Pedernales (from Spanish 'flints'; pronounced [peðeɾˈnales]) is the southernmost province of the Dominican Republic, including the offshore island of Isla Beata.

[2] The capital of the province, Pedernales, was originally called Juan López, who was a Spanish inhabitant who had settled in the area around the 19th century.

[citation needed] The province was called Pedernales after the river located on the border with Haiti, in which flint is abundant.

[citation needed] The province of Pedernales is located in the southwest of the Dominican Republic, sharing its borders with the neighboring Haiti.

As one moves away from the sea, the elevations grow to 400 m. Upon entering the north, the ground continues to rise up to the Sierra de Bahoruco.

], as it served as an orientation for Spanish and French ships during the colonial era that wanted to reach the Western expanse of the island.

In 1493, Christopher Columbus discovered Beata Island, and considered it a strategic point for ships, due to its geographical location.

When Hispaniola was divided into a French and a Spanish colony, the Pedernales River was set as a border limit.

From 1844, until the signing of the territorial division treaty (1929-1936), there were several incidents and border conflicts in the Enriquillo and Pedernales region.

According to statistical data, Pedernales is the least densely populated province in the Dominican Republic[citation needed].