Adjuntas is a mountainside municipality that's nicknamed "the Switzerland of Puerto Rico." What Is Birthright Citizenship in the United States? Founded in either 1670 or 1680 as Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Ponce, it was raised to the status of town in 1692, villa in 1848, and city in 1877. The Antilles are divided into two regions—Greater Antilles and Lesser Antilles. English: Geography of Puerto Rico, an insular area of the United States in the Caribbean. Census data are available for Puerto Rico from periodic censuses, beginning with a census taken by the War Department in 1899. San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital, is located on the north side of the island. The island of Puerto Rico has surprising geographical diversity with some 60% of the island's terrain being very hilly. It is the smallest island in the Greater … Apply to Retail Sales Associate, Program Manager, Project Director and more! International recognition would come quickly for the new nation, which would have to develop its own defense and a new government. Puerto Rico makes up part of the Great Antilles being the smallest eastern island in this collection. In 1917 Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship. The karst region extends west from Aquadilla to the east of San Juan in Loiza. The municipality of Gurabo has a history that dates back to the 17th century when it was part of Caguas. Puerto Rico, officially Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Spanish Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, self-governing island commonwealth of the West Indies, associated with the United States. The new state would probably obtain six new voting members of the House of Representatives and of course, two Senators. Which Are the Smallest States in the U.S.? This site is supported by ads. The island has regions of low land, valleys, and foothills, and the Cordillera Mountains cross southcentral Puerto Rico. The area became a commonwealth on July 25, 1952, with the right to internal self-government. To the north and east is the Atlantic Ocean. They enclose the Caribbean sea. Various smaller islands and cays, including Vieques, Culebra, Mona, Desecheo, and Caja de Muertos Choose from 500 different sets of puerto rico geography flashcards on Quizlet. 10 Geography jobs available in Puerto Rico on Indeed.com. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is an unincorporated island territory of the United States of America, located in north-eastern Caribbean Sea. The U.S. is the major trading partner, 86% of exports are sent to the U.S. and 69% of imports come from the fifty states. The territory is very mountainous (covering about 60%), except in the regional coasts, but Puerto Rico... Terrain. The island of Puerto Rico is found in the Caribbean Sea, approximately 1,000 miles from Miami. If Puerto Rico were to become the fifty-first state, the U.S. federal government and the state-to-be will establish a ten-year transitional process towards statehood. There are also caves, deserts, oceans, rivers and stunning beaches. The island is approximately 90 miles wide in an east-west direction and 30 miles wide between the north and south coasts. Even though they are citizens, Puerto Ricans pay no federal income tax and they can not vote for president. Map of Puerto Rico & articles on flags, geography, history, statistics, disasters, and current events. While most Puerto Ricans speak some English, only about a quarter of the population is fully bilingual. Puerto Ricans have been citizens of the United States since a law was passed in 1917. Puerto Ricans would also begin paying federal income tax and business would lose the special tax exemptions that are a major part of the economy. All trademarks, product names, logos, and the like, appearing on the site are the property of their respective owners. The tallest mountain is in the center of the island, Cerro de Punta, which is 4,389 feet high (1338 meters). Mona Island lies about fifty miles west of the Puerto Rican coastline. The main island of Puerto Rico is the smallest and most eastern of the Greater Antilles. The population is a mixture of Spanish, African, and indigenous heritage. Droughts and hurricanes are the major natural hazards. Larger Than Delaware and Rhode Island. The Puerto Rican coastline measures about five hundred and eighty kilometers. By clicking Agree you are accepting Terms of Service. The geography of Puerto Rico consists of an archipelago located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic, west of the Virgin Islands and north of Venezuela. The three distinct physiographic regions are divided into the karst areas, the coastal lowlands and the mountainous region. Your Rights and Responsibilities as a New US Citizen, What Is Latin America? The Antilles is a chain of islands that stretch more than 1500 miles starting from Florida (USA) to Venezuela (South America). Puerto Rico. The island's population is quite dense, with about 1100 people per square mile (427 people per square kilometer). All rights reserved. Visitors to Laguna Grande never fail to be amazed at the unique after-dark spectacle provided by this tropical bioluminescent lagoon as the water - or more specifically, the millions of dinoflagellates in the water - light up and glow in response to the slightest disturbance. These may or may not actually be related to Puerto Rico. With an area of 3,515 square miles (9,104 km ), it is the third largest island in the United States and the 82nd largest island in the world. There are also caves, deserts, oceans, rivers and stunning beaches. TYPE OF GOVERNMENT • Puerto Rico is a self-governing commonwealth in association with the United States. Interestingly, in 2005 it was estimated that 90.72% of the land was not being used while only 5.59% was being used permanently for crops and 3.69% is arable land. It is also almost twice the size of Delaware. Archipelago located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic, west of the Virgin Islands and north of Venezuela. Major exports include pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, sugarcane, and coffee. Located on the east coast of Puerto Rico, in the municipality of Fajardo, the magnificent Laguna Grande is one of the ... PuertoRico.com® is a non-government website designed to help travelers learn about the island of Puerto Rico. The coasts of tropical Puerto Rico are flat but most of the interior is mountainous. • Puerto Rico is located in the Caribbean and east of the Dominican Republic. 