GeographyThe geography of Dominica is quite unique. It is a fortress island unlike any other island in the Caribbean and is the largest and most mountainous of the Windward Islands. The island was created by volcanic activity and still shows signs of active volcanic activity today. Its rugged mountains prevented settlers from taking over completely and made the island a favored destination for ecotourists. The island contains more than 3,000 peaks, the highest of which are Morne Diablotin (4,747 feet) and Morne Trois Pitons (4,600 feet). (www.delphis.com) The island itself is located between the French islands of Guadeloupe to the north and Martinique to the south. It is 29 miles long and 16 miles wide and covers 290 square miles. Its exact location is approximately 15 degrees north and 61 degrees west (www.delphis.dm). The island of Dominica is home to the only surviving population of Caribbean Indians. This was only possible because of Dominica's dangerous mountains. The first European settlers were not able to drive out or kill all the natives as they had on other islands. The Caribs now live in the "Caribbean Territory", a 3,700-acre reservation on the northeast coast, which was ceded to them in 1903. The reservation has a chief and is home to between 300 and 3,000 Caribs (the exact number of Caribbean is difficult to determine because without genealogical details it is difficult to prove or disprove that someone is actually a Caribbean). (www.delphis.dm)The recent ecotourism boom has made Dominica one of the leading tourist destinations in the Caribbean and the world. In recent years, Dominica has designated more national parks, forests and marine reserves per capita than almost anywhere else in the world. The largest national park in Dominica is Morne Trois Pitons National Park. It covers 17,000 acres (9% of the island) and is home to the world's largest boiling lake. The lake is 70 meters in diameter with an unknown depth and is located above a massive volcanic sulfur vent, which keeps the water temperature between 180 and 197 degrees Fahrenheit. The park is also home to several waterfalls over 100 feet high. The average temperature range is between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Average precipitation ranges from 50 inches in coastal areas to 300 inches inland. The driest months are January through June, and hurricane season is typically between July and early October...