| FishBase | Complete | Literature | Reference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Families | Species | Families | |||
| Marine | 489 | 115 | No | |||
| Freshwater | 45 | 17 | No | |||
| Total | 534 | 126 | No | |||
| Conservation | Current water use is low relative to available resources, and deforestation has led to an increase in flash flooding. The rate of deforestation is quite high and is made more serious because most of it occurs in primary forest areas. The loss of trees has caused erosion and siltation of surrounding coral reefs. More than 22 per cent (1992) of the land area is officially protected in some way. The following information is to be sought: - Status of knowledge of the freshwater fauna; - Existence of conservation plans; - Information on major aquatic habitats or sites within the country; - Current major threats to species; - Future potential threats to species; - Contact(s) for further information. |
| Geography and Climate |
The Dominican Republic is located in the northern Caribbean Sea, comprising the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola. The Atlantic Ocean borders the country on the north; the Mona Passage on the east separates it from Puerto Rico; the Caribbean Sea forms its southern border; and Haiti is on the west, sharing about 315 kilometres (about 195 miles) of borderland. A number of adjacent islands, Isla Beata and Isla Saona, for example, are possessions of the Dominican Republic.
The Dominican Republic is a fertile, well-watered, mountainous country. About 80 per cent of it is covered with a series of massive mountain ranges, extending from northwest to southeast. Between the Cordillera Central and the Cordillera Septentrional, a parallel range to the north, is the Valle del Cibao, one of the most fertile and best-watered areas of the country.
The Dominican Republic has a subtropical climate, tempered by the prevailing easterly winds. Temperatures of more than 23°C are registered in the lowlands throughout the year. During the summer months, temperatures range between 27° and 35°C in these regions. The highlands are considerably cooler. Annual precipitation averages about 1,525 mm, but there is considerably more moisture in the mountainous areas of the north. The wet season is from June to November. There are occasional tropical hurricanes. Ref. Microsoft, 1996 |
| Hydrography |
Among important rivers are the Río Yaque del Norte, Río Yuma, and Río Camú in the north and the Río Yaque del Sur, Río Ozama and Río Soco in the south. The principal lake is the saltwater Lake Enriquillo, about 43 km long.
© 1988-1996 Microsoft and/or its suppliers. All rights reserved. Ref. Microsoft, 1996 |