2.5. CENTRAL MOUNTAIN REGION of the Dominican Republic.

The "Central Dominican Republic" section includes stories about Santiago, Moca, and La Vega—cities in the Cibao Valley, surrounded by mountains. This is the country's most fertile region, home to coffee, cocoa, and tobacco. Ancient architecture, cathedrals and churches, and vibrant carnival traditions have been preserved here.

037. National Park Valle Nuevo.

Национальный природный парк Вайе Нуэво. Доминиканские горы

This Nature Reserve lies a little farther south than the previous ones. According to scientists, around 200 species of plants grow here — 97 of them endemic — and 64 species of birds live in the park.

The Valle Nuevo Nature Reserve is beautiful, and in places mysterious. At an altitude of 2,000 metres, unusual landscapes appear… The photo did not turn out — the light had gone, evening was coming, and the weather was turning towards rain. So, for you, just a description…

A small pine grove. Bunches of white cotton wool hanging from the branches. As though someone had gutted a gigantic bale… The “cotton wool” turned out to be white moss… Large red flowers had settled comfortably on this cotton-moss…

040. Constanza.

Горный город Констанса с полями, Доминиканская Республика

The town of Constanza lies at an altitude of 1,200 metres above sea level. In the Caribbean region, it is considered the town with the coolest climate… It is located in a picturesque valley surrounded by mountains.

Geologists say that this valley was formed around 1,000 years ago after a meteorite fell here. As a result of this cosmic smack, the Cordillera Central mountains shifted slightly. And so a small, wonderful Dominican Switzerland appeared.

They say that Constanza looked exactly like that until the 1950s. Log houses built from pine trees growing nearby… They suited the landscape perfectly. Unfortunately, none of those houses has survived to the present day.