Sosua

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Sosúa
native_name =
pushpin_

mapsize =200px

|250px
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Dominican Republic
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Puerto Plata
leader_title =
leader_name =
established_title =
established_date =
area_total_km2 =
area_footnotes =
population_as_of = 2008
population_total =64,198
population_density_km2 =
timezone =
utc_offset =
timezone_DST =
utc_offset_DST =
latd=19 |latm=45 |lats=0 |latNS=N
longd=70|longm= 31|longs=12 |longEW=W
elevation_m =
area_code =
website =

Sosúa is a small town in the Puerto Plata province of the Dominican Republic. Located approximately 4 miles from the Puerto Plata International Airport (POP), the town is accessed primarily by Camino Cinco, or Highway 5, which runs much of the length of the country's North coastline. The town is divided into three sectors: El Batey, which is the main section where most tourists visit, Sosua Abajo, and Los Charamicos.

El Batey was the settlement area of approximately 500 of the 5,000 German and Austrian Jewish refugees for whom the Dominican government issued visas between 1940 and 1945 (see Dominican Jews). The government provided them with land and resources with which they created a dairy and cheese factory, named Productos Sosua, still in existence today. Descendants of the original settlers still live in Sosua, where they maintain a synagogue and a museum.

Sosua Abajo, which translates roughly to "Lower Sosua", is located on the West end of Sosua in a valley near a river that dumps into Sosua Bay. It is a less commercial, more rural area of Sosua, and houses many of the workers who commute to the El Batey area, nearby Cabarete Bay and Playa Dorada.

The Barrio of Los Charamicos is situated between El Batey and Abajo, and is a densely populated urban area known for its nightlife, dancing, and bar scene.

The North Coast of the Dominican Republic has been a top tourist destination for Europeans for nearly three decades. There is a very large expatriate community in Sosua, which consists of mostly German, English, American, and Canadian expats.

Sosua Bay attracts many water sports enthusiast, including snorkelers and divers because of its sheltered, calm waters, diverse species of fish and intricate reef structures. In the winter, whale watching is also a popular tourist activity in Sosua Bay.

Recently, naturally occurring beach nourishment has created a new beach just north of Sosua Bay, depositing sand where there were previously only sheer rock cliffs. The beach bears both the names Playa Alicia, and Play Casa Marina because of the hotel in close proximity that bears the same name.

External links

* [http://www.sosuatoday.com Sosua Dominican Republic. News and Information]
* [http://www.sosuanews.com Sosua-News, latest news and information from Sosua]