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Salvaleón de Higüey facts for kids

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Higüey
Municipality
Salvaleón de Higüey
Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia basilica
Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia basilica
Coat of arms of Higüey
Coat of arms
Country  Dominican Republic
Province La Altagracia
Municipal Districts 3
Founded 1503
Municipality since
1844
Area
 • Total 907.7 km2 (350.5 sq mi)
 • Urban
27.93 km2 (10.78 sq mi)
Elevation
106 m (348 ft)
Population
 (2014)
 • Total 168,501
 • Density 185.635/km2 (480.793/sq mi)
 • Urban
147,978
Demonym(s) Higüeyano
(female, higüeyana)
Time zone UTC-4 (AST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (AST)
Distance 35 km (22 mi) to La Romana
145 km (90 mi) to Santo Domingo]

The Dominican city of Salvaleón de Higüey, usually known as Higüey, is the head municipality of the La Altagracia province, on the eastern part of the country.

The Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia ("Our Lady of High Grace Basilica"), a cathedral, is in this city and many Catholic people come here to pray.

Population

The municipality had, in 2010, a total population of 168,501: 84,562 men and 83,939 women. The urban population was 87.8% of the total population, one of the most urban municipality in the country.

History

The city was founded by Juan de Esquivel in 1503. Higüey was the Taíno name of the eastern part of the island.

Geography

The municipality of Salvaleón de Higüey has a total area of 907.7 km2 (350.5 sq mi). It has three municipal districts (a municipal district is a subdivision of a municipality). These are Las Lagunas de Nisibón, La Otra Banda and Verón Punta Cana.

Higüey is at 145 km (90 mi) to the east of Santo Domingo and at 35 km (22 mi) to the north of La Romana. The municipality is in the region known as Llano Costero del Caribe ("Caribbean Coastal Plain"), in the eastern part of the country, a region with many savannas.

The altitude of the city of Higüey is 106 m (348 ft) above sea level.

The municipality of Higüey has the Atlantic Ocean to the north and east, the municipality of San Rafael del Yuma to the south, the La Romana province to the southwest and the El Seibo province to the west.

Climate

Higüey has a tropical wet climate (Köppen climate classification : Af) with no dry or cold season as it is constantly moist.

The average amount of rainfall for the year in the city is 1,423.2 mm (56.0 in). The month with the most precipitation on average is May with 183.1 mm (7.2 in) of rainfall, followed by October with 160 mm (6.3 in).

The driest season is winter. The month with the least rainfall on average is February with an average of 66.8 mm (2.6 in) and the second is March with 71.6 mm (2.8 in).

Higüey is in a warm region; the average temperature for the year is 26.4 °C (80 °F). The warmest month, on average, is July with an average temperature of 27.85 °C (82.1 °F). The coolest month on average is January, with an average temperature of 24.55 °C (76.19 °F).

Climate data for Higüey (1961–1990)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 29.1
(84.4)
29.3
(84.7)
30.2
(86.4)
30.7
(87.3)
31.2
(88.2)
32.2
(90.0)
32.4
(90.3)
32.4
(90.3)
32.5
(90.5)
32
(90)
30.7
(87.3)
29.1
(84.4)
31.0
(87.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 24.6
(76.3)
24.6
(76.3)
25.3
(77.5)
25.9
(78.6)
26.7
(80.1)
27.6
(81.7)
27.9
(82.2)
27.9
(82.2)
27.8
(82.0)
27.2
(81.0)
26.2
(79.2)
24.9
(76.8)
26.4
(79.5)
Average low °C (°F) 20
(68)
19.9
(67.8)
20.3
(68.5)
21.1
(70.0)
22.1
(71.8)
23
(73)
23.3
(73.9)
23.3
(73.9)
23
(73)
22.4
(72.3)
21.6
(70.9)
20.7
(69.3)
21.7
(71.0)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 75.6
(2.98)
66.8
(2.63)
71.6
(2.82)
105.3
(4.15)
183.1
(7.21)
101.3
(3.99)
117.9
(4.64)
141.2
(5.56)
134.4
(5.29)
160
(6.3)
152.1
(5.99)
113.9
(4.48)
1,423.2
(56.04)
Source 1: NOAA
Source 2: Climatemps.com

Administrative division

The municipality of Higüey has three municipal districts:

Municipal districts of Higüey
Code Municipal district Population
(2010)
110102 Las Lagunas de Nisibón 9,831
110103 La Otra Banda 28,929
110104 Verón Punta Cana 43,982

Economy

The most important economic activity in the municipality is tourism, along the eastern coast, mainly in Bávaro and Punta Cana.

But farming is still an important activity in the rest of the municipality, mainly cattle raising. Also sugarcane is a very important crop in this municipality.


Provincial capitals of the Dominican Republic Flag of the Dominican Republic
AzuaBaníBarahonaBonaoComendadorCotuíDajabónEl SeiboHato MayorHigüeyJimaníLa RomanaLa VegaMaoMocaMonte CristiMonte PlataNaguaNeibaPedernalesPuerto PlataSabanetaSalcedoSamanáSan CristóbalSan Francisco de MacorísSan José de OcoaSan Juan de la MaguanaSan Pedro de MacorísSantiago de los CaballerosSanto DomingoSanto Domingo Este

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Higüey para niños

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