Barahona Guide

Barahona or Santa Cruz de Barahona

Santa Cruz de Barahona is the main city of the Barahona Province, in the south of the Dominican Republic.

It is one of the most important cities on the island, with a very active port and many ecotourism attractions.

The city is also a center of sugar production and industry.

Population

The municipality had, in 2002, a total population of 77,698: 38,093 men and 39,605 women. The urban population was 96.76% of the total population, one of the most urban municipality in the country.
In this numbers are included the population of the municipal districts La Guázara and Villa Central.

Barahona Guide

Satellite view of Barahona

History

Since the 18th century, the region was occupied by fishermen and people that came here to cut trees. When Toussaint L’Ouverture took the eastern part of the Hispaniola island in the name of France, he gave the order to create the town of Barahona in 1802 as part of the Ozama Department.
After the Independence in 1844, Barahona was a military post of the Azua Province.

In 1858, Barahona was elevated to the category of municipality. When the province was created in 1881, Barahona was made its head municipality.

Economy

The main economic activity of the province is agriculture; the main product in the municipality is a very good coffee (Barahona Type Coffee), grown in the mountains of Eastern Bahoruco.

There are also some important industries, mainly to produce textiles to send to other countries, and sugar in the Ingenio Barahona (Barahona Sugar Factory).

Tourism

The incredible natural environment includes mountains, lakes, interesting vegetation, and gorgeous coastline. The remote and hidden beaches are the prettiest you’ll see in the Dominican Republic.
A bigger attraction are the three national parks.

The largest protected area in the country, Parque National Jaraqua, contains Laguna Oviedo, which is home to home to over 60 bird species, including the countries largest population of flamingos.
Parque National Isla Cabritos, contains Lago Enriquillo, the largest salt water lake in the Antilles, located 45 meters below sea level, home of the American Crocodile.

Parque Nacional Sierra de Baoruco is a mountainous park with rainforest vegetation. It is within this park that you can also visit the Larimar mines, which are located 40 km south of Barahona.

Source : Wikipedia/Hipaniola