MAO

city, northwestern Dominican Republic. It lies near the Yaque del Norte River in the fertile Cibao Valley. The city was formerly called Valverde. Mao is principally a rice-growing and milling centre, although a variety of other crops are grown in the area. Lumbering and placer gold mining take place near the city. Mao can be reached by secondary highways linking Santo Domingo with Montecristi in the extreme northwest. Pop. (1981) 33,527.