n.
Spanish Española
Island, central West Indies.
The second-largest West Indian island, it lies east of Cuba. It is divided into Haiti to the west and the Dominican Republic to the east. The island is some 400 mi (650 km) long and 150 mi (241 km) wide at its widest point. Christopher Columbus landed there in 1492. The Spanish wiped out the natives and settled the island with African slaves. The slaves rebelled in the late 18th century; led by Toussaint-Louverture and J.-J. Dessalines , it became independent in 1804, forming the Republic of Haiti. In 1843 the eastern part rebelled and the Dominican Republic was formed.