Santiago de Los Caballeros

Yumnuk · #1 07-28-2009, 01:53 AM

Cibao region Dominican Republic

Cibao, usually referred as "El Cibao", is a region of the Dominican Republic located at the northern part of the country.

The Taíno word Cibao, meaning "place where rocks abound", was originally applied to the central mountain range, and used during the Spanish conquest to refer to the rich and fertile valley between the Central and Septentrional mountain ranges.

The Cibao region occupies the whole northern part of the Dominican territory. To the north and east of the region lies the Atlantic Ocean; to its west lies the Republic of Haiti and to the south the Central Range, which separates Cibao from the other natural regions.

The population is mainly gathered in the center of the region. The city of Santiago de los Caballeros constitutes the regional center and main focus of development of the area.

Two of the largest rivers of the country are located inside this region: the Yaque del Norte, the largest river of the Dominican Republic, and the Yuna river. Both of these rivers contain several chains of dams used to provide the region with water for irrigation (since agriculture is the main activity of the area) and hydroelectric energy. Rice, coffee and cacao are the most important crops grown in the area.

The central mountain range also has important mining activity. Its main mineral resources include gold, iron and nickel, among others. The internationally known Falconbridge is the company in charge of the extraction of these ores.

The Atlantic coast of the country is well known for having beautiful beaches. Several tourist centers have developed along the coast of the region, among them Sosúa, a Jewish community established in the 1940s; Cabarete, one of the most important centers in the Caribbean for international surfing competitions; and most recently Samaná, ideal for eco-tourism and whale watching.

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Santiago de Los Caballeros

Santiago is a province of the Dominican Republic. Santiago is the heart of the country,Santiago is an intellectual, educational, and cultural center. It is also a major industrial center with the rum, textile, cigarette and cigar industry, which are based there. Shoe manufacturing and leather goods furniture making are an important part of the city's economic life. It is also a major Free Zone center with four important industrial free zones, and an important cement factory. Santiago is home to one of the largest medical centers in the northern region of the country, Hospital Metropilitano De Santiago, which serves all 13 provinces of the El Cibao. Also within striking distance there are a good number of pleasant towns, many of which are quite prosperous. Santiago is in the center of the Cibao Valley, the wealthiest region in the DR per capita. Santiago has a sizable wealthy community composed mainly of "old money." It is surrounded by tall mountains which have for years protected it from hurricanes and allows for dense tropical forests to develop on the slopes of such mountains, which are among the highest in the region.

Nickname La Ciudad Corazón

Population (2008)
City 993,629
Metro 1,346,060

Yumnuk · #2 07-28-2009, 01:55 AM

This city is sometimes referred to as La Ciudad Corazón, because it is located at the heart of El Cibao Valley.

Yumnuk · #3 07-28-2009, 01:56 AM

THE MONUMENT OF HEROES OF THE RESTORATION

SANTIAGO DE LOS CABALLEROS

The identifying symbol of this city is the Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration of the Republic, which dates back to the 1940s when it was elected as the "Trujillo Peace Monument". This solid white marble structure is 67 meters tall and has small museums in its interior.

Santiago de los Caballeros, with its quaint Neoclassic and Victorian buildings, is the second most populous city in the Dominican Republic. Frequently in the past, its residents vied with Santo Domingo’s to dominate the country politically. It was here that many of the wars of Independence were fought against Haiti, and most of the battles in the War of the Restoration from Spain—the city’s central Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration pays tribute to all the region’s patriots who lost their lives in the name of freedom.

Yumnuk · #4 07-28-2009, 01:59 AM

SANTIAGO DE LOS CABALLEROS

Yumnuk · #5 07-28-2009, 02:01 AM

Santiago de los Caballeros was the first American city to be known by the name of Santiago. Later this name as the town was utilized by Santiago de Chile (Chile) and Santiago de Cuba (Cuba).

Yumnuk · #6 07-28-2009, 02:02 AM

Santiago de Los Caballeros

The north coast of the Dominican Republic is unfortunately little known and sometimes forsaken compared to the great tourist centers of the east and the south like Punta Cana or Boca Chica, however this does not mean that the north coast isn't as beautiful as the rest, the north coast has a diversity of landscapes from the west to the east you can find deserts and cactus next to Punta Rusia, or the greenest landscapes with Coconut Palms next to las Terrenas and Samana.

The north coast also has its capital, Santiago, which is in reality the economic capital of the country. To quote some cities Puerto Plata, Sosua, Cabarete, Río San Juan.

All of these cities which are next to the Atlantic Ocean have their own special characteristics.

Yumnuk · #7 07-28-2009, 02:04 AM

Photos Of Santiago De Los Caballeros Downtown Landmarks

Yumnuk · #8 07-28-2009, 02:19 AM

Rio Yaque Del Norte

Santiago de los Caballeros

Puente Hermanos Patiño

Estadio Cibao

As much as the nation does, Santiago residents enjoy baseball and love to see the Dominican winter season with the local team being the Aguilas Cibaeñas. Besides baseball, basketball is also played at a professional level in the city of Santiago. The institution in charge of organizing these events is the Asociación de Baloncesto de Santiago de los Caballeros.
Aguilas Cibaeñas Crowned champions

Águilas Cibaeñas is a team in the Dominican Republic's winter baseball league. Founded in 1936, and based in Santiago, the Águilas is the second most winning team in history, behind its rivals Tigres del Licey, having won nine of the last 13 titles (the other four were won by Tigres del Licey). They have also 5 Caribbean Series. In all, they have 20 national titles, one more than Tigres del Licey since 1951, when the Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM)began its operations. The Aguilas is also the team with the largest fan base in the country. They play their games at Estadio Cibao, known to be the most enjoyable and nicest park in the country. It hosted the 2008 edition of the Caribbean Series.

They were the 2007/2008 Dominican Winter League Champions.

Arena del Cibao (Palacio Deportes Santiago, Rep. Dom)

Arena del Cibao

Santiago parque Duarte

Yumnuk · #9 07-28-2009, 02:33 AM

Carnival Sunday in the city of Santiago

Carnival is a country wide festival, with each town having their own version of the custom. Every town adds a touch of their own flair to the merrymaking with diverse masks, costumes, characters, music and methods of celebrating. Even though there are many differences all the celebrations are charged with unbridled energy. Carnival is also very family orientated, having both young and old join in the festivities. Participating groups can consist of family units, clubs, friends, families and businesses, all can participate in the carnival parade of masked creatures.

When you smile, You create a language of intimate interaction.

London_Calling · #10 07-28-2009, 05:47 AM

Some interesting photos.

"The north coast of the Dominican Republic is unfortunately little known and sometimes forsaken compared to the great tourist centers of the east and the south like Punta Cana or Boca Chica." - I saw this quote in a UK newspaper recently as well - isn't Puerta Plata on the north coast?