Elevations

The Dominican Republic exhibits variations in its topography that range from depressions of more than 39 m below sea level (mbsl) to approximate altitudes that reach 3,187 m above sea level (masl). For greater detail, they are grouped in the following ranges: from 39 mbsl to 0 m; from 1 m to 250 masl; from 250 to 500 masl; from 501 to 750 masl; from 750 to 1,000 masl; from 1,000 to 1,500 masl; from 2,000 to 2,500 masl; and from 2,500 to 3,187 masl.

From 39 mbsl to 0 m

These are the lowest parts of the country, found in the Hoya de Enriquillo, where the Lago Enriquillo, the lake found there, can reach 40 mbsl. It has a total area of 537.24 km2, occupying 1.10% of the total surface area of the country.

From 1 m to 250 masl

These are the flatlands of the country and are predominant in the southeastern Caribbean and Atlantic coastal plains, the Miches and Sabana de la Mar plains, the Cibao Valley from Montecristi to the mouth of the Yuna and part of the Hoya de Enriquillo. It is the largest elevation category of the country, with a total area of 26,896.44 km2 and 55.52% of the national territory.

From 250 to 500 masl

This range is composed of slightly inclined areas. The surfaces with these topographic characteristics are dispersed throughout the country. We find them in the northern and southern slopes of the Sierra de Bahoruco, in a large portion of the Cordillera Septentrional, the Promontorio de Cabrera, the San Juan Valley, part of the northern slope of the Cordillera Central and in a large part of the Cordillera Oriental, the southeastern fringe of Santiago and other minor areas, such as the eastern part of the “plena de Azua”. This range occupies a total area of 7,798.17 km2, representing 16.09% of the territory.

From 501 to 750 masl

These elevations are found in the middle portion of all of the country’s mountainous systems. The range is for the most part represented in the Loma de Cabrera, Partido, Jánico, Sabana Iglesia and the greater part of the eastern slope of the Sierra de Neiba, as well as part of the Cordillera Septentrional. These heights occupy a total area of 4,478.47 km2 of the country, which represents 9.24% of the territory.

From 750 to 1,000 masl

This elevation range is composed of the areas of pronounced hills in our topography. Generally, the terrain encompassed by this range of elevation are used for seasonal crops. They are mainly found in the middle of the mountains systems of the Cordillera Septentrional, the Sierra de Neyba and the northern slope of the Cordillera Oriental. It boasts 2,736 km2 in area, or 5.64% of the territory.From 1,000 – 1,500 masl
These areas are craggy and broken and, in general, the terrain of this topography is shallow. It is principally located in the highest regions of the drainage basins of the country. It covers an area of 3,822.96 Km2, or 7.89% of the land.

From 1,500 to 2,000 masl

With topographical maps one can appreciate the concentration of these areas on the summits of the mountain systems, principally in the Cordillera Central and its slopes, Sierra de Neyba, Sierra de Bahoruco, Cordillera Oriental and the central region of the Cordillera Septentrional. It covers an area of 1,640.84 km2, which is 3.38% of the territory.

From 2,000 to 2,500 masl

The great majority of the national parks and scientific reserves are in this range of elevation. It occupies an area of 521.32km2, or 1.07% of the national territory.

From 2,500 to 3,187 masl

The highest altitudes of the Antilles fall into this range, such as the Pico Duarte, La Pelona, La Rusilla, Pico del Yaque and La Correosa. It occupies an area of 9.80 km2 and represents only 0.02% of the land.