{"id":1510,"date":"2007-02-02T17:32:43","date_gmt":"2007-02-02T13:32:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dominicana-online.org\/?p=1510"},"modified":"2018-05-17T20:29:52","modified_gmt":"2018-05-17T20:29:52","slug":"orografia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.dominicanaonline.org\/en\/republica-dominicana\/geografia\/orografia\/","title":{"rendered":"Orography and Elevations"},"content":{"rendered":"

The orography of the Dominican Republic is composed of mountain ranges, sierras and karstic regions that form a northwest-southeast, irregular chain with constant changes on the surface level. These formations emerged due to geological processes on the island, in which faults and movements in the structural folds played a decisive role. These breaks and movements began in the middle of the Jurassic period, in the Mesozoic Era, approximately 130 million years ago, and were a product of the three foliation lines that gave birth to the Antillean arc.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a>Mountain Ranges<\/b><\/h2>\n

Within the system of cordilleras, there are three mountain masses: the Cordillera Central (Central Range), Cordillera\u00a0Septentrional\u00a0(Northern Range) and the Cordillera Oriental (Eastern Range).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • The Cordillera Central is the largest and most important mountain group in the Dominican Republic and covers a large part of its territory. As its name indicates, it is located in the center of the country with a length of 200 km and a width of 100 km. It is the continuation of the “Northern Mass” (Massif Du Nord) found in Haitian territory; its origin dates back to the Cretaceous period. The northern slope, which is a plateau, emerged in the Oligocene period. Igneous and volcanic rocks abound in this mass, in addition to sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. The major peaks of the Antilles are found in this Cordillera: Pico Duarte; 3,175 m, La\u00a0Pelona, 3,087 m; La\u00a0Rusilla, 3,038 m and Pico del\u00a0Yaque, 2,761 m.\u00a0The main rivers of the country also originate in this system, such as the\u00a0Yaque\u00a0del Norte, the\u00a0Yaque\u00a0del Sur, the\u00a0Artibonito, the\u00a0Yuna, the\u00a0Nizao, the\u00a0Ocoa\u00a0and the\u00a0Haina.<\/li>\n
  • The Cordillera\u00a0Septentrional, second in importance to the Cordillera Central, is located in the northern section of the country, in the northwest-southeast direction and extends from\u00a0Montecristi\u00a0to the Gran Estero, close to\u00a0Nagua. It originated in the Miocene-Oligocene periods of the Cenozoic Era, and is mostly composed of sedimentary rock. Among its most important summits is the Diego de Ocampo peak, with an elevation of 1,229m.<\/li>\n
  • The third mountain chain is the Cordillera Oriental, located in the eastern part of the country in a west to east direction. It originated in the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic Era. Its elevations do not rise above 800 m.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n


    \nSierras<\/b><\/h2>\n

    There\u00a0are\u00a0five\u00a0sierras (or\u00a0mountain\u00a0chains) in\u00a0the\u00a0Dominican\u00a0Republic: Sierra de\u00a0Neiba, Sierra de\u00a0Bahoruco, Sierra Mart\u00edn Garc\u00eda, Sierra de\u00a0Yamas\u00e1\u00a0and\u00a0Sierra de Saman\u00e1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    • The Sierra de\u00a0Neiba\u00a0is limited to the north as well as to the south by large tectonic faults. Its genesis dates back to the Oligocene period of the Cenozoic Era. The tectonic dynamic from previous periods separated the Sierra from the Sierra Mart\u00edn Garc\u00eda. It has mostly calcareous or saltpeter rocks, creating a karstic relief. The predominant inhabitable regions, with little difference between their areas, are the Wet Forest Low Mountain habitat and the very Wet Forest Low Mountain habitat.\u00a0It continues in Haitian territory under the names\u00a0Trou\u00a0D’Eau\u00a0and Cadena de\u00a0Matheaux\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    • The Sierra de\u00a0Bahoruco\u00a0continues into Haiti, where it is named Massif de la\u00a0Selle, and has altitudes that reach 2,367 m. Its genesis dates to the Oligocene period of the Cenozoic Era when its first relief was formed. It presents a geomorphology of steep edges and flat valleys: the\u00a0Aceitillar\u00a0Basin is in the highest part of the sierra and is of Polje origin (karstic depression caused by lateral and tectonic widening). Sedimentary rocks of caliche origin are most common, creating a karstic relief much like that of the Sierra de\u00a0Neiba.\u00a0The\u00a0predominant\u00a0habitat\u00a0is\u00a0very\u00a0Wet\u00a0Forest-Low Mountain.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    • The Sierra Mart\u00edn Garc\u00eda, Sierra\u00a0Llamaza\u00a0and Sierra\u00a0Saman\u00e1\u00a0are systems of moderate altitude and in them, the greatest quantity of extractable minerals are found, like gold and silver nugget in\u00a0Yamas\u00e1\u00a0and marble in\u00a0Saman\u00e1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Valle<\/b>y<\/b>s<\/b><\/h2>\n

