Geography of Hispaniola

The second-largest island in the West Indies, known in Spanish as La Espaola, is located in the Caribbean Sea and is part of the Greater Antilles. Politically, it is divided into the Republic of Haiti in the west and the Dominican Republic in the east. The island's largest length is about 400 miles (650 km) long, and its width is 150 miles (241 km). Its total size is 29,418 square miles (76,192 square km). The island was given the name La Isla Espaola (Hispaniola in its Anglicized form) by Christopher Columbus when he first arrived there in 1492. The island's location on the northern shore of the Caribbean Sea made it a prime spot for controlling Spanish colonial development into Cuba, Mexico, Panama, and South America.

The name Santo Domingo, which was given to the island during the colonial era in honour of the capital city (now the national capital of the Dominican Republic), is occasionally still used. Additionally, the entire island has been referred to as Haiti, which some believe is the pre-colonial term used by indigenous Indians (the Taino), who also named it Quisqueya. The two most renowned offshore islands of Hispaniola, Gonâve Island and Tortue (Tortuga Island), are among the relatively few.

Physical Features

Hispaniola is the second-largest island in the Caribbean (after Cuba), with a surface area of 76,192 square kilometres (29,418 square miles). The eastern portion of the island, which is 48,440 square kilometres (18,700 square miles) in size, is governed by the Dominican Republic, and the western portion, which is under the control of Haiti, is 27,750 square kilometres (10,710 square miles) in size. Cuba is 80 km (50 mi) away, the Cayman Islands and Navassa Island are to the northwest across the Windward Passage, and Jamaica is to the southwest, separated by the Jamaica Channel, at a distance of 190 km (118 mi).

Through the Mona Passage, Puerto Rico is located 130 km (80 km) east of Hispaniola. To the north are the Turks & Caicos Islands and the Bahamas. Cap Carcasse, its westernmost point, is well-known. The Greater Antilles are comprised of Cuba, the Cayman Islands, Navassa Island, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico. The West Indies and the Antilles both include Hispaniola.

There are five main mountain ranges on the island: The Central Range, also known as the Cordillera Central in the Dominican Republic, runs through the middle of the island and extends into northeastern Haiti, where it is known as the Massif du Nord. At 3,098 meters (10,164 feet) above sea level, Pico Duarte, the highest peak in the Antilles, is part of this mountain range. The Samaná Peninsula, part of the Cordillera Septentrional, juts out into the Atlantic Ocean from the northern tip of the Dominican Republic, parallel to the Central Range.

The Cibao Valley lowlands and the Atlantic coastal plains, which continue westward into Haiti as the Plaine du Nord (Northern Plains), divide the Cordillera Central and Cordillera Septentrional. The Cordillera Oriental, located in the country's east, is the lowest of the ranges.

Climate

The most diversified island of the Antilles, Hispaniola's temperature varies greatly as a result of its varied topography of mountains. The northeast trade winds are the most common winds across Hispaniola, with the exception of the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere. The southern coast, where some parts receive as little as 400 millimetres (16 in) of rainfall and have semi-arid temperatures, is in a clear rain shadow created by these winds, which also drop moisture on the northern mountains, as they do in Jamaica and Cuba.

Temperature fluctuations on the island rely on height and are far less pronounced than differences in rainfall. Average temperatures in lowland Hispaniola average 28 °C (82 °F), making it generally hotter and more humid. High levels of humidity during the day and a low temperature of 20 °C (68 °F) at night. Higher altitudes experience a steady drop in temperature, resulting in frosts on the highest peaks during the dry season, while maxima are no higher than 18 °C (64 °F).

Flora

Hispaniola is home to several bird species, as well as a variety of amphibian species. Insects and other invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, and mammals—both imported, introduced, non-native species, and invasive species—as well as other species that are endemic to the island include farm animals, transport animals, domestic animals, pets, and more. More than half of the original distribution of its ecoregions have been lost as a result of habitat destruction affecting the local fauna and some of the original animals being threatened, threatened with extinction, or completely extinct due to climate change, human hunting, habitat destruction due to various reasons, or becoming some of the animals being threatened by (introduced animals, not native animals, or invasive species).

Fauna

There are four separate ecoregions on the island. The Hispaniolan moist woods ecoregion, which is primarily in the lowlands but also extends up to 2,100 meters (6,900 feet) elevation, covers about 50% of the island, notably the northern and eastern parts. About 20% of the island is covered by the Hispaniolan dry woods ecoregion, which is located in the Cibao valley in the center-north of the island and in the rain shadow of the mountains in the island's south and west.

The 15% of the island that is mountainous and over 850 meters (2,790 feet) elevation is home to the Hispaniolan pine woods. Etang Saumatre and Trou Caman in Haiti and the neighbouring Lake Enriquillo in the Dominican Republic are the most significant lakes and lagoons that are surrounded by the ecoregion of flooded grasslands and savannas in the south-central part of the island.

Conclusion

Haiti and the Dominican Republic share Hispaniola, the second-largest island in the West Indies. There are mountain ranges, valleys, and coastal plains among its many natural characteristics. Due to the island's varied geography, temperature swings are impacted by height. Hispaniola is home to a wide range of plants and animals, while certain species have been harmed by habitat loss and human activity.

The island's ecoregions support both local and alien species and have distinctive habitats. Despite difficulties, Hispaniola remains an important and fascinating part of the Greater Antilles due to its rich biodiversity and natural characteristics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which nations are neighbours to Hispaniola?

Hepaniola is an island that is shared between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

What size does Hispaniola have?

The second-largest island in the West Indies, Hispaniola has a total area of 29,418 square miles (76,192 square kilometres).

What are Hispaniola's primary mountain ranges?

The tallest peak on Hispaniola, Pico Duarte, rises to a height of 3,098 meters (10,164 feet) and is located in the Central Range (Cordillera Central) and the Northern Range (Cordillera Septentrional).

How does the climate on Hispaniola change?

The island of Hispaniola has a diversified topography, which affects the climate's variations in temperature. Due to the effects of rain shadows, the southern coast suffers semi-arid conditions, while temperatures are lower at higher altitudes.

What is the distribution of the ecoregions on Hispaniola?

There are four primary ecoregions on Hispaniola: Hispaniolan moist woods, Hispaniolan dry woods, Hispaniolan pine woods, and in the south-central region of the island, flooded grasslands and savannas.