drugs.Others track missing people.
Guide dogs help blind people get around.
#More to explore
Coyote • Fox • Jackal • Mammal • Pet
•Wolf
Doha
Population
(2004 estimate)
339,800
Doha is the capital of theMiddle Eastern
country of Qatar. The city lies along a
bay of the Persian Gulf. Doha is Qatar’s
major port and center of business.
People have lived in the Doha area for
thousands of years. Doha developed as a
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Doha 63
small fishing village. For many years it
was a base for pirates who sailed in the
Persian Gulf. Doha was destroyed in
1867 during a war, but it was rebuilt.
Great Britain took charge of Qatar’s
foreign affairs in 1916. Oil was discovered
in the region in the 1930s. Qatar
used some of its oil wealth to make
Doha more modern. In 1971 Qatar
became an independent country. Doha
became its capital.
#More to explore
Qatar
Dolphin
Dolphins look like big fishes, but they
are actually mammals. They belong to a
large group of animals called whales.
Dolphins are closely related to porpoises.
Because dolphins and porpoises
look so much alike, people often confuse
the two. However, dolphins are usually
larger and have longer, beaklike snouts.
There are more than 35 species, or
types, of dolphin. They are divided into
two groups: true dolphins and river dolphins.
True dolphins live throughout the
world in either salt water or freshwater.
The most widespread species are the
common dolphin and the bottlenose
dolphin. River dolphins live in freshwater
in South America and Asia.
Most dolphins are 7 to 10 feet (2 to 3
meters) long, but some species can reach
a length of 13 feet (4 meters). Dolphins
have smooth, rubbery skin. They have a
flipper on each side and a fin on the
back. A dolphin must come up to the
water’s surface to get air. It breathes
through a single nostril, called a blowhole,
on the top of its head.
Dolphins are known for being intelligent
and playful. They live together in
groups, called schools. They use sounds
to communicate.
Female dolphins give birth to one baby,
or calf, at a time. Some types of dolphin
may live for 30 years.
#More to explore
Fish • Mammal • Porpoise • Whale
Traditional Qatari ships sail past a modern
hotel in Doha.
Although dolphins look like fish and live in
the water, they are actually mammals.
64 Dolphin BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Dominica
The Commonwealth of Dominica is a
small island republic in the Caribbean
Sea. Christopher Columbus named the
island after the Latin phrase dies
dominica, which means “the Lord’s day.”
Columbus had first spotted the island
on a Sunday. Dominica’s capital and
largest city is Roseau.
Geography
Dominica lies between the French
islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique.
It is about 29 miles (47 kilometers) long
and less than 16 miles (26 kilometers)
wide. A forest-covered mountain range
runs from north to south. Dominica has
a hot climate with dry and rainy seasons.
Plants and Animals
The Dominican jungle may be the last
original rain forest in the Caribbean. It
is filled with iguanas, boa constrictors,
rabbit-sized rodents called agoutis, and
large frogs called crapauds. Imperial
parrots and red-necked parrots live only
in Dominica.
People
Most Dominicans are descended from
Africans. There are also small groups of
whites, Asians, and Caribs (American
Indians). English is the official language,
but a form of French is commonly spoken.
Most Dominicans are Roman
Catholics. Almost three fourths of the
population lives in cities.
Economy
Dominica is one of the poorest Caribbean
countries. Its economy depends on
farming, and hurricanes sometimes
destroy the crops. Bananas are the main
crop. Other crops include root vegetables,
citrus fruit, and coconuts.
Manufacturers produce mainly soap,
toothpaste, and coconut oil. Dominica’s
main mineral resource is pumice, a type
of volcanic rock.
History
In 1493 Columbus arrived at Dominica,
which was inhabited by Caribs. The
French set up a colony there in the
1630s. Settlers later brought Africans to
work on plantations as slaves. Great
Britain won control in 1783. In 1978
the island became independent. Since
then Dominica’s leaders have worked to
improve the economy.
..More to explore
Caribbean Sea • Roseau
Facts About
DOMINICA
Population
(2008 estimate)
72,500
Area
290 sq mi (750
sq km)
Capital
Roseau
Form of
government
Republic
Major towns
Roseau, Portsmouth,
Marigot,
Atkinson, Mahaut
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Dominica 65
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is located on
the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean
Sea. The people are known for
their merengue dance and their passion
for baseball. The capital is Santo Domingo.
Geography
Hispaniola lies between the islands of
Cuba and Puerto Rico. The Dominican
Republic occupies the eastern two thirds
of Hispaniola. Haiti occupies the western
third. The island has fertile valleys,
desertlike areas, and four mountain
ranges. Duarte Peak, at 10,417 feet
(3,175 meters), is the highest mountain
in theWest Indies. The country has a
tropical climate with warm temperatures
year-round.
Royal palm trees grow throughout the
Dominican Republic. Rain forests occur