      The valley or lowland relief includes four valleys, the most important of which is the Valle del\u00a0Cibao, as it is the longest and most fertile, followed by the valleys of San Juan,\u00a0Bonao\u00a0and Villa Altagracia. The Hoya de\u00a0Enriquillo\u00a0is a depression produced by a caved-in tectonic fault and is noted for its location at 40 m below sea level, the lowest point of the Antilles.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Elevation<\/b>s<\/b><\/h2>\n

      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).\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      For greater detail, they are grouped in the following ranges: from 39\u00a0mbsl\u00a0to 0 m; from 1 m to 250\u00a0masl; from 250 to 500\u00a0masl; from 501 to 750\u00a0masl; from 750 to 1,000\u00a0masl; from 1,000 to 1,500\u00a0masl; from 2,000 to 2,500\u00a0masl; and from 2,500 to 3,187\u00a0masl.<\/p>\n

        \n
      • From 39\u00a0mbsl\u00a0to 0 m.\u00a0These are the lowest parts of the country, found in the Hoya de\u00a0Enriquillo, where the Lago\u00a0Enriquillo, the lake found there, can reach 40\u00a0mbsl. It has a total area of 537.24 km2, occupying 1.10% of the total surface area of the country.<\/li>\n
      • From 1 m to 250\u00a0masl.\u00a0These are the flatlands of the country and are predominant in the southeastern Caribbean and Atlantic coastal plains, the\u00a0Miches\u00a0and\u00a0Sabana\u00a0de la Mar plains, the\u00a0Cibao\u00a0Valley from\u00a0Montecristi\u00a0to the mouth of the\u00a0Yuna\u00a0and part of the Hoya de\u00a0Enriquillo. 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.<\/li>\n
      • From 250 to 500\u00a0masl.\u00a0This 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\u00a0Bahoruco, in a large portion of the Cordillera\u00a0Septentrional, the\u00a0Promontorio\u00a0de 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\u00a0Azua”. This range occupies a total area of 7,798.17 km2, representing 16.09% of the territory.<\/li>\n
      • From 501 to 750\u00a0masl.\u00a0These 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,\u00a0Partido,\u00a0J\u00e1nico,\u00a0Sabana\u00a0Iglesia\u00a0and the greater part of the eastern slope of the Sierra de\u00a0Neiba, as well as\u00a0part of the Cordillera\u00a0Septentrional. These heights occupy a total area of 4,478.47 km2 of the country, which represents 9.24% of the territory.<\/li>\n
      • From 750 to 1,000\u00a0masl.\u00a0This 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\u00a0Septentrional, the Sierra de\u00a0Neyba\u00a0and the northern slope of the Cordillera Oriental. It boasts 2,736 km2 in area, or 5.64% of the territory.<\/li>\n
      • From 1,000 – 1,500\u00a0masl.\u00a0These 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.<\/li>\n
      • From 1,500 to 2,000\u00a0masl.\u00a0With 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\u00a0Neyba, Sierra de\u00a0Bahoruco, Cordillera Oriental and the central region of the Cordillera\u00a0Septentrional. It covers an area of 1,640.84 km2, which is 3.38% of the territory.<\/li>\n
      • From 2,000 to 2,500\u00a0masl.\u00a0The 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.<\/li>\n
      • From 2,500 to 3,187\u00a0masl.\u00a0The highest altitudes of the Antilles fall into this range, such as the Pico Duarte, La\u00a0Pelona, La\u00a0Rusilla, Pico del\u00a0Yaque\u00a0and La\u00a0Correosa. It occupies an area of 9.80 km2 and represents only 0.02% of the land.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        Main Elevations in the Dominican Republic<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
        Name<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nMountain Range<\/b>\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nAltitude<\/b>(Meter<\/b>s)\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Pico Duarte\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCentral\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n3,175\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        La\u00a0<\/b>Pelona<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCentral\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n3,168\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        La\u00a0<\/b>Rucilla<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCentral\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n3,049\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Alto Bandera\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCentral\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n2,842\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Loma de la\u00a0<\/b>Viuda<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCentral\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n2,801\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        La\u00a0<\/b>Chorreosa<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCentral\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n2,662\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Pl\u00e1ticos<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCentral\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n2,585\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Pico del\u00a0<\/b>Yaque<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCentral\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n2,295\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Pico\u00a0<\/b>Neiba<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nSierra de\u00a0Neiba\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n2,272\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Monte\u00a0<\/b>Mijo<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCentral\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n2,226\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Culo<\/b>\u00a0de\u00a0<\/b>Maco<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCentral\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n2,189\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Pico La\u00a0<\/b>Tasajera<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nSierra de\u00a0Neiba\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n2,176\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Monte Tina\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCentral\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n2,058\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Nalga<\/b>\u00a0de\u00a0<\/b>Maco<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCentral\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n1,960\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Pico Loma\u00a0<\/b>Fr\u00eda<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nSierra de Mart\u00edn Garc\u00eda\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n1,285\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Diego de Ocampo\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nSeptentrional\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n1,249\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Monte\u00a0<\/b>Jicom\u00e9o<\/b>\u00a0<\/b>Murazo<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nSeptentrional\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n1,083\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Loma El Mogote\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nSeptentrional\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n967\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Villa Trina\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nSeptentrional\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n967\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Loma\u00a0<\/b>Quita<\/b>\u00a0<\/b>Espuela<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nSeptentrional\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n943\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Loma\u00a0<\/b>Siete<\/b>\u00a0<\/b>Cabezas<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nSierradeYamas\u00e1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n856\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Isabel de Torres\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nSeptentrional\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n793\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Loma\u00a0<\/b>Vieja<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nOriental\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n736\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Pico Los\u00a0<\/b>Copeyes<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nOriental\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n696\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Monte Plan de\u00a0<\/b>Az\u00facar<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nSierradeSaman\u00e1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n493\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

