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Condado beach, Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Condado oceanfront, a tree-lined pedestrian-oriented community in Santurce, one of the districts of San Juan, capital city of Puerto Rico.
Image: Tomas Fano
 
Flag of Puerto Rico
Flag of Puerto Rico

 
Location map of Puerto Rico. Where in the world is Puerto Rico?
Location map of Puerto Rico
 
Puerto Rico, a tropical Caribbean travel destination and one of the islands of the Greater Antilles in the eastern Caribbean Sea, located 125 km (78 mi) east of the island Hispaniola, (which is shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic).

If compared, Puerto Rico's area is slightly smaller than Cyprus or slightly less than three times the size of the US state of Rhode Island.

The island's landscape offers green mountains, waterfalls, tropical rainforests and sandy beaches along most coastal areas. Puerto Rico's highest point is with 1,338 m Cerro de Punta.
Moderated by easterly trade winds, Puerto Rico enjoys a pleasant tropical climate with relatively low humidity.

The island is a self-governing unincorporated territory of the United States, capital is San Juan. Hispanic, Afro-Caribbean and North American influences determine the culture of the inhabitants of Puerto Rico. The island is home to 3.41 million people (in 2016). Official languages are Spanish and English. Puerto Rico's population is somewhat in decline, many Puerto Ricans, who are U.S. citizens, move to the United States mainland, Puerto Rico's faltering economy and an unemployment rate of more than 12%, and almost 28% of youth unemployment, has drained the island of its people.

In June 2017 Puerto Rico voted in a a nonbinding referendum overwhelmingly in favor of statehood. 97 percent voted for statehood, though turnout was only about 23 percent. One and a half percent voted for independence from the United States.


Commonwealth of Puerto Rico


Country Profile



Background:
Before colonization the Caribbean island was inhabited by Arawak Indians known as Taínos.

The group of islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean was 'discovered' by Columbus in 1493 who, common practice among explorers, claimed San Juan Bautista (that's how he named the island) immediately for the Spanish Empire.

After four centuries of Spanish colonial rule, in the year 1898, the US invaded and occupied Puerto Rico, ending the centuries of rule from Spain.
Today the island state is a kind of self-governing unincorporated organized territory of the United States.

A popularly elected governor has served since 1948. In plebiscites held in 1967 and 1993, voters chose to retain commonwealth status.
(Various Sources)

Related countries: Spain, United States
 
 

Official Name:
Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico
(Commonwealth of Puerto Rico)

short form: Puerto Rico

ISO Country Code: pr

Time:
Time Zone: Atlantic Standard Time
Local Time = UTC -4h
Actual Time: Sun-Mar-17  13:51

Country Calling Code: +1 787 or +1 939

Capital City: San Juan (pop. 435 000)

Other Cities:
Bayamón (224 000), Carolina (186 000), Ponce (186 000), Caguas (140 502)

Government:
Type: Commonwealth
Chief of state: President George W. BUSH
Independence: none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Constitution: ratified 3 March 1952; effective 25 July 1952

Geography:
Location: Caribbean island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic.
Terrain: Mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas.

Climate: Tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation, south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north.

People:
Nationality: noun: Puerto Rican(s), adjective: Puerto Rican
Population: 3,41 million (2016)
Ethnic Groups: white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%, Asian 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9%
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
Languages: Spanish, English (both official)
Literacy: 94.1%

Natural resources: Some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil.

Agriculture products: Milk (dairy), Poultry, Plantains, Ornamental Plants, Coffee, Beef and Veal, Bananas, Pork, Fighting Cocks, Seeds and Seedlings
.

Industries: Pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism.

Exports - commodities: chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment.

Exports partners: United States 70%, United Kingdom 1.6%, Dominican Republic 1.4%, Netherlands

Imports - commodities: chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products.

