Extra information on Dominica
Christopher Columbus, an Italian Spanish navigator, sighted and named Dominica in 1493. The French were the first to begin to colonize the island in 1632. Later they lost control to the English in 1763. In the year 1967, it became an internally self-governing state associated with the United Kingdom. In 1978 Dominica got full independence and joined the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations. Today Dominica has a parliamentry democracy. As so not to be confused with the Dominican Republic, the name Commonwealth of Dominica is often used. Dominica has fertile soil. This soil provides a good basis for farming. Farming is Dominica's principal economic activity. Bananas, citrus friut, vanilla beans, cinnamon, cocoa, and coconuts are some of Dominica's agricultural products. Manufactures include oils, soap, fruit juices, and alcoholic beverages. The unit of currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar(ECD). Two dollars and seventy cents is equal to one U.S. dollar. This may be different now because this information on the ECD was taken in 1996.