         <\/p>\n

        Did you know?<\/strong>\u00a0Karstic regions are composed entirely of saltpeter rocks and feature low elevations that vary between 200 and 300 m. Their primary wealth comes from their subterranean reservoirs and archeological-historical and cultural value in the numerous caverns and national parks that they provide (Los\u00a0Haitises,\u00a0Promontorio\u00a0de Cabrera and\u00a0Procurrente\u00a0de Barahona).<\/p>\n

        Did\u00a0you\u00a0know?<\/strong>\u00a0Dominican rivers\u00a0lead to four watersheds; three maritime ones\u00a0(southern watershed or watershed of the Caribbean, Northern watershed or watershed of the Atlantic and\u00a0the watershed of gulf of\u00a0Gonave), and one interior watershed\u00a0(Hoya de\u00a0Enriquillo).<\/p>\n

        Did you know?<\/strong>\u00a0All Dominican\u00a0rrivers\u00a0are navigable from the\u00a0Ozama\u00a0andl\u00a0Higuamo\u00a0-by short distances beginning from the outlet- and the Yan\u00a0River\u00a0-navigated by sail boat very close to the\u00a0Saman\u00e1\u00a0bay.<\/p>\n

        Did\u00a0you\u00a0know?<\/strong>\u00a0Dominican orography is composed of 60 percent mountainous zones and 40 percent valleys.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

        <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        The orography of the Dominican Republic is composed of mountain ranges, sierras and karstic regions that form a northwest-southeast, irregular chain with constant changes on the surface level. These formations emerged due to geological processes on the island, in which faults and movements in the structural folds played a decisive role. These breaks and movements … Continue reading “Orography and Elevations”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":7836,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1510","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dominicanaonline.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1510"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dominicanaonline.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dominicanaonline.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dominicanaonline.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dominicanaonline.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1510"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.dominicanaonline.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1510\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10451,"href":"https:\/\/www.dominicanaonline.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1510\/revisions\/10451"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dominicanaonline.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7836"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dominicanaonline.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1510"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}