Janico

Janico is located south of the town of Santiago at an altitude of 372 meters above sea level.  It has a land area of 425.8km² and is bordered to the north with the municipal districts of the Yaque Hato, Savannah Baitoa Church and the municipality of Santiago to the south, east by the province of La Vega and to the west by the municipality of San Jose Matas.   It had a total population of 17.773 inhabitants in 2007.

Janico purchased the municipality in the province of Santiago in 1881. The origin of the settlement dates back to colonial times when the Spaniards built the fort Janico Thomas, the first built on the island. Today the town is made up of municipal districts and the Caimito Juncalito as well as rural sections.

The main source of the municipality of Janico’s economy is agriculture, especially coffee, making it one of the best coffee areas in the country. Janico’s population tends to migrate to foreign countries so remittances are an important element in the economy of this municipality.

Its location is in Cordillera Central and is endowed with scenic attributes with great potential for mountain tourism. Among its attractions are the highlights of Bao dam and a botanical garden with an area of 600 tasks of land administered by the Plan Sierra. On its border with the borough of Savannah is the Church Taveras hydroelectric complex, located on the rivers Yaque del Norte and Bao.

It is formed by the dams Taveras, Bao and the Lopez Angostura reservoir.  This provision gives the national electrical system 185 GWH and is used for irrigation of about 9.100 hectares of land.