Imports partners: United States 43%

Currency: US Dollar (USD)

Puerto Rico in Figures
More Puerto Rico statistical data.
Residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico, La Fortaleza in Old San Juan
La Fortaleza in Old San Juan, the baby-blue fortess is the official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico, said to be the oldest executive mansion in use in the western hemisphere.
Image: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD

 

Official Sites of Puerto Rico

Note: External links will open in a new browser window.

gobierno.pr
Official Guide to the Government of Puerto Rico.

Government of Puerto Rico Office of the Governor
(in Spanish)

Senado del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Senate (in Spanish)


Diplomatic Missions
U.S. Embassies around the world
U.S. representations in foreign countries, links to the American embassies.


Statistics
Puerto Rico
U.S. Census Bureau Puerto Rico population.
Puerto Rico in Figures
Puerto Rico key statistical data.

Weather
National Weather Service - Forecast Office
Current Weather and Forecasts, United States NOAA San Juan Office.


Maps

Map of Puerto Ricoprofile Map of Puerto Rico
Reference Map of Puerto Rico.
Google Earth Google Earth Map Puerto Rico
Searchable map and satellite view of Puerto Rico.
Google Earth Google Earth Map San Juan
Searchable map and satellite view of Puerto Rico's capital.
Google Earth Google Earth Map of Arecibo Observatory
Satellite view of one of the largest observatories in the world.

Political Map of the Caribbean
Political map of the island territories in the Caribbean Sea.
Map of Central America and the Caribbean
Reference Map of Central America and the Caribbean. 
 

Puerto Rico News


El Nuevo Dia
National and international news (in Spanish).

Primera Hora
Spanish daily, San Juan.

El Vocero de Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico daily (in Spanish).
 

Bookmark/share this page
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Arts & Culture

A wild mix of Hispanic, Afro-Caribbean and North American influences determine art and culture of Puerto Rico.

A Collector's Vision of Puerto Rico
Art and artifacts of Puerto Rico's history and culture, the Vidal Collection at the National Museum of American History.

El Museo del Barrio
New York City's only Latino museum dedicated to Puerto Rican, Caribbean and Latin American art.

Fundación Nacional para la Cultura Popular
Popular Culture of Puerto Rico.

Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña
Institute of Puerto Rican Culture (Spanish).

Museo de Arte de Ponce
Museum of Art, Ponce.

Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico
Artmuseum, San Juan.
 
San Felipe del Morro Fort, Puerto Rico
16th-century citadel San Felipe del Morro, San Juan.
© Puerto Rico Tourism Company

Casa Serrallés, Ponce, Puerto Rico
Castillo Serrallés, a mansion located in the city of Ponce.
© Puerto Rico Tourism Company

Business & Economy


ABPR - Asociacion de Bancos de Puerto Rico
The Association of Banks.
Banco Popular de Puerto Rico
The largest Puerto Rican bank, as well as the largest Hispanic bank in USA.
Cámara de Comercio de PR
Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce (Spanish)
Puerto Rico Convention Bureau
The Convention Bureau markets Puerto Rico as a meetings and conventions destination.
Directorio de Puerto Rico Comercial y Profesional
Business directory of Puerto Rico indexed by categories and location (Spanish)
Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association

Products of Puerto Rico
Bacardi
White Rum
Café Rico
Café Rico was the leading coffee company during the first part of the century.
 
 
Rincon beach, west coast Puerto Rico
Rincón beach on the Caribbean side of the island. Rincón a town on Puerto Rico’s north west coast is famous for its beaches.
Image: cogito ergo imago


Travel and Tour Consumer Information


Destination Puerto Rico - Travel and Tour Guides


Discover Puerto Rico: Seven Seas - Punta Santiago - Sun Bay - Caja de Muerto - Ballenas - Caña Gorda - Boquerón - Rincón Bay

Old San Juan (historic colonial section of the city); Castillo San Felipe del Morro (16th-century fortress in San Juan); Castillo San Cristóbal (largest fort in the Americas built by the Spanish); La Fortaleza (16th century fortification and the official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico) and San Juan National Historic Site (UNESCO World Heritage Site);
El Yunque National Forest (tropical rainforest);

Find accommodation, hotels, attractions, festivals, events, tourist boards,biking, cruising, diving, trekking, fishing, golf, horseback riding, tours and much more.

