Lake Enriquillo

Lake Enriquillo is the Caribbean's largest lake and the lowest point in the Antilles, situated 130 feet below sea level in southwestern Dominican Republic. This saltwater lake hosts one of the world's largest populations of American crocodiles, along with rhinoceros iguanas—endemic to the island—and dozens of migratory and resident bird species. The desert landscape surrounding it, with cacti and arid mountains, creates a striking contrast with the water mirror reflecting the sky. A unique natural experience in the Caribbean.

The lake is named after the Taíno chief Enriquillo, who led the first successful indigenous revolt in the Americas against Spanish colonizers in the 16th century. He used the lake's islands as a refuge for 14 years until signing a peace treaty in 1534. The lake has a tectonic origin, formed from a marine bay that became isolated thousands of years ago as the land rose.