The capital and largest town of Dominica, an island country in the Caribbean Sea, is Roseau. The town lies on the island’s southwestern coast, at the mouth of the Roseau River. Roseau was formerly called Charlotte Town.
Roseau has an attractive waterfront with a harbor and a dock for cruise ships. The main buildings include a Roman Catholic cathedral, St. George’s Church (Anglican), Government House, and Victoria Memorial Museum. Roseau also has a botanical garden and a cultural museum. Waterfalls and hot springs can be found in and around the town. Some 5 miles (8 kilometers) east of town is Morne Trois Pitons National Park, which contains a flooded fumarole called Boiling Lake. The park was made a World Heritage site by UNESCO (a United Nations agency) in 1997.
Dominica’s economy is based on farming and tourism. Bananas, coconut oil, and soaps are exported from Roseau. Many of the town’s people work in hotels or restaurants.
France and Great Britain fought for control of Dominica for hundreds of years. In 1805 French troops burned much of Roseau. In 1978 Dominica became an independent country with Roseau as its capital. A year later a hurricane struck, causing great damage. Population (2011 census), 14,725.