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Dominica
Last update: Saturday 11th of February 2012
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| Commonwealth of Dominica | |||||
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| Motto: "Après le Bondie, C'est la Ter" (Antillean Creole) "After God is the Earth" | |||||
| Anthem: Isle of Beauty, Isle of Splendour | |||||
 | |||||
| Capital (and largest city) | Roseau | ||||
| Official languages | English | ||||
| Government | Parliamentary democracy | ||||
| - President | Nicholas Liverpool | ||||
| - Prime Minister | Roosevelt Skerrit | ||||
| Independence | from the United Kingdom | ||||
| - Date | November 3, 1978 | ||||
| Area | |||||
| - Total | 751 km² (184th) 290 sq mi | ||||
| - Water (%) | 1.6 | ||||
| Population | |||||
| - August 2006 estimate | 71,727 (201st1) | ||||
| - 2003 census | 71,727 | ||||
| - Density | 105 /km² (95th) 272 /sq mi | ||||
| GDP (PPP) | 2005 estimate | ||||
| - Total | $468 million (177th) | ||||
| - Per capita | $6,520 (91st) | ||||
| HDI (2004) |  0.793 (medium) (68th) | ||||
| Currency | East Caribbean dollar (XCD) | ||||
| Internet TLD | .dm | ||||
| Calling code | +1-767 | ||||
| 1 Rank based on 2005 UN estimate. | |||||
Dominica is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea. It should not be confused with the Dominican Republic, another Caribbean nation. The name is pronounced . In Latin the name means "Sunday", which was the day of its discovery by Columbus.
The official name is Commonwealth of Dominica. Dominica's pre-Columbian name was Wai'tu kubuli, which means "Tall is her body" The indigenous people of the island, the Caribs, have a territory which resembles the Indian reserves of Canada. Because the island went through a period of French occupation, and lies between two French overseas departments (Guadeloupe to the north and Martinique to the south), the island is sometimes called "French Dominica". It also has the nickname "The Nature Isle of the Caribbean" due to its seemingly unspoiled natural beauty.
The isle of Dominica is one of the youngest islands in the Lesser Antilles, and it is still being formed by geothermal-volcanic activity. It is a lush island of mountainous rainforests, home of many rare plant, animal and bird species. There are xeric areas in some of the western coastal regions but heavy rainfall can be expected inland. The Sisserou parrot is featured on the Dominica flag. Dominica's economy is heavily dependent on both tourism and agriculture.