Sosúa | |
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— Municipality — | |
Puerto Plata | |
Sosúa beach | |
Sosúa
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Coordinates: | |
Country | Dominican Republic |
Province | Puerto Plata |
Area[1] | |
• Total | 276.89 km2 (106.9 sq mi) |
Population (2002)[2] | |
• Total | 44,938 |
• Density | 162.3/km2 (420.3/sq mi) |
• Urban | 9,032 |
Municipal districts | 2 |
Distance to – Santo Domingo |
240 km (150 mi) |
Website | www.sosua.gob.do |
Sosúa is a small town in the Puerto Plata province of the Dominican Republic. Located approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) from the Puerto Plata International Airport (POP), the town is accessed primarily by Camino Cinco, or Highway 5, which runs much of the length of the country's North coastline. The town is divided into three sectors: El Batey, which is the main section where most tourists visit, Sosúa Abajo, and Los Charamicos.
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At the 1938 Evian Conference Rafael Trujillo offered to accept up to 100,000 Jewish refugees; about 800 German and Austrian Jewish refugees received visas by the Dominican government between 1940 and 1945 (see Dominican Jews) and settled in Sosua.[3] The government provided them with land and resources with which they created a dairy and cheese factory, named Productos Sosúa, still in existence today. Descendants of the original settlers still live in Sosua, where they maintain a synagogue and a museum.
The town was little known until tourism took off in the island in the mid 80's.
Sosua Abajo, which translates roughly to "Lower Sosua", is located on the western side of Sosua in a valley nearby a river that flows into Sosua Bay. Mainly a rural area of Sosúa, Sosua Abajo houses many of the workers who commute to the El Batey area, nearby Cabarete Bay and Playa Dorada.
The Barrio of Los Charamicos is situated between El Batey and Abajo, and is a densely populated urban area known for its nightlife, dancing, and bar scene. In 1988 actor George Rose was murdered here by his adopted son and the son's uncle.
The North Coast of the Dominican Republic has been a top tourist destination for Europeans for nearly three decades. There is a very large expatriate community in Sosua, which consists of mostly German, British, American, and Canadian expats.
Sosua Bay attracts many water sports enthusiast, including snorkelers and divers because of its sheltered, calm waters, diverse species of fish and intricate reef structures. In the winter, whale watching is also a popular tourist activity in Sosua Bay.
Recently, naturally occurring beach nourishment has created a new beach just north of Sosua Bay, depositing sand where there were previously only sheer rock cliffs. The beach bears both the names Playa Alicia, and Playa Casa Marina because of the hotel in close proximity that bears the same name.
There are several other beaches, Sosua Beach, which is a crescent-shaped bay protected by coral formations and clear waters for divers and snorkelers. Sosua's other beaches are Waterfront (also called cul de sac), Paradise beach (actually shifts on and off every several months), Playa Imbert and Playa Chiquita. Waterfront beach is only 9 years old, created after a storm around 2002. There is also sport fishing. A very large population of expatriots share their culture and mingle with locals and foreigners.