Nagua

Nagua
Nagua
Coordinates: 19°22′48″N 69°51′0″W / 19.38°N 69.85°W / 19.38; -69.85
Country	Dominican Republic
Province	María Trinidad Sánchez
Founded
Municipality since	1938
Area[1]
- Total	552.71 km2 (213.4 sq mi)
Elevation[2]	3 m (10 ft)
Population (2002)[3]
- Total	56,268
- Density	101.8/km2 (263.7/sq mi)
- Urban	32,035
Distance to  – Santo Domingo	180 km
Municipal Districts	3

Nagua is the capital of María Trinidad Sánchez province, in the northeastern Dominican Republic.

A medium-sized town, Nagua's economy relies on the production of agricultural products, principally rice, coconuts, and cocoa bean. Located on the north of the Samaná Peninsula, Nagua lies on the highway leading from Puerto Plata to the city of Samaná.

Most of the town lies below sea level, which some believe makes Nagua susceptible to flooding that could destroy a substantial part of the town. In fact, during the reign of Rafael Trujillo (1930–1961), the neighboring town of Matanza, also below sea level, was destroyed by flooding caused by a magnitude 8.0 earthquake, in 1946. Many residents of Matanza chose to resettle in the area that is now Nagua. Matanza is now a small town called Matancita, just south of the city limits of Nagua.

Notables

• Cleveland Indians pitcher Ubaldo Jiménez was born in Nagua, Santo Domingo.

References

1. ^ Superficies a nivel de municipios, Oficina Nacional de Estadistica
2. ^ De la Fuente, Santiago (1976) (in Spanish). Geografía Dominicana. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: Editora Colegial Quisqueyana. 
3. ^ Censo 2002 de Población y Vivienda, Oficina Nacional de Estadistica

Coordinates: 19°22′48″N 69°51′00″W / 19.38°N 69.85°W / 19.38; -69.85