The Dominican Republic is a small island nation that sits on the edge of the Caribbean Sea. Its history is deeply rooted in the Spanish colonial era, and it has gained much of its prosperity from the export of its tropical goods, such as tobacco, sugar, and bananas. There are nearly 10 million residents in the country, and many benefit from the prosperous economy mainly fueled by export and tourism, but there are also many who don't. Much of the country's poverty can be found in its rural communities, often amongst those cultivating its many export crops.