Capital: Santo Domingo.
Official Language: Spanish.
Form of Government: Republic. Head of state--President.
Area: 18,816 sq. mi. (48,734 sq. km). Greatest distances--east-west,
240 mi. (388 km); north-south, 170 mi. (274 km). Coastline--604
mi. (972 km).
Elevation: Highest--Duarte Peak, 10,417 ft. (3,175 m) above sea
level. Lowest--Lake Enriquillo, 150 ft. (46 m) below sea level.
Population: Estimated 1996 population--8,050,000; density, 428
persons per sq. mi. (165 per sq. km); distribution, 65 percent
urban, 35 percent rural. 1981 census--5,647,977. Estimated 2001
population--8,749,000.
Chief Products: Agriculture--avocados, bananas, cacao, coffee,
mangoes, rice, sugar cane, tobacco. Mining--gold, nickel.
Manufacturing--molasses, sugar.
National Anthem: "Himno Nacional."
Flag: A white cross divides the national flag, flown by the people,
into alternately red and blue quarters. Blue stands for liberty,
white for salvation, and red for the blood of heroes. The state
flag, used by the government, has the Dominican coat of arms in its
center.
Money: Basic unit--peso. For the price of the peso in U.S. dollars,
see MONEY (Table: Exchange Rates). See also PESO.
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