Religion- Roman catholic 74%, Protestant 5%, other 19%
Official language(s)- Spanish and English, Spanish being the dominant of the two
Major exports/industries- Chemicals, canned tuna, rum, medical equipment, apparel, and electronics
Geography
Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, if it would to become a state it would be the 49th largest state, it being bigger then Delaware and Rhode Island. The coast of Puerto Rico is flat and the interior is mostly mountains. Puerto Ricos climate is classified as tropical marine, no big storms hardly ever hit here. The record high was 98 degrees the record low was 39 degrees, so never really cold enough for it to snow.
Brief History
The first settlers were the Ortoiroid people. Between the 7th and 11th centuries the Taino culture developed on the island. Around 1000 CE they were dominant. Christopher Columbus arrived in Puerto Rico on November 19,1493. The island was inhabited by Tainos. Columbus named the Island San Juan Bautista in honor of Saint John the Baptist. The first Spanish settlement was Caparra was founded on August 8, 1508 by Juan Ponce de Leon. He was the first governor of the island.
Over time traders and visitors referred to the whole island as Puerto Rico and San Juan became the name of the main shipping/trading port. Not long after that the Spanish began to colonize the island. The Tainos had became exploited and was forced into slavery. Between the harsh conditions and the diseases that the Europeans brought with them, the Tainos almost became a extinct group. During the 17th and 18th centuries Puerto Rico really established there culture and nationality. The Foraker Act of 1900 gave Puerto Rico a certain amount of civilian popular government, a judicial system and many other things that contributed toward a Puerto Rican goverment. In 1947, the US granted Puerto Rico the right to elect democratically their own governor. In 1952 Puerto Rico proclaimed there Constitution. Puerto is not independent it is commonwealth.
Goverment
Puerto Rico is a self-governing commonwealth in association with the United States. There Chief of State is are President, which would be Barack Obama. Puerto Ricos head of government is there governor, which would be Luis Fortuño (since 2 January 2009). The people are gonna be getting ready to vote for there president in November. The question for statehood is still a big topic in Puerto rico.
Culture
Food- Cooking is somewhat similar to both Spanish, Cuban and Mexican cuisine. Soups are a popular beginning for meals in Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans love chicken, which they flower with various spices and seasoning. A great majority of the vistors seem to like the fish and shellfish. Coconuts is one of the most commonly used ingredients in there desserts. they also make a number of preserves and jellies. A cup of strong, black Puerto Rican coffee is a great way to end a meal. Rum is the national drink, you can buy it just about any where. Puerto Rico is the worlds leading rum producer.
Sports- Have many sports such as: Basketball, Baseball, Bowling, Golf, Tennis, and Volleyball. Baseball are fans are very devoted. The baseball teams play other Caribbean teams for championships. There Basketball is a well-organized amateur league with 16 teams and a new 6 team pro league. Fishing, hiking, surfing, swimming, sailing, and biking is just the start of some of the things that you can do for recreational purposes.
Art- There is a strong artistic presence among Puerto Ricans, one of the best places for serious students who are wanting to pursue art is the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture in the Dominican Convent in Old San Juan. Old San Juan is the greatest repository of Puerto Rican arts and crafts. A Puerto Rican painter by the name of Francisco Oller y Cestero born in 1833 was heavly influenced by European art such as work by Pablo Picasso.
Tourism
El Yunque- A two-hour drive from San Juan, it far off removed from the citys beaches and resorts as you can get. Thats why people go there, to walk around, hike the easy to difficult climbs, and to dive under the waterfall.
Castillo de San Felipe del Morro- Old San Juans most recognizable landmark, walking through the six-citadel is like walking through a military history of Puerto Rico from the 1500s to the 20th Century. Walk by cannons that still face the ocean, step into a sentry box, and see how the soldiers use to live and work in colonial times.
Camuy Cave Park- The Camuy cave system is the third largest in the world. The tour takes your through ravines to the edge of caves over 600 feet deep, as well as an underground river. More active and daring activities involve rappeling down the mouth of one of the caves, mud-sliding, body rafting, and free jumping through this subterranean world.
Puerto Rico
Jonathan Hill
Spanish 1
General information
Capital city-San juan, with a population of 2 million
Population-3,998,905(2011 est.)