See Puerto Rico
The Official Puerto Rico Tourism Site.

Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association
Puerto Rico Hotels.

Escape to Puerto Rico
Internet Travel Guide to Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico Online Magazine
Puerto Rico travel guide and portal.

Sol Boricua
Images, Geograhpy, History, Visitor Facts and T-shirts.

 Welcome to Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Guide.

Archivo Historico y Fotografico de Puerto Rico
Historical Photographs of Puerto Rico

San Juan
San Juan Ciudad Capital
The Municipality of San Juan.
San Juan
Feel San Juan - the official tourism guide to San Juan.

Castillo San Felipe del Morro, San Juan
Castillo San Felipe del Morro at the entrance to San Juan Harbor.
Image: Kenneth John Gill
 


Education


Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico
Founded in 1912 as the Polytechnic Institute.
Universidad de Puerto Rico
Universidad del Sagrado Corazón
Santurce, Puerto Rico (Spanish).

__Science and Research
Arecibo Observatory
National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center, delivers also the data for the SETI Project - Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence.
 
Arecibo Observatory, Arecibo,  Puerto Rico
Arecibo Observatory, a radio telescope in Arecibo municipality.
El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico
El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico. The El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rain forest in the US national forest system.
Image: Geoff Gallice

Environment & Nature


El Yunque National Forest
USDA Forest Service.

National Hurricane Center / Tropical Prediction Center - NHC/TPC
Hurricane Awareness.
 
 

History


Puerto Rico at the Dawn of the Modern Age
by the Library of US Congress.
Timeline of the History of Puerto Rico
History timeline.

WWW-VL History: Puerto Rico
 
 

Native


Taino Tribal Flag
Taino Tribal Flag

The Jatibonicu Taino Tribal Nation of Boriken
Government of the Jatibonicu Taino People.
The United Confederation Of Taino People (UCTP)
The United Confederation of Taino People is a link to the First Nations of the Caribbean. News Journal, petitions and archives are online.
 
 

Puerto Rican Issues


Puerto Rico Herald
The Voice of Puerto Rico Self-Determination.
RedBetances
Infosite of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement.

Vieques Libre
Voice of the Vieques anti-Navy organizations.

May 8, 2003
The US Navy bombing tests and military practice on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, has ended. On May 1, citizens in Vieques celebrated the first day in over 60 years without a US Navy bombing run.
 
 

Search

Biblioteca Virtual de Puerto Rico
Index of Puerto Rico Links (in Spanish).

Wepa
Search Puerto Rico.

Sources and additional Information on Puerto Rico


Amnesty International: Puerto Rico

BBC Country Profile: Puerto Rico

Freedom House: Puerto Rico

GlobalEDGE: Puerto Rico

Human Rights Watch: Puerto Rico

OEC: Puerto Rico

Wikipedia: Puerto Rico

The World Factbook -- Puerto Rico
 
 Support UNICEF

Other Political Divisions of the United States:
US States | American Samoa | Guam | Northern Mariana Island | US Virgin Islands

Other Countries and Territories in the Caribbean
Anguilla | Antigua and Barbuda | Aruba | Bahamas | Barbados | British Virgin Islands | Cuba | Dominica
Dominican Republic | Grenada | Guadeloupe | Haiti | Jamaica | Martinique | Montserrat | Netherlands Antilles
Saint Kitts and Nevis | Saint Lucia | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Trinidad and Tobago | U.S. Virgin Islands

Major Cities in the Caribbean:
Basse-Terre, Basseterre, Bridgetown, Castries, Charlotte Amalie, Fort-de-France, Hamilton, Havana, Kingston, Kingstown, Nassau, Oranjestad, Port-au-Prince, Port-of-Spain, Roseau, Saint George's, Saint John's, Saint Martin, San Juan, Santo Domingo, The Valley, Willemstad
  
 
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