Location & Physical Description

Map of Dominica’s Location in the Caribbean

The Commonwealth of Dominica, located in the Eastern Caribbean, is the largest and most northerly of the Windward Islands. It lies 1,400 miles south of Miami, at latitude 15° north and longitude 61° west, and between the French Overseas Departments (DOMS) of Guadeloupe and Martinique. Dominica is approximately 29 miles long and 16 miles at its widest point; it area is 289.5 sq. miles. The island’s coordinates are 15.20N, 61.19W Dominica is the dividing point of the Caribbean islands’ Windward Islands to the west and the Leeward islands to the east. The highest point is Morne Diablotin at 4,747ft. Dominica has some of the richest mountain rainforest in the Caribbean.

Dubbed “The Nature Island of the Caribbean”, this rugged landscape of blue-green slopes, rushing streams, waterfalls, and cloud-drenched mountain peaks, rises to almost 5000 ft. giving the island a legendary beauty. Dominica is volcanic in origin with rich fertile soil and abundant tropical rain forests. Dominica’s Morne Trois Pitons National Park has been inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, and is home to one of the largest boiling lakes in the world.

Terrain

The majority of the island is covered by densely wooded mountains and rain-forest. The overall terrain is very steep, and extremely rugged.

Dominica’s beaches generally consist of shimmering black sand or rocks. There are few expansive beaches. The island has over 360 rivers. There are 9 volcanoes on the Dominica …none display the distinct cone shape top generally associated with volcanoes. There have been few noticeable eruptions for centuries.