions include the tomb containing the supposed remains of Christopher Columbus and the city's colonial architecture, considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

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Best time to go - High season runs from December through April and the season of heavy storms and windstorms runs from June through November, with most storms occurring in August.

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Larimar - This rare blue variety of the silicate mineral pectolite is found only in the Dominican Republic. 

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Dominican dolls - These traditional dolls are known for having no face.

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Mamajuana - This typical Dominican drink is made with herbs, honey, wine, and rum. Locals say Mamajuana can alleviate flu, is good for digestion, improves blood circulation, and can be used as a tonic for the kidneys and liver.

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Typical food - One of the typical dishes of the region is the Bandera Dominicana, a combination of red kidney beans, rice, strips of beef or chicken, salad, avocado, and fried plaintain.

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Typical seasoning - In Dominican cuisine, rice accompanied by beans, salad and meat is very popular. In addition, cilantro is used in abundance when it comes to seasoning the food.

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A matter of rhythm - The Dominican Republic's most popular music is merengue.

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Carnaval - Yes, the Dominican Republic celebrates carnaval! This is the most important celebration of Dominican popular culture.

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Carnavals - There are two types of carnaval celebrations: Carnestolendas, which has Spanish origins and is celebrated before the beginning of Lent; and the Cimarron, which is usually celebrated in the last days of Holy Week, and has its origins in African traditions.

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Currency - The country's official currency is the Dominican Peso (DOP), and $1 is approximately $46.54 DOP.

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Traffic - Traffic in the Dominican Republic can be chaotic. The roads lack signs and many drivers disregard local laws.

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Language - Spanish is the country's official language, but in tourist places and resorts, it's common to hear English. 

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Watch out for the water! - It's important to remember that tap water isn't safe to drink. 

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Popular sport - Baseball is the country's most popular sport. 

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Golf - Golf is also another popular sport in the Dominican Republic. Some of the Caribbean's best golf courses can be found there. 

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Personalities - Speaking of sports, baseball is so popular in the region that many world famous baseball players hail from the island nation.

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David Ortíz - He is a former Dominican baseball player who played for the Boston Red Sox from 2003 to 2016.

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Juan Marichal - Marichal is a former Dominican pitcher who played for Major League Baseball.

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Robinson Canó - He is a baseball player who currently plays for the Seattle Mariners in the Major League Baseball. He also played for the New York Yankees, the 2009 World Series champion.

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Sammy Sosa - Better known as Sammy Sosa, he is a former baseball player who played for four Major League Baseball teams from 1989 to 2007.

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Marcos Díaz - The Dominican swimmer is the first athlete to unite all the world's five continents by swimming. He achieved that feat 2010. (photo: CC BY 2.0)

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Amelia Vega - The country also stands out in the fields of beauty and entertainment. In 2003, Vega became the first Dominican to be named Miss Universe. 

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Andrés García - The Dominican actor is well known in Latin America and in the United States, especially among the Hispanic community.

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Charytín - She is a singer, actress, TV personality, and businesswoman who has recorded more than 16 albums, made two films, and written one novel, in addition to her 90s TV program 'The Charityn Show.'

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Juan Luis Guerra - The Dominican composer, singer, and music producer is also very popular in the Americas.

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Oscar de la Renta - Óscar Arístides Ortiz de la Renta Fiallo, best known as Oscar de la Renta, was fashion designer who later became a naturalized American citizen. 

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