Demographics- 80.5% white, 8% black, 0.2% asian, 0.4% native american, 3.8% other
Religion- Roman catholic 74%, Protestant 5%, other 19%
Official language(s)- Spanish and English, Spanish being the dominant of the two
Major exports/industries- Chemicals, canned tuna, rum, medical equipment, apparel, and electronics
Geography
Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, if it would to become a state it would be the 49th largest state, it being bigger then Delaware and Rhode Island. The coast of Puerto Rico is flat and the interior is mostly mountains. Puerto Ricos climate is classified as tropical marine, no big storms hardly ever hit here. The record high was 98 degrees the record low was 39 degrees, so never really cold enough for it to snow.
Brief History
The first settlers were the Ortoiroid people. Between the 7th and 11th centuries the Taino culture developed on the island. Around 1000 CE they were dominant. Christopher Columbus arrived in Puerto Rico on November 19,1493. The island was inhabited by Tainos. Columbus named the Island San Juan Bautista in honor of Saint John the Baptist. The first Spanish settlement was Caparra was founded on August 8, 1508 by Juan Ponce de Leon. He was the first governor of the island.
Over time traders and visitors referred to the whole island as Puerto Rico and San Juan became the name of the main shipping/trading port. Not long after that the Spanish began to colonize the island. The Tainos had became exploited and was forced into slavery. Between the harsh conditions and the diseases that the Europeans brought with them, the Tainos almost became a extinct group. During the 17th and 18th centuries Puerto Rico really established there culture and nationality. The Foraker Act of 1900 gave Puerto Rico a certain amount of civilian popular government, a judicial system and many other things that contributed toward a Puerto Rican goverment. In 1947, the US granted Puerto Rico the right to elect democratically their own governor. In 1952 Puerto Rico proclaimed there Constitution. Puerto is not independent it is commonwealth.
Goverment
Puerto Rico is a self-governing commonwealth in association with the United States. There Chief of State is are President, which would be Barack Obama. Puerto Ricos head of government is there governor, which would be Luis Fortuño (since 2 January 2009). The people are gonna be getting ready to vote for there president in November. The question for statehood is still a big topic in Puerto rico.
Culture
Food- Cooking is somewhat similar to both Spanish, Cuban and Mexican cuisine. Soups are a popular beginning for meals in Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans love chicken, which they flower with various spices and seasoning. A great majority of the vistors seem to like the fish and shellfish. Coconuts is one of the most commonly used ingredients in there desserts. they also make a number of preserves and jellies. A cup of strong, black Puerto Rican coffee is a great way to end a meal. Rum is the national drink, you can buy it just about any where. Puerto Rico is the worlds leading rum producer.
Sports- Have many sports such as: Basketball, Baseball, Bowling, Golf, Tennis, and Volleyball. Baseball are fans are very devoted. The baseball teams play other Caribbean teams for championships. There Basketball is a well-organized amateur league with 16 teams and a new 6 team pro league. Fishing, hiking, surfing, swimming, sailing, and biking is just the start of some of the things that you can do for recreational purposes.
Art- There is a strong artistic presence among Puerto Ricans, one of the best places for serious students who are wanting to pursue art is the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture in the Dominican Convent in Old San Juan. Old San Juan is the greatest repository of Puerto Rican arts and crafts. A Puerto Rican painter by the name of Francisco Oller y Cestero born in 1833 was heavly influenced by European art such as work by Pablo Picasso.
Tourism
El Yunque- A two-hour drive from San Juan, it far off removed from the citys beaches and resorts as you can get. Thats why people go there, to walk around, hike the easy to difficult climbs, and to dive under the waterfall.Castillo de San Felipe del Morro- Old San Juans most recognizable landmark, walking through the six-citadel is like walking through a military history of Puerto Rico from the 1500s to the 20th Century. Walk by cannons that still face the ocean, step into a sentry box, and see how the soldiers use to live and work in colonial times.
Camuy Cave Park- The Camuy cave system is the third largest in the world. The tour takes your through ravines to the edge of caves over 600 feet deep, as well as an underground river. More active and daring activities involve rappeling down the mouth of one of the caves, mud-sliding, body rafting, and free jumping through this subterranean world.
Sources
<http://geography.about.com/od/specificplacesofinterest/a/puertorico.htm>.<http://traveltips.usatoday.com/weather-climate-puerto-rico-50065.html>.
<http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0113949.html>.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/26/univision-puerto-rico-independence_n_1705332.html>.
<http://www.topuertorico.org/culture/>.
<http://gopuertorico.about.com/od/top5attractions/tp/El_Morro.htm>.
Current event
<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/nyregion/for-patz-suspect-a-tumultuous-past.html?ref=puertorico>.