puerto rico: what everyone needs to know by jorge duany free
It seems that Puerto Rico is often in the news afterward experiencing natural disasters and other events, giving people the (false) impression that the islands are dangerous and ever suffering. Others hear rumors and wonder about where Puerto Rico fits in the global picture. Is it an independent country or a part of the United States? What is it really like?
We've reviewed these questions (and others) to become to the bottom of the defoliation. Come along and take a deeper look at the cute, resilient Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico Is Part of America — Sort Of
I of the first questions people take near Puerto Rico is whether or non the islands are a part of America or not. Politically speaking, the Democracy of Puerto Rico (its official name) is an unincorporated territory of the United States.
This means the people of Puerto Rico are citizens of the United States, but at that place are some caveats. Puerto Ricans cannot vote in presidential elections unless they move to mainland U.S.A. But, if they don't brand income outside of Puerto Rico, they also don't take to file income taxes with the IRS.
Puerto Rico Is Not a Country
If y'all're counting up the countries you've visited, Puerto Rico may exist on the list. Just in actuality, the islands aren't a separate country. They're a territory of the United states of america and don't have the same sovereignty that a separate nation has.
The islands were admitted into the Matrimony every bit a U.S. territory in 1898 after the Castilian-American War, and residents were granted American citizenship in 1917. The islands became a United States Republic in 1952, which gave Puerto Rico more autonomy over elections and taxes locally. Merely it'due south still not a separate state.
Puerto Rico Isn't Merely One Single Island
A lot of folks call up that Puerto Rico is a single island somewhere vaguely off the coast of mainland America. Just, Puerto Rico is a chain of islands with a single main island — the one nearly of us are familiar with. This principal island is 110 miles long and 35 miles wide.
In that location are several small offshore islands that are as well part of the concatenation, though but two are inhabited yr-round: Culebra and Vieques. Culebra is nearly 7 miles east of the primary island, and Vieques is about ix miles away.
Its Geography Makes It Susceptible to Storms
Puerto Rico is an archipelago, significant information technology'south a group of islands. They're in the Caribbean area Body of water and a role of the Greater Antilles, which is another grouping of larger islands in the Caribbean. The location has made this smaller chain of islands important for centuries.
This geography has also made the islands extremely susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical storms. The islands often have difficulty recovering from these storms because of the fact that more nasty conditions follows within a short period of time.
San Juan Is the Capital City
Another common question that folks have regarding this beautiful group of islands has to practise with the capital. Originally, the capital city San Juan was actually called the City of Puerto Rico and is the oldest metropolis nether United States jurisdiction. This city was founded in 1521.
San Juan wasn't the original settlement but was settled a twelvemonth later than Caparra, now known as Pueblo Viejo. Today, this urban center is known as La Ciudad Amurallada, which ways "walled city." It has i of the largest and best harbors in all of the Caribbean.
Americans Can Enter Hands
Because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, American citizens don't need visas to visit the islands from the mainland. Your American passport is sufficient for entry. But if you're not an American citizen, y'all'll accept to become through the same process to enter the islands every bit you lot would mainland America.
Conveniently, this means that American citizens tin can come and become fairly hands. If you choose to travel there, brand certain that there'due south been enough time since any recent natural disasters. Vacationing in Puerto Rico afterwards recovery efforts have started is helpful as information technology furthers economic recovery.
The Predominant Linguistic communication Is Spanish
Because Puerto Rico is a part of America, the official language is English, only in reality, this is only on paper. The indomitable spirit of Puerto Ricans has kept the American government from establishing English as the primary language on the islands, despite various attempts.
Puerto Ricans have an independent spirit that has helped to go on them separate, in many ways, from the mainland to which the islands technically vest. It doesn't hurt that Puerto Rico is considered the largest insular territory of the country, keeping it even more "separate."
Puerto Rico Is Also Role of the Caribbean area Islands
All those islands down south of mainland U.S. tin can be a little confusing. Is Cuba part of the Caribbean? How well-nigh the Dominican Republic? What about Puerto Rico? The answer is yes, Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island. This tropical island concatenation is 1 of the beautifully temperate islands that stays around 79 degrees Fahrenheit yr-round.
