The island of Puerto Rico (Rich Port) has a large array of natural riches. Its central
mountain range reaches 1,338m (4,390ft) at Cerro de Punta; it has the only
tropical rainforest in the US National Forest System, El Yunque; and its
beaches brag warm, turquoise waters and soft, yellow sand.
Just as Puerto Rico’s bionetwork boasts unique characteristics, the
culture and way of life is also distinct. Many of San Juan’s buildings proudly preserve their original
Spanish style. This is still an island of
fiestas and paella.
Columbus ‘discovered’
Puerto Rico in 1493, but the
Taino Indians were the first inhabitants. After centuries of Spanish rule, Puerto Rico was ceded to the
USA in 1898. In 1917, Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship and the island later became a self-governing ‘
Commonwealth in association with the USA’. Thus Puerto Ricans can own an American passport but they do not pay US federal taxes and cannot vote in US elections.
There is still a vocal lobby for full
independence, but for the most part, the country happily juggles Spanish and US influence; not to mention a strong African influence legacy of the slave trade.
You can hear the
meeting of cultures in the island’s
infectious music and fast-paced nightlife.
Latino beats fuse with West African percussion, swing and big band: the perfect soundtrack for this vibrant, multicultural country.
GeographyPuerto Rico is an island east of the Dominican Republic and west of the British Virgin Islands. Also included are several smaller islands, such as Culebra, Mona and Vieques. The island is comparatively small, 8,959 sq km (3,459 sq miles), with a central mountain range reaching an altitude of 1,338m (4,390ft) at Cerro de Punta, and surrounded by low coastal plains. The capital is on the northeast shore. Much of the natural forest has been cleared for agriculture, but the trees in the northeast are protected as a national park. The other main towns are Aguadilla, Arecibo, Bayamón, Caguas, Carolina, Cayey, Farjardo, Guaynabo, Mayagüez and Ponce.
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