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Information About Puerto Rico
OFICIAL NAME: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
CAPITAL: San Juan
GOVERNMENT SYSTEM: Self-governing Commonwealth in association with the U.S. A.
AREA: 9,014 sq km (3,515 sq mi)
Estimated Population (year 2000): 3,856,500
LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHY: Puerto Rico is the smallest and easterly island of the Greater Antilles. Bounded to the north with the Atlantic Ocean and to the south with the Caribbean Ocean, about 80% of the island is mountainous and hilly. The Central Mountain Chain or Cordillera Central, running east to west, divides the country in two distinctive northern and southern regions. The country's highest point, Cerro de Punta, lies in the Cordillera Central and the only low-lying areas in the island are the narrow coastal plains and some inland valleys. Puerto Rico has over 1,000 small water streams including 45 rivers that reach the sea, although shallow and non-navigable. Major cities and estimated populations are: San Juan 426,000, Ponce 159,200, Caguas 92,400, Mayagüez 83,000, Arecibo 49,500 (est. pop. for 1990). Land use: forested 20%; pastures 38%; agricultural 14%; other 28%.
CLIMATE: Puerto Rico has a tropical climate at lower elevations and subtropical at higher elevations. Both temperature and rainfall are affected by the NE trade winds. Humidity is relatively high in the summer and most rainfall occurs between May and December. Average annual precipitation varies from 1,550 mm (161 inches) in the north to 910 mm (36 inches) in the south. Average temperature in San Juan ranges from 27 degree Celsius (81degree Fahrenheit) in July, to 24 degree Celsius (75 degree Fahrenheit) in January.
For more information visit Puerto Rico Tourism.
Other great sites with information about the island are: