Dominica is an independent island Commonwealth in the Caribbean Sea, and is the northernmost of the Winward Islands in the Lesser Antilles Archipelago. It was originally settled by the French, and then the British, which is why English remains the official language, with Dominican Creole French as a secondary vernacular. The country is also home to the only remaining pre-Columbian population in the eastern Caribbean, a community of around 3,000 Carib Indians.

The country is around 290 square miles and predominantly consists of rainforest, with 365 rivers and many waterfalls and springs. It is also home to Boiling Lake, the second largest hot spring in the world, as well as a number of protected areas where many species that were thought to be extinct can be found. There are three national parks in Dominica, including the World Heritage Site Morne Trois Pitons, as well as Morne Diablotin and Cabrits. There are also sandy beaches in the northeast Calibishe area that are popular with tourists.