Question: What is the first country due west of Puerto Rico?
Show answer
Dominican Republic.
The first country due west of Puerto Rico is the Dominican Republic. Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States, is located in the northeastern Caribbean Sea, east of the Dominican Republic. The two are part of the Greater Antilles, a group of larger islands in the Caribbean.
The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti to the west. This geographical positioning makes the Dominican Republic the nearest country to Puerto Rico when traveling directly westward across the Mona Passage, a strait that separates the two territories.
The Dominican Republic is known for its rich cultural heritage, which blends indigenous Taíno, African, and Spanish influences. It has a diverse landscape that includes mountain ranges, fertile plains, and tropical coastlines, making it a popular destination for tourists seeking both natural beauty and cultural experiences.
Historically, the Dominican Republic was the site of the first permanent European settlement in the Americas, established by Christopher Columbus during his first voyage in 1492. Santo Domingo, the nation’s capital, is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the New World and is home to numerous historical landmarks, including the first cathedral, university, and hospital in the Americas.
The relationship between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic is marked by geographical proximity and cultural ties. There is a significant exchange of people, goods, and cultural influences between the two. Both territories share a history of Spanish colonization, and Spanish is the predominant language in both regions.
Economically, the Dominican Republic has one of the largest and fastest-growing economies in the Caribbean and Central American region. Key industries include tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, and services. The country is known for its export of sugar, coffee, tobacco, and cocoa, and it attracts millions of tourists annually to its beaches, resorts, and historical sites.
