The Dominican Republic (lang-esRep�blica Dominicana, IPA-esre?pu?lika �omini?kanapron) is a nation on the island of Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries (List of divided islands). Both by area and population, the Dominican Republic is the second largest Caribbean nation (after Cuba), with convert48442km2 and an estimated 10 million people.

Inhabited by Ta�nos since the seventh century, the territory of the Dominican Republic was reached by Christopher Columbus in 1492 and became the site of the first permanent European settlement (European colonization of the Americas) in the Americas, namely Santo Domingo, the countrys capital and Spains first capital in the New World. In Santo Domingo stand, among other firsts in the Americas, the first university (Universidad Aut�noma de Santo Domingo), cathedral (Catedral de Santa Mar�a la Menor), and castle (Alc�zar de Col�n), the latter two in the Ciudad Colonial (Ciudad Colonial (Santo Domingo)) area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After three centuries of Spanish rule, with French and Haitian interludes, the country became independent in 1821 but was quickly taken over by Haiti (Haitian occupation of Santo Domingo). Victorious in the Dominican War of Independence in 1844, Dominicans experienced mostly political turmoil and a brief return to Spanish rule over the next 72 years. The United States occupation of 1916-1924, and a subsequent, calm and prosperous six-year period under Horacio V�squez Lajara (Horacio V�squez), were followed by the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina (Rafael Trujillo) until 1961. The civil war of 1965, the countrys last, was ended by a U.S.-led intervention (1965 United States occupation of the Dominican Republic), and was followed by the authoritarian rule of Joaqu�n Balaguer, 1966ndash1978. Since then, the Dominican Republic has moved toward representative democracy, and has been led by Leonel Fern�ndez for most of the time after 1996.

The Dominican Republic has the second largest economy in the Caribbean. Though long known for sugar production, the economy is now dominated by services. The countrys economic progress is exemplified by its advanced telecommunication system. Nevertheless, unemployment, government corruption, and inconsistent electric service remain major Dominican problems. The country also has "marked income inequality".

International migration greatly affects the country, as it receives and sends large flows of migrants. Haitian immigration and the integration of Dominicans of Haitian descent are major issues; the total population of Haitian origin is estimated to be 800,000. A large Dominican diaspora exists, most of it in the United States, where it comprises 1.3 million. They aid national development as they send billions of dollars to their families, accounting for one-tenth of the Dominican GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

The Dominican Republic has become the Caribbeans largest tourist destination; the countrys year-round golf courses are among the top attractions. In this mountainous land is located the Caribbeans highest mountain, Pico Duarte, as is Lake Enriquillo, the Caribbeans largest lake and lowest elevation. Quisqueya, as Dominicans often call their country, has an average temperature of convert26�C�F1lk=in and great biological diversity.

Music and sport are of the highest importance in Dominican culture, with merengue (Merengue music) as the national dance and song and baseball the favorite sport.