Why Is Dominica Called the Nature Island of the Caribbean?

## A Nickname That Is Earned Every Caribbean island has a nickname. Barbados is "Little England." Antigua is "The Beach Island." But Dominica's nickname — the Nature Island of the Caribbean — is not marketing. It is a statement of fact. Here is why. ## The Numbers - **365 rivers** — one for every day of the year - **9 active volcanic centres** - **1 UNESCO World Heritage Site** (Morne Trois Pitons National Park) - **2 endemic parrot species** found nowhere else on earth - **175 bird species** recorded - **60% of the island** covered in forest - **No mass tourism** — Dominica has deliberately chosen nature over beach resorts ## The Volcanic Foundation Dominica is one of the most geologically active islands in the Caribbean. It sits on the Lesser Antilles volcanic arc, where the North American plate slides beneath the Caribbean plate. This volcanic activity has created: - Boiling Lake — one of the world's largest boiling lakes - The Valley of Desolation — a volcanic landscape of extraordinary beauty - Hundreds of hot springs and fumaroles - Fertile volcanic soil that supports extraordinary biodiversity ## The Biodiversity Dominica's volcanic mountains create a range of microclimates — from dry coastal scrubland to cloud forest at the peaks. This diversity of habitats supports an extraordinary range of species: - **Sisserou Parrot** — Dominica's national bird, one of the rarest parrots in the world - **Jaco Parrot** — another endemic species - **Crapaud** — the mountain chicken frog, a Dominican delicacy - **Sperm whales** — resident year-round in the waters off Dominica - **Sea turtles** — nesting on Dominican beaches ## The Kalinago Heritage Dominica is the only island in the Eastern Caribbean with a surviving indigenous Kalinago community. The Kalinago Territory on the northeast coast is home to approximately 3,000 Kalinago people who maintain their traditional culture and crafts. ## The Choice Not to Develop Dominica has made a deliberate choice to prioritise nature over mass tourism. There are no large beach resorts, no cruise ship mega-terminals, no golf courses carved out of rainforest. This choice has kept Dominica's natural heritage intact. ## FAQs **Is Dominica the same as the Dominican Republic?** No — they are completely different countries. Dominica is a small island in the Eastern Caribbean. The Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. **Does Dominica have good beaches?** Dominica has beautiful beaches, but they are mostly black sand (volcanic) rather than white sand. The island's main attraction is its interior — rivers, waterfalls, and volcanic landscapes. ## Experience the Nature Island [Book your guided Boiling Lake hike](/tour-booking-checkout?tourType=boiling-lake&transport=with) — the best way to experience why Dominica deserves its nickname.