The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. It has a tropical climate and terrain that includes mountain ranges, valleys, and desert-like areas. The people are predominantly of mixed European and African descent and Spanish is the main language. Tourism and services are the largest economic sectors, while agriculture also plays an important role. Christopher Columbus first discovered the island in 1492 and Spain established Santo Domingo as the first permanent European settlement in the Americas. The Dominican Republic achieved independence from Haiti in 1844 after alternating between weak democracies and dictator-led governments.