Cibao
(Redirected from Cibao Valley)
Cibao, usually referred as "El Cibao", is a sub-region of the Dominican Republic, located at the geographical center of the country.
The Taino word Cibao, meaning "place where rocks abound", was originally applied to the central mountain range, known as the "Cibao Mountains," and used during the Spanish Conquest to refer to the valley at the base of these mountains.
The Cibao Valley is the most fertile and productive region of the isle. Its mineral resources include gold, iron and nickel, among others.
The whole zone, wich is comprised of the provinces of Santiago de los Caballeros, Monseñor Nouel, Duarte, Espaillat, La Vega, Sánchez Ramírez and Salcedo, is rich in farming products. The valley is a geographical unit, but also a linguistic and psychological unit. The people of Cibao speak and think similarly throughout the region.
The mountain merengue, played on güira, tambourine and accordion, originates in the Cibao region.
External links
- El Cibao: Zona Norte y Central (in Spanish)