Hispaniola is the second-largest island of the Antilles, lying east of Cuba. Christopher Columbus arrived there in 1492, and in 1493 founded the first Spanish colony in the New World on it.

On March 10, 1496 Columbus left the island for Spain, ending his sixth visit to the Western Hemisphere.

Haiti, which comprises a third of the total area, is situated in the western side, the Dominican Republic which comprises two third of the Hispaniola is situated in the eastern side.

country	population	area	density
	(2002-07-01 est.)	(km2)	(/km2)
Haiti	7,063,722	27,750	255
Dominican Republic	8,721,594	48,730	179
	15,785,316	76,480	206