Barahona (city)

Barahona
Santa Cruz de Barahona
Google Earth image of Barahona.
Barahona
Coordinates:
Country  Dominican Republic
Province Barahona
Founded 1802
Municipality since 1858
Area[1]
 • Total 163.02 km2 (62.9 sq mi)
Elevation[2] 10 m (33 ft)
Population (2010)[3]
 • Total 185,174
 • Density 1,135.9/km2 (2,942/sq mi)
 • Demonym Barahonero(a)
Municipal Districts 3

Barahona, also known as 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 centre of sugar production and industry.

Contents

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.[4] 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.

Climate

Climate data for Barahona
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 28
(82)
28
(82)
28
(83)
28
(83)
29
(84)
29
(85)
31
(87)
31
(87)
30
(86)
29
(85)
29
(85)
28
(83)
29.1
(84.3)
Average low °C (°F) 23
(73)
23
(73)
24
(75)
25
(77)
26
(78)
27
(80)
27
(80)
27
(80)
26
(78)
26
(78)
24
(76)
23
(73)
24.9
(76.8)
Precipitation mm (inches) 36
(1.4)
36
(1.4)
33
(1.3)
64
(2.5)
180
(7.1)
188
(7.4)
46
(1.8)
76
(3)
135
(5.3)
218
(8.6)
89
(3.5)
25
(1)
1,125
(44.3)
Source: Weatherbase [5]

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").

Notable natives and residents

References

  1. ^ Superficies a nivel de municipios, Oficina Nacional de Estadistica
  2. ^ De la Fuente, Santiago (1976) (in Spanish). Geografía Dominicana. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: Editora Colegial Quisqueyana. 
  3. ^ Censo 2002 de Población y Vivienda, Oficina Nacional de Estadistica
  4. ^ López Reyes, Oscar (1999) (in Spanish). Historia del desarrollo de Barahona: Narración e interpretación. Santo Domingo: Mediabyte. 
  5. ^ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Barahona, Dominican Republic". Weatherbase. 2011. http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=28487&refer=wikipedia.  Retrieved on November 24, 2011.