Las Terrenas is a town on the northeast coast of the

Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean. It shares a Maritime boundary, maritime border with Puerto Rico to the east and ...

, located in the province of Samaná. It is known for its scenic landscapes, white sand beaches and clear waters. Tourism in this region is constantly growing due to investments in tourist infrastructure such as hotels, clubs, restaurants and shopping centers such as "Puerto Plaza las Terrenas".

French inhabitants

The French inhabitants of Las Terrenas or Les Terrestres are one of the most influential people of the city, the French have been in Las Terrenas since its formation becoming a stable community in the city/ French is the second language of Las Terrenas.

History

Las Terrenas was founded in 1946, when then-President

Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina ( ; ; 24 October 1891 – 30 May 1961), nicknamed ''El Jefe'' (; "the boss"), was a Dominican military officer and dictator who ruled the Dominican Republic from August 1930 until his assassination in May 1961 ...

ordered the rural inhabitants of

Santo Domingo Santo Domingo, formerly known as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city of the Dominican Republic and the List of metropolitan areas in the Caribbean, largest metropolitan area in the Caribbean by population. the Distrito Na ...

to resettle in the town as farmers and fishermen. Las Terrenas was then a small fishing village isolated from the rest of the country. Over the years the village's old fishermen's cabins have been slowly transformed into bars, restaurants and shops. Samana was a slave trade port for the British in the early seventeenth century. Today, inhabitants are a descendents of Taino, Spanish, West Indian and African slaves. The name Las Terrenas originates from the French ''la terrienne'' (the landlord).

Population

According to the Population and Housing Census 2002, the town has a total population of 13,869, of whom 6,985 were men and 6,884 women.

Infrastructure

Las Terrenas is popular with Dominicans from the capital,

as well as foreigners. The completion of a new highway in 2012 between Santo Domingo and Santa Bárbara de Samaná has enabled easier access, and the drive takes two hours.

Economy

The main economic activities of the town are tourism, commerce and fishing. In 1977 Adelphia Dane Bowen Jr. of Texas became the first foreigner to build a private home in Las Terrenas. He was Economic Officer at the United States Embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic at the time.

Developments

Las Terrenas developed a new aqueduct in 2013. In March 2012 the town installed a new fiber optic Internet/TV/telephone system. The new

Samaná El Catey International Airport Samaná El Catey International Airport , also called Aeropuerto Internacional Presidente Juan Bosch (AISA), is an international airport that opened on 6 November 2006, serving the province of Samaná in the Dominican Republic. The airport is ...

is open for international flights, mainly from Europe and Canada.

Gallery

File:Pueblo-Pescadores-Las-Terrenas.jpg, Pueblo de Pescadores lost in fire 2021 File:Parque Las Terrenas.jpg, Las Terrenas Park File:Hotel en las terrenas.jpg, Oceanfront hotel File:Casa de Giles in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic.jpg, Guesthouse in Las Terrenas

References

External links

{{Authority control Populated places in Samaná Province Municipalities of the Dominican Republic