Dominica, officially known as the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation located in the West Indies. The capital city, Roseau, is situated on the island's western side. Geographically, it is part of the Leeward Islands chain in the Lesser Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean Sea. The island is positioned near Guadeloupe to the northwest and Martinique to the south-southeast. It covers an area of 750 km2 (290 sq mi), and its highest point is Morne Diablotins, which stands at an elevation of 1,447 m (4,747 ft). As of the 2011 census, the population was 71,293.
It is believed that Columbus passed by the island on November 3, 1493. The island was later colonized by Europeans, mainly by the French from the 1690s until 1763. After the Seven Years' War, Great Britain took control in 1763 and gradually established English as the official language. The island became an independent republic in 1978.
The name Dominica is pronounced with emphasis on the third syllable, similar to its French name, Dominique. The island has earned the nickname "Nature Isle of the Caribbean" due to its natural beauty. It is the youngest island in the Lesser Antilles and is still being formed by geothermal-volcanic activity. This is evidenced by the world's second-largest hot spring, known as Boiling Lake. The island is home to lush mountainous rainforests and a variety of rare plants, animals, and bird species. Some of the western coastal regions are xeric, but heavy rainfall is common inland. The Sisserou parrot, also known as the imperial amazon and found only on Dominica, is the island's national bird and is featured on the national flag. The flag is one of only two national flags that include the color purple, the other being Nicaragua's.