Tree trunk, Dominican Republic

Between the islands of Samoa and Catalina in the Caribbean, a tree trunk, caught on the coral, spins around and around, making these curious patterns on the water. The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern part of Hispaniola Island in the West Indies. The island’s southern coast faces the Caribbean and its 10,000 mi2 (25,900 km2) of coral. These protect the local population, notably by forming a barrier against storm waves. Today coral is being severely damaged. Along with the impact of increasingly frequent hurricanes in the area, coral is also subject to agricultural pollution and the discharge of wastewater and hydrocarbons from pleasure boats. It is estimated that two-thirds of the coral in the area is now endangered. If this damage continues, the country’s entire economy could suffer. Indeed, as the leading tourist destination in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic draws most of its revenue from its 3 million annual visitors, the majority of whom come to admire its beaches and seafloor.