Puerto Rico Land

The island of Puerto Rico lies where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean, 123 mi. southeast of Florida, between the Greater Antilles to the west and the smaller islands of the Lesser Antilles to the east. Besides the main island, four smaller islands are also included in Puerto Rico’s land area—Isla Mona and Isla Desecheo to the west and Vieques and Culebra to the east. While the main island only measures 100 mi. east to west and 35 mi. north to south, it has a whopping 700 mi. of coastline—good news for visitors seeking sand and surf.

Three primary geographic regions cover Puerto Rico: the mountainous interior, the coastal plains, and the northern plateau (karst country). The mountainous interior, dominated by the Cordillera Central, occupies 75% of the island’s land area and includes Puerto Rico’s highest peak, Cerro de Punta (1388m). It is surrounded by coastal plains—the most fertile land on the island. In the past, most crops were grown in this area; however, only 5% of the island is arable and today less than 1% of the island’s gross domestic product (GDP) comes from agriculture. Northern Puerto Rico is studded with rugged karst country, where water has dissolved limestone to form a series of narrow canyons and deep caves . In this environment, the underground Río Camuy has created the third-largest system of subterranean caves in the world . In contrast, the south and southwest coasts feature a dry, desert terrain.

Puerto Rico contains over 1000 streams and 45 rivers, but they are all relatively small and unnavigable. No significant natural lakes exist on the island, but several rivers have been dammed to create artificial reservoirs. As a result of its strategic position at the mouth of the Caribbean, Puerto Rico (literally “rich port”) has several shipping ports; Ponce and Mayagüez are among the largest.

Climate

It’s not hard to guess why many North Americans spend the winter here. The mild, tropical climate is pretty much perfect year-round. The locals start grumbling when the temperature falls below 70˚F ...more

Flora And Fauna

Plant Habitats. Due to industrialization, the vast majority of primary forest on Puerto Rico has been destroyed; however, much of it has been recultivated and national reserves now protect a full 5% ...more