Monte Plata is a town and municipality (municipio) and the capital of the Monte Plata province in the Dominican Republic. It includes the municipal districts (distritos municipal) of Boyá, Chirino, and Don Juan.[3]
Monte Plata | |
|---|---|
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 Seal | |
  Monte Plata | |
| Coordinates: 18°48′36″N 69°47′24″W / 18.81000°N 69.79000°W | |
| Country |  Dominican Republic |
| Province | Monte Plata |
| Founded | 1606 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 623.55 km2 (240.75 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 56 m (184 ft) |
| Population (2012) | |
| • Total | 57,553 |
| • Density | 92/km2 (240/sq mi) |
| Municipal Districts | 3 |
| Distance to – Santo Domingo | 153 km |
| Climate | Af |
History
Monte Plata was founded by residents of the towns of Monte Cristi and Puerto Plata, whose destruction was ordered by the king of Spain and carried-out by Antonio Ozorio, Governor of the Island. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two cities MONTE Cristi and Puerto PLATA. The founders of Monte Plata were 87 families from the two previously mentioned cities.
Climate
| Climate data for Monte Plata (1961-1990) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 33.7 (92.7) | 33.7 (92.7) | 35.8 (96.4) | 36.9 (98.4) | 37.9 (100.2) | 36.7 (98.1) | 36.6 (97.9) | 37.8 (100.0) | 37.9 (100.2) | 36.6 (97.9) | 35.8 (96.4) | 33.7 (92.7) | 37.9 (100.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29.5 (85.1) | 30.1 (86.2) | 31.3 (88.3) | 32.3 (90.1) | 32.6 (90.7) | 33.0 (91.4) | 33.1 (91.6) | 33.0 (91.4) | 32.9 (91.2) | 32.2 (90.0) | 31.0 (87.8) | 29.5 (85.1) | 31.7 (89.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 18.8 (65.8) | 19.1 (66.4) | 20.0 (68.0) | 20.7 (69.3) | 21.8 (71.2) | 22.3 (72.1) | 22.4 (72.3) | 22.3 (72.1) | 22.1 (71.8) | 21.8 (71.2) | 20.6 (69.1) | 19.4 (66.9) | 20.9 (69.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 12.9 (55.2) | 14.8 (58.6) | 14.7 (58.5) | 14.9 (58.8) | 16.4 (61.5) | 15.4 (59.7) | 19.4 (66.9) | 17.3 (63.1) | 18.9 (66.0) | 18.6 (65.5) | 15.7 (60.3) | 13.9 (57.0) | 12.9 (55.2) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 60.9 (2.40) | 78.1 (3.07) | 102.3 (4.03) | 120.1 (4.73) | 256.1 (10.08) | 232.3 (9.15) | 232.0 (9.13) | 327.6 (12.90) | 252.4 (9.94) | 211.7 (8.33) | 118.1 (4.65) | 67.2 (2.65) | 2,058.8 (81.06) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 6.4 | 6.4 | 7.1 | 8.0 | 14.0 | 14.5 | 14.6 | 16.1 | 14.4 | 13.6 | 9.6 | 8.2 | 132.9 |
| Source: NOAA[4] | |||||||||||||
Hydrology
In the municipality the main rivers are the Ozama and the Yabacao. Other rivers are the tributaries, Yamasá, Mijo, Sabita and Guanuma.
Culture
Monte Plata possesses a wealth of folkloric elements and rich culture. Some of its best-known cultural elements are its folk songs, folk dances, oral and written traditions, historic monuments, and popular folk beliefs.
