Pedernales, Dominican Republic

The Dominican city of Pedernales is the capital of the Pedernales Province, in the Dominican Republic. It is located in the southwest of the country, on the Dominican Republic–Haiti border, and has a crossing to the Haitian town of Anse-à-Pitres.

National Parks

 * Parque Nacional Jaragua
 * Parque Nacional Sierra de Bahoruco

These two parks, along with Lake Enriquillo and adjoining zones of the Municipality Pedernales, form the first biosphere reserve in the country.

History
The official foundation of the colony of Pedernales came about in the year 1927 during the Government of Horacio Vásquez, who appointed as Administrator the well-known writer Sócrates Nolasco. The colonists came mostly from Duvergé. The first one was Mr. Genaro Pérez Rocha, a prosperous rancher, who would later bring the first resident families who came from Duvergé. In the year 1937 the highway was built to join this locality and Oviedo, in whose building 500 men participated, divided into brigades of 10 each. By Resolution of the City Hall of Enriquillo in 1938, Pedernales was raised to Municipal District.

The name of Pedernales stems from the mineral flint (pedernal in Spanish), which is a very common variety of quartz of yellowish color "that produces spark with the link". This stone is found in the river of Pedernales, which marks the southernmost part of the frontier between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Bahía de las Águilas
Pedernales lies a short way from Bahía de las Águilas, an isolated, unspoilt beach known for its great beauty and biodiversity.

Touristic Places

 * Hoyo de Pelempito
 * Cabo Rojo
 * Río de Paso Sena
 * El Mulito
 * Playa Pedernales
 * Playa Bahía de las Águilas

Culture

 * Grupo de Baile Folklórico
 * Baton Ballet
 * Banda de Música
 * Cockfighting
 * Palos y Atabales

Climate
Its location over a number of rain shadows through the highlands of Hispaniola from the northeasterly trade winds gives Pedernales a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh). Rainfall is highest in September and October when tropical cyclones may strike the whole island, and temperatures are generally warmer during the day than in much of the tropics.