Geographic location of Dominica

The island of Dominica is located in the heart of the Lesser Antilles, 41 km north of Martinique. It is 46 km long, 25 km wide, and has a surface area of ​​754 km2.

Known as the nature island of the Caribbean or the island of 365 rivers, it shines with its natural heritage.

Geology and Landscape of Dominica

The island of Dominica was originally covered in dense primary oceanic forest sustained by high annual rainfall. Of relatively recent volcanic origin, the topography is characterized by steep slopes and deeply incised valleys. In fact, the island is the most rugged and mountainous in the Caribbean.

60% of its land area is forested, ranging from dry forest on the west coast to lush tropical rainforest in the interior. The interior is dotted with rivers, waterfalls, and lakes.
Its rugged topography creates numerous microclimates within very short distances. Influenced by the high moisture content of the air masses entering the region from the Atlantic Ocean, Dominica is an island with very high rainfall, ranging from 1,900 mm (along the coast) to 5,000 mm (inland) per year.

Rainfall originates on the leeward coast and moves eastward towards the center of the island under the influence of foehn winds. These make the country susceptible to landslides, particularly in mountainous regions.

The island has a rich and varied flora and fauna, which are influenced by its geography and history. The island boasts the most extensive natural forests in the entire Eastern Caribbean and the most diverse assemblage of wildlife in the Lesser Antilles. The vegetation is divided into seven communities, namely: coastal swamps, littoral forests, dry scrub, deciduous/semi-evergreen forests (including grassland and savannah subtypes), rain forests, montane rain forests, and elfin forests. Other natural vegetation types are influenced by soil conditions, including wetlands and fumarole vegetation.

Fauna

Dominica’s fauna includes:

• 179 species of birds
• 55 species of butterflies
• 20 species of crabs
• 11 species of crayfish and shrimp
• 3 species of amphibians
• 17 species of reptiles (4 snakes)
• 18 species of mammals
• 11 species of woodland insects
• approximately 45 species of fish

The ecological wealth of the island has been affected by the development of agriculture and banana plantations, as well as by the introduction of numerous exogenous species, sometimes becoming invasive.

Flora

Dominica has several plant species that are recorded as endemic, including Sabinea carinalis (Bwa Kwaib), Dominica’s national flower.

Dominica boasts a phenomenal plant diversity of approximately 155 families, 672 genera, and 1,226 species of vascular plants. The number of native species includes Pteridophytes (194), Gymnosperms (1), Monocotyledons (518), and Dicotyledons (1,445).