10 Words you associate with the country mentioned

2. Blue amber
Blue amber is amber exhibiting a rare coloration. It is most commonly found in the amber mines in the mountain ranges around Santiago, Dominican Republic, but also in the eastern parts of the Dominican Republic. Although little known due to its rarity, it has been around since the discovery of Dominican amber.

Causes of coloration
When natural light strikes blue amber on a white surface, the light passes right through, and is refracted by the white surface. The result is the slight blue hue of blue amber. When the same natural light strikes the amber on a black surface, the light is not refracted by the black surface, but by the actual amber. Hydrocarbons in the blue amber shift the sun’s ultraviolet light down in frequency, resulting in the glow of blue amber.

This effect is only possible in some specimens of Dominican amber category, in some Mexican ambers from Chiapas  and some ambers from Indonesia. Any other amber (such as Baltic amber) will not display this phenomenon, because its original resin is not from the Hymenaea protera tree.

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, produced through a pyrolytic process that is initiated via irradiation, relax to their ground state, absorb high-energy ultraviolet photons and re-emit them as lower-energy visible photons, according to the absorbance curve of the particular fluorophore.

Recently, optical absorption, fluorescence and time-resolved fluorescence measurements in Dominican ambers have been reported. These studies show that the “blue” variety reveals an intense fluorescence emission in the visible wavelength region, between 430 and 530 nm, with spectral features typical of aromatic hydrocarbons. On the contrary, the Dominican “red” and “yellow” amber varieties have a much weaker and featureless emission, although still do have a certain fluorescence. The process in blue amber is surprisingly similar to phosphor.

Although there are several theories about the origin of Dominican blue amber, there is a great probability that it owes its existence to ingredients such as anthracene as a result of ‘incomplete combustion’ due to forest fires among the extinct species Hymenaea protera trees about 25 to 40 million years ago.

4.  Punta Cana

Blessed with one of the Caribbean region’s longest white sand coastlines–a whopping 48 kilometers (30 miles), punctuated with sky-reaching coconut palms–Punta Cana is the land of rest and relaxation by the sea. Here, where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean, from the northern tip at Uvero Alto to the southern at Cap Cana, all-inclusive resorts and boutique hideaways offer all the whims and comforts of modern beachfront living. Families enjoy miniature entertainment centers and water parks for children, while couples-only enclaves boast dream wedding locations, with secluded beachside lodging for an ultra-romantic stay. 

https://www.godominicanrepublic.com/destinations/punta-cana/

6. The Dominican Republic is home to both the highest peak in the Caribbean - Pico Duarte in the Central Mountain Range (3,098 meters above sea level), and the lowest point in the Caribbean - Lake Enriquillo between the provinces of Bahoruco and Independencia (46 meters below sea level). Lake Enriquillo is also the largest lake in the Caribbean.

9. Bandera Dominicana 

La Bandera is considered the national dish of the Dominican people. It consists of white rice, chicken or beef, and red beans, accompanied by tostones, green salad or even avocado. 

It is one of the most popular dishes in the Dominican Republic, and it is not uncommon to see households eating it for lunch up to four times a week. 

Moreover, it is said that its name comes from its colours, as they are reminiscent of the colours of the country’s flag.

You certainly can’t visit the country without trying it, as it is part of the Dominican Republic’ s national identity.

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