Plan your trip to Puerto Rico with our Puerto Rico travel guide information
Puerto Rico |
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Puerto Rico - Travel guidePuerto Rico - Country backgroundPopulated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following COLUMBUS' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status. |
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Puerto Rico General Information |
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| Country full name : | conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico conventional short form: Puerto Rico |
| Capital : | San Juan |
| Religions : | Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15% |
| Languages : | Spanish, English |
| Location : | Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic |
| Geographic coordinates : | 18 15 N, 66 30 W |
| Area : | total: 13,790 sq km land: 8,870 sq km water: 4,921 sq km |
| Climate : | tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation |
| Population : | 3,927,188 (July 2006 est.) |
| Nationality : | noun: Puerto Rican adjective: Puerto Rican |
| Ethnic groups : | white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%, Asian 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9% |
| Government type : | commonwealth |
| Administrative divisions: | none (territory of the US with commonwealth status); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular - municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta, Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas, Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio, Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama, Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao, Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Las Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca, Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce, Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, San German, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja, Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco |
| Legal system : | based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal system of justice |
| Suffrage : | 18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections |
| Internet code : | .pr |
| Calling code : | +1787 |
| Time zone : | GMT/UTC -4 |
| Electricity : | 120V 60Hz |
| National holiday : | US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952) |
| Interesting link : | Puerto Rico travel guide - Lonely Planet Puerto Rico travel guide - Wikitravel Tourism Office of Puerto Rico |
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Puerto Rico Travel Guide Information