Sosúa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sosúa
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Municipality
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Sosúa beach
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 Sosúa
Location in the Dominican Republic
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| Country |  Dominican Republic |
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| Province | Puerto Plata | ||
| Area | |||
| • Municipality | 276.89 km2 (106.91 sq mi) | ||
| Population
(2010)
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| • Municipality | 49,593 | ||
| • Density | 179.107/km2 (463.886/sq mi) | ||
| • Urban | 7,713 | ||
| Municipal districts | 2 | ||
| Distance to – Santo Domingo |
240 km (150 mi) |
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Sosúa is a beach town in the Puerto Plata province of the Dominican Republic approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) from the Gregorio Luperón International Airport in San Felipe de Puerto Plata.
The town is divided into three sectors: El Batey, which is the main tourist section and on the east side of the main beach (Playa Sosúa); Los Charamicos, on the west end of the beach; north of them, toward the airport, is Sosúa Abajo.
Sosua is accessed primarily by Camino Cinco, or Highway 5, which runs the country's northern coastline.
Contents
History
The town of Sosúa was officially founded by Jewish settlers (see Dominican Jews) who were fleeing from Nazi Germany. At the 1938 Evian Conference, Rafael Trujillo offered to accept up to 100,000 Jewish refugees; about 800 German and Austrian Jewish refugees received visas issued by the Dominican government between 1940 and 1945 and settled in Sosúa. An agreement was made between Trujillo and Jewish businessmen in New York City. The government provided the settlers with land and resources with which they created a food factory and company named Productos Sosúa still in existence today.
Descendants of the original Jewish settlers still live in Sosúa; among them is the former mayor Ilana Neumann. They remain an important segment of the community and maintain a synagogue and a museum.
Most of the descendants of the refugees have migrated to the United States. Some families remained and established inns and bed and breakfasts, which were first visited by former refugees.
Description
Sosúa Abajo, which translates roughly to "Lower Sosúa", is located on the western side of Sosúa in a valley nearby a river that flows into Sosúa Bay. Mainly a rural area of Sosúa, Sosúa Abajo houses many of the workers who commute to the El Batey area, nearby Cabarete Bay and Playa Dorada.
The Barrio of Los Charamicos, between El Batey and Abajo, is a densely-populated urban area known for its nightlife, dancing, and bar scene.
The bay and beach
Sosúa Bay attracts many water sports enthusiasts, including snorkelers and divers because of its sheltered, calm waters, diverse species of fish and intricate reef structures. In the winter, whale watching is also a popular tourist activity in Sosúa Bay.
Recently, naturally occurring beach replenishment has created a new beach just north of Sosúa Bay, depositing sand where there were previously only sheer rock cliffs. The beach is called Playa Alicia.
There are several other beaches, Sosua Beach, which is a crescent-shaped bay protected by coral formations. Sosúa's other beaches are Waterfront (Playa Alicia), Paradise beach (actually shifts on and off every several months), Playa Imbert and Playa Chiquita. Waterfront beach is just 21–22 years old, created after a storm around 2002.
Gallery
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Sosua street mural
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Jewish museum
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Sosua resort area
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Los Charamicos
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