Luperón, Dominican Republic facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Luperón
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 Luperón
Location in the Dominican Republic
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| Country |  Dominican Republic |
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| Province | Puerto Plata | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 272.07 km2 (105.05 sq mi) | |
| Population
(2012)
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| • Total | 20,259 | |
| • Density | 74.462/km2 (192.857/sq mi) | |
| Municipal Districts | 3 |
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| Climate | As | |
Luperón is a small town located in the Puerto Plata Province of the Dominican Republic. It sits on a beautiful bay on the country's northern coast. The town is a popular spot for tourists. It was named after Gregorio Luperón, a former president of the Dominican Republic. You can even see his image on the town's official seal!
Long ago, Luperón was called Blanco or Pueblo Blanco, which means "White Town." This name might have come from the many Spanish traders who visited to buy timber. Luperón Bay is shaped perfectly to protect ships from strong storms like hurricanes. Because of this, many boats anchor there during hurricane season to stay safe.
Even though there are no old records, people say that Christopher Columbus once had to enter this bay. He needed to protect his ships from a storm. Columbus called it "Bahia de Gracias," which means "Thanksgiving Bay." This is still the bay's official name today.
The current mayor of Luperón is Douglas Pichardo. He belongs to the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM). He is the youngest mayor in the town's history.
A powerful leader named Rafael Leonidas Trujillo once planned to make Luperón a bigger area called a province. However, he was assassinated in May 1961, just a few months before this change was supposed to happen.
Some of the oldest and most well-known families in Luperón are the Morrobel, Cueto, and Villamán families. They were among the first people to settle in the town. Their families continue to grow in numbers.
Luperón is famous for its lovely beaches, making it a great place for vacations. In recent years, many people from Luperón have moved to other countries, especially Spain. They often continue to work in hotels and restaurants there.
The bay of Luperón is home to many mangrove trees. These special trees are unique to the island of Hispaniola. They provide a safe home for many different kinds of animals and plants.
Contents
Sports and Fun
Luperón is a town that loves sports! There are a few popular activities that bring people together.
Cockfighting
Every Friday afternoon, people gather at Luperón's arena for cockfighting. This sport is legal in the Dominican Republic. People place bets and pay an entrance fee to watch. Thousands of people across the country enjoy cockfighting. However, it is not as popular in Luperón as it is in some other towns in the northern part of the island called Cibao.
Softball Tournaments
Each year, Luperón hosts a very popular softball tournament. Many people come to watch the games. The games are played every Saturday and Sunday at the local field. They only happen during the day because the field does not have electric lights for night games. The Williams family is especially known for their skill in baseball in Luperón.
Basketball Games
Basketball is also a favorite sport in Luperón. A basketball tournament is held every summer. Teams are allowed to have up to two players who were not born in Luperón. This means some players come from other nearby towns to join in the fun. Unlike softball, basketball games are played at night, also on weekends. People pay a small fee to enter and watch the games.
Climate in Luperón
Luperón has a tropical savanna climate. This means it has a clear dry season during the summer months. It also has a wet season during the winter.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record high °C (°F) | 33.0 (91.4) |
34.5 (94.1) |
35.0 (95.0) |
36.0 (96.8) |
36.4 (97.5) |
36.5 (97.7) |
37.0 (98.6) |
36.0 (96.8) |
36.4 (97.5) |
36.8 (98.2) |
35.8 (96.4) |
33.5 (92.3) |
37.0 (98.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 28.9 (84.0) |
29.3 (84.7) |
30.0 (86.0) |
30.7 (87.3) |
32.0 (89.6) |
33.3 (91.9) |
33.2 (91.8) |
33.1 (91.6) |
33.2 (91.8) |
32.6 (90.7) |
30.5 (86.9) |
29.1 (84.4) |
31.3 (88.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 18.3 (64.9) |
18.2 (64.8) |
18.7 (65.7) |
19.6 (67.3) |
20.8 (69.4) |
21.5 (70.7) |
21.7 (71.1) |
21.7 (71.1) |
21.3 (70.3) |
21.0 (69.8) |
20.0 (68.0) |
18.7 (65.7) |
20.1 (68.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 12.6 (54.7) |
12.0 (53.6) |
13.4 (56.1) |
14.8 (58.6) |
14.5 (58.1) |
18.1 (64.6) |
18.2 (64.8) |
18.0 (64.4) |
15.2 (59.4) |
17.8 (64.0) |
15.4 (59.7) |
13.4 (56.1) |
12.0 (53.6) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 140.6 (5.54) |
107.7 (4.24) |
92.5 (3.64) |
98.6 (3.88) |
107.3 (4.22) |
25.6 (1.01) |
40.4 (1.59) |
38.1 (1.50) |
56.3 (2.22) |
102.6 (4.04) |
216.5 (8.52) |
222.5 (8.76) |
1,248.7 (49.16) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 9.8 | 7.1 | 6.0 | 7.2 | 6.9 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 6.8 | 11.7 | 11.5 | 82.9 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
See also
In Spanish: Luperón (República Dominicana) para niños
