Dominica has been nicknamed the "Nature Isle of the Caribbean" for its natural environment. The island has lush mountainous rainforest, and is home to many rare plants, animals, and bird species.
Dominica was devastated by Hurricane David in August 1979, and then again by Hurricane Maria in September 2017. There was widespread damage when I visited the island in January 2018. Dominica doesn't have much own resources, so they have a very difficult time recovering from the devastation. Just a few days after my visit, the first cruise ship since the hurricane was scheduled to port in Roseau. Tourism is the main income generator for Dominica, so everybody was eagerly awaiting the cruise ship
Approaching Dominica. It was rainy when we got there. (572k) Roseau, Capital of Dominica. Like many of the Caribbean cities, Roseau is very colorfull. (648k) Roseau, Capital of Dominica. (788k) Closer view of Roseau. Notice the many blue plastic tarps covering buildings damaged by the hurricane. (937k) Our Lady of Fair Haven Cathedral in downtown Roseau. (791k) Damaged building in downtown Roseau. (641k) Damaged building. (907k) Devastation was everywhere. (1008k) Damaged powerlines. (1263k) This African Baobab Tree (Adansonia digitata, german: Afrikanischer Affenbrotbaum, french: Baobab africain) broke in an earlier hurricane and crashed onto a car. It was left there. (1065k) Road damage. (958k) Damage to the trail to the Trafalgar Falls. (1.5M) Removing a huge rock from the trail, by heating and cracking it. (1121k) Fixing damage to the Tralafgar Falls Visitor Center. (1075k) Damaged water pipe for the hydroelectric plant. (1327k) Water main for hydroelectric plant. (1320k) Village in the Roseau Valley. All the trees have been affected by the hurricane. (1120k) Village in the Roseau Valley. Several roofs have been damaged by the hurricane. (1238k) Wrought-iron work on a building in downtown Roseau. (642k) Traffic in downtown Roseau. (693k) Street in downtown Roseau. (698k) Market in Roseau. (809k) Cruise ship dock in Roseau. (633k) Working on the cruise ship dock in Roseau in preparation for the first cruise ship since the hurricane, expected in a few days. (784k) Big excavator. (958k) Big excavator at work. (750k) Utility crew. These crews were everywhere, trying to cope with the damage. (837k) Utility crew working on powerlines. (820k) Utility crew working on powerlines. (1076k)
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