Cotuí

Cotuí
Cotuí Cotuí in the Dominican Republic
Coordinates: 19°03′36″N 70°09′0″W / 19.06°N 70.15°W / 19.06; -70.15Coordinates: 19°03′36″N 70°09′0″W / 19.06°N 70.15°W / 19.06; -70.15
Country	Dominican Republic
Province	Sánchez Ramírez
Founded	1505
Municipality since	1844
Area[1]
– Total	619.88 km2 (239.3 sq mi)
Elevation[2]	66 m (217 ft)
Population (2002)[3]
– Total	74,056
– Density	119.5/km2 (309.4/sq mi)
– Urban	42,115
– Demonym	Cotuisano(a)
Distance to  – Santo Domingo	105 km
Municipal Districts	4

Cotuí is a city in the Dominican Republic and is one of the oldest cities of the New World. It is the capital of Sánchez Ramírez Province in the Cibao. It was founded in the year 1510 by Rodrigo de Trujillo for order of Nicolas de Ovando, who was the governor of Hispaniola. Cotuí was the name of an aboriginal Caribbean tribe leader (Cotoy) who governed the area. The city is well known for its gold, silver, iron, bauxite, marble and nickel mines, its rich soils and the largest artificial lake in the Caribbean, Presa de Hatillo. It is also known for its crystal clear rivers, and its caverns (prehistoric caves called Guácaras). It produces rice, plantains, cacao, pineapples, passion fruits, and yams. Cotui is also the hometown of Mets pitcher Duaner Sánchez and Milwaukee Brewers pitcher José Capellán.

Other major towns near Cotuí in Sánchez Ramírez, are Villa La Mata, Fantino, La Cueva and Cevicos.

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