The Dominican Republic is a Caribbean nation located on the eastern portion of the island of Hispaniola, sharing a land border with Haiti to the west and a maritime border with Puerto Rico to the east. Its capital and largest city is Santo Domingo, which serves as the country's primary economic and cultural hub. The nation is renowned for its tropical climate, diverse natural landscapes, and significant tourism industry. Historically, it has been a crossroads of cultures, influenced by Spanish colonization, African heritage, and Caribbean traditions. As of recent estimates, the population exceeds 10.8 million people, inhabiting an area of 48,671 km².