<P> Puerto Plata is famous for resorts such as Playa Dorada and Costa Dorada, located east of San Felipe de Puerto Plata . There are 100,000 hotel beds in the city . The only aerial tramway in the Caribbean is located in Puerto Plata, in which visitors can ride up to the Pico Isabel de Torres, a 793 meter high mountain within the city . </P> <P> The fortification Fortaleza San Felipe, which was built in the 16th century and served as a prison under Rafael Trujillo's dictatorship, lies close to the port of Puerta Plata . The amber museum, is also a well - known attraction in this city . La Isabela, a settlement built by Christopher Columbus, is located near Puerto Plata . In April 1563, the Spanish settlement became notorious when the English slave trader, Sir John Hawkins, brought 400 people he had abducted from Sierra Leone . Hawkins traded his victims with the Spanish for pearls, hides and sugars, some gold . This was the start of British involvement in the trans - Atlantic slave trade, in which 20 million people were forced into slavery . </P> <P> The city sits on land that rises abruptly from the sea making it almost completely visible from the port . It is bordered on the north by the Atlantic Ocean and to the south and southwest by the hill Isabel de Torres . </P> <P> The small bay around which the city was built provides a natural harbor . Puerto Plata is the largest city on the northern seaboard . Its subdivisions include: El Cupey, Maimón, Los Mameyes, Sabana Grande, El Toro, Tubagua, Yásica Abajo and San Marcos . The mountain, Isabel de Torres, is situated some 5 km to the southwest of the city of San Felipe . Geographically it forms part of the Cordillera Septentrional, reaching a maximum height of 800 m above sea level . It is possible to drive to the top of the mountain by following the highway Don José Ginebra . The highway, upon leaving the city, continues west passing the populated areas of San Marcos, Piedra Candela and El Cruce arriving at a paved section that continues southeast and then leads directly to the top . The area surrounding Loma Isabel de Torres has been declared a National Monument with an area that covers approximately 20 km . At the summit, there is a tropical botanical garden covering about 7 acres (28,000 m), featuring 600 varieties of tropical plants . </P>

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