The wet flavor here runs from May to October — which coincides with hurricane season. Seeing as it's a tropical environment, rain falls year-circular. But with the beautiful beaches, lively culture and delicious foods, the pelting is hardly something to continue visitors away.
Puerto Rico Was Originally Named San Juan Bautista
This chain of islands was "discovered" past Christopher Columbus in his 2d infamous journey in 1493. When he showtime came upon the islands, he named them for the Biblical character John the Baptist, calling the main island San Juan Bautista.
Soon, gold and other valuable resource were discovered on the islands, and then the proper noun became Puerto Rico, which in Spanish means "rich port." The capital wound up taking the original proper name. Another popular name for the main island in Spanish is La Isla del Encanto, which means "The Island of Enchantment."
It's I of the Almost Densely Populated Islands
The primary island of Puerto Rico is one of the most densely populated islands in the globe. That means at that place are more than people per square mile on the main island than at that place are in most other islands in the globe. The island's about the size of Connecticut, though, which is the third-smallest U.Southward. state.
In full, about iii million people live in Puerto Rico, which is a larger population than 21 different U.S. states accept. Although the population is adequately dumbo, there's still plenty of natural space, like that constitute in the national parks, beaches and other wild locations.
At that place Are More than Than 270 Miles of Beaches
The incredible islands that make up Puerto Rico have a huge number of beaches skirting the coasts. In fact, at terminal count, in that location are at to the lowest degree 270 miles of beach around the islands. Visitors and locals alike flock to these white sand beaches to sunbathe, snorkel, swim and enjoy a wide range of other water sports.
Surrounding these hundreds of beaches are many backdrops, providing new views nearly constantly for anyone visiting the islands for a few weeks. And if you happen to be looking for a party embankment, those are all over the islands, too.
The Main Island Was Once an American Naval Base of operations
In former days, nearly two-thirds of the principal isle of Puerto Rico was a United States naval base. This lasted for virtually threescore years, with much of the land being used as a testing ground for the military machine. Many grooming events took place on the land, as did bomb testing.
After the accidental expiry of a civilian, still, the area was abandoned equally a naval base and left to return to nature instead. Now, this same area where the bomb testing was washed is a wildlife reserve, and the creature life there is flourishing.
Spanish Explorer Ponce de Leon Was Puerto Rico'south First Governor
One of the most famous — or is that infamous? — conquistadors from Espana, Ponce de Leon, was the first appointed governor of Puerto Rico. This is the same explorer and conqueror who named the U.S. state of Florida "la florida" for the beautiful flowers constitute in that location (translation: flowery land).
A thirst for golden and other resources led the Spanish to colonize. Within a year of colonization, de Leon conquered well-nigh of the main island and enslaved and killed many of the inhabitants already there. This activity was the reason governorship was given to the Castilian leader in 1509.
Information technology Has an Extremely Rainy Climate
Puerto Rico has a very rainy climate. In that location's a rainy flavor during which it rains more than heavily, but even in the dry season, pelting still falls from the sky. That means that, yep, information technology rains pretty much every twenty-four hour period on these islands.
The rainy flavor results in an average of 61 inches of rain on the northern function of the island. The southern part of the island usually gets almost 36 inches — nearly half of the rain in the north. Some coastal regions of the islands receive even more with nearly 150 inches of rain each year. The mountains register even more than at 200 inches.
The Area Is Quite Seismically Active
Puerto Rico non but has to deal with tons of hurricanes on a consequent basis, but the whole region is also extremely seismically agile. There'due south an average of five earthquakes with a magnitude of more than ane.five every single twenty-four hours.
The quakes occur considering the Northward American plate is globe-trotting about three-quarters of an inch each year. This results in the uplifting of a tectonic plate, thank you to the shift, which is really what formed the islands of Puerto Rico. Because of this, the islands are ever shifting and changing but a fleck.
