Dominica: Geography and Environment

Dominica is a small volcanic island in the eastern Caribbean, part of the Lesser Antilles chain between Guadeloupe to the north and Martinique to the south. Known as the Nature Isle of the Caribbean, the island is dominated by steep, forested mountains that rise directly from the coastline, leaving very little flat land. Its highest point, Morne Diablotins, reaches roughly 1,447 meters and is one of the tallest peaks in the eastern Caribbean.

The interior is defined by dense rainforest, deep river valleys, and volcanic features including boiling lakes, hot springs, and fumaroles concentrated around the Morne Trois Pitons area. Dominica is often said to have as many as 365 rivers, one for every day of the year, and the terrain supports some of the most intact forest cover remaining in the Caribbean. The climate is tropical and humid, with a wetter season from June to November that overlaps with the Atlantic hurricane season.

Environmental priorities center on protecting the island's rainforest and freshwater systems, which underpin both its biodiversity and its ecotourism economy. Dominica has invested heavily in rebuilding forest cover and infrastructure since Hurricane Maria caused severe damage in 2017, and the government has pursued a long term goal of becoming climate resilient through renewable geothermal energy development. Balancing tourism growth with conservation of the island's rivers, reefs, and old growth forest remains an ongoing focus.