Salvaleón de Higüey (also known as Higüey) is the capital city of the eastern province of La Altagracia, in the Dominican Republic. In 1981, the city had a total population of 35,501 inhabitants. The river Yuma flows through the urban area of Higüey. The economy of Higüey is based on tropical agriculture (reed, coffee, tobacco, cacao, rice and maize), cattle (cows and pigs), fishing and tourism at the coast. The most important monuments in the city are the basilica of La Altagracia and the church of San Dionisio