Isle of Beauty, Isle of Splendour

They call her the NATURE ISLAND of the Caribbean. Why? Because her beauty has remained untouched, unspoiled, as verdant as when the hand of God created her."Isle of beauty, Isle of splendour..." so chants her National Anthem. Yes! This is Kairi, Waitikubuli, Dominica, the Commonwealth of Dominica. Call her whatever you wish, she remains my beautiful Dominica.

Her Real Location in the Caribbean

Do you see the Commonwealth of DOMINICA in RED? Too often this beautiful gem of nature is mistaken for the Dominican Republic just north adjoining Haiti. Don't ever make this mistake! Tell your friends and relatives about the real location of our Nature Island. There is no comparison, you will agree, after you've taken this tour. Please read her History.

She lies in the middle of the eastern chain of islands which enclose the Caribbean Sea. (See map above). Ruggedly mountainous, a product of volcanic activity, Dominica boasts of a fresh water lake, a boiling lake, sulphur springs, cascading waterfalls, as many rivers as days in a year, flora and fauna unparalelled anywhere in the world, a proud and historic Reservation of Caribs, the original inhabitants of the Caribbean and a people, so warm, you will always remember them long after your visit.

Look above! Have you ever seen 'champagne' bubbles rising from the sea bed before? Look below at these breath-taking photos of Nature at her best! Turn where you may, you are bombarded by new and exotic music, culinary aromas and the easy movement of life. Your awareness sharpens, as if for brief moments time waits on you. Do not for one moment mistake this easy pace of life for the lackadaisical caricature that former colonial masters conveniently used to justify their economic extortion of her resources. No! No! It is our attunement to the rhythm of nature, an art which the developed world now seek to emulate. You, too, will slow down to this rejuvenating tempo when you visit. The air is always fresh and clean and your lungs tingle with satisfaction. Do you wonder why Dominica had boasted the world's oldest living human being, now deceased? See also "Pampo, Pending Record Holder".

How can one not stop in his tracks to admire with fearful awe the steaming cauldron of the Boiling Lake above? Or become exhilarated by the hissing, multicoloured, red-hot lava of the minor eruption on the left? Several safaris will take you through the rain forests, through her many national parks which preserve and protect what God has given us which, through Eco-Tourism, all can enjoy. Dominica boasts of Morne Trois Pitons National Park, the only natural World Heritage Site in the Eastern Caribbean. One visitor declared, "If there ever was a Garden of Eden on earth, this is it!"

Present National Flag The central emblem presents the National Bird of Dominica, the Sisserou parrot, the stars represent the ten parishes. The yellow, black and white stripes forms a cross representing the Trinity of God. Yellow is for sunshine and bananas, white represents the clarity of our rivers and waterfalls, and black represents the richness of our soil and our African heritage.

Past National Flags
Up to 1871	1871 to 1940	1940 to 1955	1955 to 1965	1965 to 1978
1978 to 1981	1981 to 1988

Coat of Arms The national crest comprise a shield with two guardian Sisserou Parrots bracing the shield atop of which is a lion rampant. The quadrants of the shield depict a canoe, a banana tree, a palm and a mountain frog (crapaud). The motto, 'Après Bondie C'est La Ter' translates (After God the Earth).

National Bird SISSEROU is the national bird of Dominica, endemic to the island and the only place where it is found; a magnificent bird with beautiful green and purple plumage; large, compact, sturdy-looking, 46-51 cm long (18-20 in); scaly, purplish face, and purplish-black head; dark, sometimes grey, hooked bill; eyes red with orange-red eye-rings; neck deep purplish-blue, with back darkish green; wings mostly green, with red shoulder patch; underparts dominantly purple; tail red and green-tipped, with undertail purplish black; legs short and grey; feeds on young shoots, nuts, seeds and fruit; generally shy and secretive, but very noisy during mating season (March-August); found mainly between 600 and 1,300 metres elevation (2,000-4,200 ft), the Imperial, largest and most magnificent of Amazons, is on the world list of protected birds, and is protected by law in Dominica. (See More)

National Dance - Quadrille Quadrille is a historic dance performed by four couples in a square formation, a precursor to traditional square dancing. It is also a style of music. A derivative found in the Francophone Lesser Antilles is known in the local Creole as kwadril.

The capital City of Roseau