438.74/km2(1,136.33/sq mi) The geography of Puerto Ricoconsists of an archipelagolocated between the Caribbean Seaand the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republicand west of the Virgin Islands. Spanish is the primary language on the island and for a short time earlier this decade, it was the commonwealth's official language. Learn more about the geography of Puerto Rico. This long chain of smaller islands, bordered in the east by the Atlantic Ocean, curve southward, terminating in Trinidad just off the northern coast of Venezuela. Vieques lies about 7 miles (11.3 km) east of the main island and is approximately … Puerto Rico is the smallest and most eastern of the Greater Antilles. The Lesser Antilles begin to the east of Puerto Rico. Definition and List of Countries, Geography of the Territories of the United States. In the North lies the karst region – an area that is seen as being a crucial physiographic area. Are Puerto Ricans Immigrants in the U.S.? If independence were chosen by the citizens of Puerto Rico in the future, then the United States will assist the new country through a decade-long transition period. Share. The main mountain range is called "La Cordillera Central" (The Central Range). 3. The top four highest mountains in Puerto Rico are Cerro Punta, Rosa, Guilarte and the Tres Picachos. Please help us out and disable your ad-blocker. The island is mostly mountainous with large coastal areas in the north and south. The third most populous urban centre of the island, after San Juan and Bayamón, the city is situated 3 miles (5 km) north of its port, Playa de Ponce. Here you will find a unique, untouched environment housing creatures found nowhere else in the world. Puerto Rico: Reading Comprehensions with References to Puerto Rico This section lists reading comprehensions on edHelper.com with references to Puerto Rico. Due to erosion from the interior mountains, a chain of smaller valleys lie at right angles in close proximity to the east and west coast. It is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the south, the Virgin Passage to the East and the Mona Passage to the West. San Juan (/ ˌ s æ n ˈ hw ɑː n /, Spanish: [saŋ ˈxwan]; "Saint John") is the capital and most-populous municipality in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States.As of the 2010 census, it is the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of the United States, with a population of 395,326. Puerto Rico has both Spanish and English for its official languages. What Is the Difference Between a Commonwealth and a State? The rougher, cooler Atlantic Ocean is on the north side of the island; the calmer, warmer Caribbean Sea is on the south side. The geography of Puerto Rico consists of an archipelago located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic, west of the Virgin Islands and north of Venezuela. Geography Puerto Rico is an island east of the Dominican Republic and west of the British Virgin Islands. "The road is pretty slick and gravel-ridden, so if you're going up in the rain (or going to go down in the rain) 4-wheel drive with low gear is NECESSARY." When Did Puerto Rico Become a US Territory? Congress granted the people of Puerto Rico United States citizenship in 1917. Puerto Rico, which means "rich port" in Spanish, wasn't settled until 1508 when Ponce de Leon founded a town near present-day San Juan. Learn puerto rico geography with free interactive flashcards. The main island of Puerto Ricois the smallest and most eastern of the Greater Antilles. Puerto Rico - Geography Puerto Rico - Culture Puerto Rico - History. The island is very hilly, 75% of the island is made up of mountains or hills. We are using cookies to make the website better. There are almost four million Puerto Ricans, which would make the island the 23rd most populous state (between Alabama and Kentucky). The archipelago of Puerto Rico is located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of the Virgin Islands. About seven-eighths of Puerto Ricans are Roman Catholic and literacy is about 90%. After the Spanish-American War in 1898, Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States. Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States but if it … It is located in the Caribbean Sea. Puerto rico 1. In 1493, Christopher Columbus discovered the island and claimed it for Spain. km (3,515 sq mi). In 1967, 1993, and 1998 the citizens of the island voted to maintain the status quo. The highest elevation in Puerto Rico, Cerro de Punta 4,390 feet (1,340 m), is located in this range. The beautiful coastal area extends for approximately thirteen to nineteen kilometers in the north and for three to thirteen kilometers to the south. Geography of Puerto Rico The Antilles. ", Pursuing Statehood Through the U.S. Congress, Why Puerto Rico Matters in the US Presidential Election. In 1948 the U.S. government began Operation Bootstrap which infused millions of dollars into the Puerto Rican economy and made it one of the wealthiest. Puerto Rico is a rectangular island, situated roughly in the middle of the Antilles, a chain of islands that stretches from Florida to Venezuela and forms the dividing line between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The federal government is expected to spend about three billion dollars annually in the state toward benefits not currently received by the Commonwealth. © Copyright 1995-2020 PuertoRico.com. Puerto Rico is not a state, it is an unincorporated territory of the United States. Geography of Puerto Rico Geology. Puerto Rico remained a Spanish colony for more than four centuries until the United States defeated Spain in the Spanish-American war in 1898 and occupied the island. In November 2012, Puerto Ricans voted not to maintain the status quo and to pursue statehood through the U.S. Congress. The three distinct physiographic regions are divided into the karst areas, the coastal lowlands and the mountainous region. Islands similar to or like Geography of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is an archipelago formed by the main island of Puerto Rico and several smalle islands: Vieques, Culebra, Mona and numerous islets. Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic Puerto Rico had one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region until 2006; however, growth has been negative for each of the last 11 years. The main island of Puerto Rico is about 110 miles (177 km) long (west to east) and 35 miles (56.3 km) wide (north to south), and covers 3,515 square miles (9,104 square km) — slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island, according to the Central Intelligence Agency. Several small offshore islands are part of Puerto Rico, but only two are inhabited year-round: Vieques and Culebra. The island of Puerto Rico has surprising geographical diversity with some 60% of the island's terrain being very hilly. They range from 3093 to 4389 ft. The Insular Cases: History and Significance, Biography of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, African History Expert, The Capital of Puerto Rico Celebrates Its Long and Vibrant History. The region features both rugged volcanic rock and delicate limestone and you will find a variety of sinkholes, karst features, limestone cliffs and caves in this region. It has a total area of 9,104 sq. Puerto Rico’s Official, National and Public Holidays, Legends, Fables, Myths and Stories of Puerto Rico, An Overview of the Education System in Puerto Rico, Traditional and Modern Influences Shaped Puerto Rican Music. The main island of Puerto Rico is the smallest and most eastern of the Greater Antilles. United States firms that are located in Puerto Rico receive tax incentives to encourage investments. Puerto Rico’s native Taíno population—whose hunter-gatherer ancestors settled the island more than 1,000 years before the Spanish arrived—called it Borinquén, and referred to themselves as boricua (a term that is still used today).During his second expedition to the Indies in 1493, Christopher Columbus returned several Taíno captives to Borinquén and claimed the island for Spain, calling it San Juan Bautista. Unrestricted U.S. migration of Puerto Ricans has made New York City the one place with the most Puerto Ricans anywhere in the world (over one million). Those Lesser Antilles are subdivided into the Leeward Islands group in the north and the Windward Islands group in the south. Matt Rosenberg is an award-winning geographer and the author of "The Handy Geography Answer Book" and "The Geography Bee Complete Preparation Handbook. The mountainous interior is formed by the Cordillera Central Range and this is formed by a central mountain chain ranging from Mayaguez to Aibonito. Wikipedia (CC-BY-SA 3.0) pursue statehood through the U.S. Congress, M.A., Geography, California State University - Northridge, B.A., Geography, University of California - Davis. The easternmost island of the Greater Antilles chain, it lies approximately 50 miles (80 km) east of the Dominican Republic, 40 miles (65 km) west of the Virgin Islands, and 1,000 miles (1,600 km) … GEOGRAPHY • The capital of Puerto Rico is San Juan. Lajas, a municipality in southwestern Puerto Rico, is home to the famous Bahía Fosforescente, or Phosphorescent Bay. Puerto Rico has fertile soil, a subtropical climate, and sandy beaches. Physical Geography. Because of this the island has been placed under the management of the Puerto Rican Natural Resources and the United States as a National Park Service. Puerto Rico is the easternmost island of the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean Sea, approximately a thousand miles southeast of Florida and just east of the Dominican Republic and west of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Until the middle of the twentieth century, the island was one of the poorest in the Caribbean. The Geography of Puerto Rico Total Size: 13,790 square km Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States but if it became a state, Puerto Rico's land area of 3,435 square miles (8,897 km2) would make it the 49th largest state (larger than Delaware and Rhode Island). In 1508, Juan Ponce de León f… Located in the northeastern Caribbean Sea, Puerto Rico was key to the Spanish Empire since the early years of exploration, conquest and colonization of the New World. Puerto Rico is located in the archipelago of the Antilles. Because of the mountainous geographic chain and the short width of the island, Puerto Rico cannot really have any large lakes or long rivers. Located in the South of Puerto Rico you will find Ponce, which is geared up to welcome tourists with many places of interest to visit, such as the Serralles Castle, the Ponce Museum of Art, Hacienda Buena Vista and the Serralles Rum Distillery. Some of the natural resources that can be found are off-shore and on-shore crude oil – which isn’t currently being harvested – as well as copper, nickel and fish. About eight percent of the land is arable for agriculture. The territory consists of the main island, and a series of … Puerto Rico's climate is humid in many places, and some areas experience powerful storms daily. 5 2. The stars on the United States flag would change for the first time in more than fifty years. Puerto Rico is composed of Jurassic to Eocene volcanic and plutonic rocks, which are overlain by younger... Topography. The Arawakan people settled the island around the ninth century CE. The Porta Caribe Region of Puerto Rico has much to offer tourists, including delightful attractions, top destinations and abundant activities. "After spending the night at a coffee plantation nearby, we decided to try reaching the top of Cerro Punta, tallest peak on the island." Geography :: Puerto Rico Location : This entry identifies the country's regional location, neighboring countries, and adjacent bodies of water. However, for now, Puerto Rico remains a territory of the United States, with all that such a relationship entails. Home » Multi-Ethnic Cultures of Puerto Rico » Learn About the Geography of Puerto Rico. The island is almost rectangular in form. Geography of Puerto Rico. PUERTO RICO Rachel Lichtenstein and Jennifer Morganti Pd.