The Wild animals Is Quite Various
The wildlife reserves and parks offering an unusual mural for a diverse group of animals and plants. In the Guanica Reserve, there are over 700 species of plants alone, with 48 endangered plants that are native to the expanse. There are over 185 species of birds on the island besides, 16 of which are native to Puerto Rico.
Along with these birds, there are unusual reptiles and amphibians, including the coquí frog. The mammals on the islands are non native, only they do include bats, cats, goats, sheep, the Asian Mongoose and monkeys.
Puerto Rico Isn't But Rainforests and Beaches
When yous scan photos on Instagram and Facebook, you'll mostly run into images of the amazing beaches and rainforests of the islands. Merely Puerto Rico has a wider range of terrain than that. In fact, one portion of the primary isle is nearly desert-like.
The Guanica Biosphere Reserve and State Woods in the southwestern region of the island just receives near thirty inches of rain each twelvemonth. The Cordillera Central mountain range nearby blocks out nigh of the rain systems that hit the residual of the island. This protected country encompasses most 10,000 acres.
El Yunque National Forest Is the Only U.S. Protected Rainforest
Because Puerto Rico is a part of the Usa, El Yunque National Rainforest falls under the jurisdiction of the Woods Systems of the U.S. This is the only national rainforest that'due south protected by the U.Southward. And, though this rainforest is one of the smallest protected regions, information technology's 1 of the most diverse.
El Yunque sits in the eastern part of the main island as part of the Yunque National Forest. At that place are no large animals in that location, only many small critters roam around, including loads of lizards, frogs and birds.
The Offset Known People of Puerto Rico Were the Taino Tribe
Considering many of the residents currently living in Puerto Rico are of Latin descent, many think these folks are the indigenous people of the land. The people of Puerto Rico were actually originally the Taino tribe, who named the island Boriken, which ways "land of the brave lord."
The Taino people were a subgroup of the Arawak people from South America, originally tracing back to a village in Venezuela. The Taino people were peaceful farmers, fishermen and makers of pottery. They were hospitable and welcomed Columbus and others with open arms.
The Taino Tribe Was Massacred by Colonizers
The population of the Taino in Puerto Rico is estimated to have been effectually 40,000 when Columbus first landed on the island in 1493. Within 20 years, the population dropped to 4,000 and to about a quarter of that inside some other 15 years.
Many of the Taino were wiped out past European diseases that they had no immunity for. Many of the others were killed by European conquerors as they attempted to defend their country. Others committed suicide rather than be enslaved. Those who survived worked aslope African slaves mining for gold and farming crops for Europeans.
Today'due south Puerto Rican Culture Is Blended
Many people call back of Puerto Rico as grounded only in its Castilian roots. Only the reality is that many cultures take come up together to create the wonder that is Puerto Rico, with the original indigenous people — the Taino — contributing much to the history of the land and immigrants adding to that civilisation.
African slaves were brought over before long afterwards the islands were conquered by the Spanish, creating a new local culture. Since that fourth dimension, centuries ago, many more immigrants from the world over have flooded in, bringing aspects of their ethnic groups with them.
Puerto Rican Food Is Too a Blend
Puerto Rican cuisine is referred to as "cocina criolla" locally. This food is a alloy of many cultures that have filled the islands with people from the earth over. Many dishes take prominent Taino influences, along with Castilian and African cooking styles.
But as more immigrants have come to the islands and called them home, more cultures have composite their manner into this succulent food. Chinese immigrants, German immigrants and others have influenced the utilise of local produce — similar yucca root, seafood and tropical fruits — adding more than texture and uniqueness than before.
Many Musical Instruments Date Back to the Taino People
When you think of the music of these Caribbean islands, you probably remember of salsa and the merengue. And while these forms of music are popular in these beautiful islands, the roots of the musical instruments played hither trace back to the Taino.
I of the most identifiable instruments from early Puerto Rican music is the guiro, which is a hollowed-out gourd that has notches on one side. People play this instrument past rubbing a stick along the notches. Other instruments were adapted from the guitar brought over by early Spanish settlers.
The Art Scene Is Varied and Blended, Too
I of the well-nigh rewarding experiences whatever visitor can take in a new region of the world is visiting art galleries and public fine art sites. In Puerto Rico, this experience again reveals heavy influence from Taino art, which includes jewelry fabricated from seashells, gilt and stones. Taino people also made pottery and baskets.
Santos — religious figures — are also a common part of the fine art of Puerto Rico. These statues are molded from clay and gilded or carved from woods or rock. Before the Spanish introduced these to the local civilization, the Taino highly revered "cemi" and placed them prominently effectually villages. These were sculptures that were believed to house bequeathed spirits.
Puerto Rico Has Some Interesting National Symbols
Even though Puerto Rico isn't technically a country, Puerto Ricans notwithstanding have plenty of national pride. Reflecting this pride is a series of national symbols that Puerto Rico has claimed as its own. Those symbols include the national bird, "reina mora," which is also known as the stripe-headed tanager.
The national flower is the beautiful "flor de maga," or the Puerto Rican hibiscus. The national tree is the silk-cotton tree, or ceiba. And the national symbol is the coquí frog. These tiny amphibians are plant throughout the rainforest — and in enough of non-living forms similar artwork and souvenirs.
The Pharmaceutical Industry Is Prominent in Puerto Rico
It might surprise yous to larn that Puerto Rico is home to one of the largest pharmaceutical complexes in the entire world. The Barceloneta municipality supports 14 unlike industries this way, but the reason why it's located here might exist even more surprising.
The h2o in Barceloneta is incredibly pure — so pure, in fact, that it requires almost zero treatment for utilise in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical products. Employment through these companies and an extremely well-developed urban plan accept made this town well worth a visit, with amazing restaurants, shopping and entertainment.
The Primary Crops Are Cassava, Java, Sugarcane and Tropical Fruits
If you wander the street markets and vendors of Puerto Rico, you'll find some of the most amazing fresh produce in the world. This, of course, merely makes the local cuisine all the more delicious. You'll as well run across many crops that you'd find in your ain grocery stores back in the mainland U.S., too.
The island territory never frosts over, so the weather is particularly great for tropical fruits. Some of the primary types of produce grown here are pineapples, cassava (yucca), bananas, mangoes, java, sugarcane, plantains, tomatoes, corn, beans, peppers and yams.
Puerto Rico Is Home to a Massive Telescope
Another intriguing affair about Puerto Rico is that a massive unmarried-discontinuity telescope is located at that place. The Arecibo Observatory houses the telescope, which has twoscore,000 aluminum panels. Each panel measures a whopping 3 anxiety past 6 feet. The radio telescope is operated by the University of Primal Florida.
The Arecibo Observatory is used in 3 fields of written report, including radio astronomy, radar astronomy and atmospheric scientific discipline. If the telescope looks familiar, y'all've probably seen it before. Several Hollywood films have been made here.
The Islands Are Full of Caves
The rivers that flow through Puerto Rico give way to the amazing cavern system on the islands: the Camuy system. The cavern arrangement is famous the world over, at to the lowest degree with folks who are into caving and spelunking. The arrangement has more than x miles of caverns, 220 caves and 17 entrances.
Experts believe that at to the lowest degree another 800 caves have yet to be found and explored. Simply for now, in that location'southward a 268-acre park that's built around the system, allowing tourists the opportunity to explore this incredible place.
Puerto Rican Citizenship Is a Fairly Recent Thing
Although Puerto Ricans gained American citizenship in the early on part of the 20th century, there was no such thing equally Puerto Rican citizenship until recently. The beginning official citizen of Puerto Rico was Juan Mari Bras, who received the certificate from the Puerto Rico Department of State in 2006.
Since that date, the government has been granting citizenship to other Puerto Ricans who were born on the islands or folks who have at least one parent who was born in that location and who have lived at least 1 twelvemonth in Puerto Rico while holding American citizenship.
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Source: https://www.reference.com/geography/facts-falsehoods-puerto-rico?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740005%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex
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