THE RICH PORT:

PUERTO RICO

HISTORY OF PUERTO RICO

Christopher Columbus voyaged to

Puerto Rico in the year 1493, on his arrival

he named the island San Juan Bautista.

After discovering of gold in the river, the

island was renamed Puerto Rico- meaning

rich port and the capital city adopted

the name San Juan. Puerto Rico became a

Spanish colony.

 Puerto Rico began to produce cattle,

sugar cane, coffee and tobacco, this led

to the importation of slaves from Africa.

As a result, Puerto Rican bloodlines

came from a mixture of the Spanish,

African, and indigenous Tano and Carib Indian races that shared the island.

Over the years the French, Dutch, and

English made attempts to challenge

Spains monopoly and to conquer the

island. To guard against these

incursions, the Spanish constructed the

many forts and ramparts. Today these are

still found on the island.

Puerto Rico remained an overseas

province of Spain until the Spanish-

American war. Due to the conditions of

the Treaty of Paris of 1898, Spain ceded

Puerto Rico to the U.S.

POLITICAL FEATURES
Puerto Ricans received U.S. citizenship in 1917 and became a

U.S. Commonwealth in 1952. It is a

self-governing commonwealth in

association with the United States.

The chief of state is the President of the

United States of America. The head of

government is an elected Governor. The United States controls Puerto Ricos

foreign relations and commerce as they

maintain close economic ties.

Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, but island residents do not vote in U.S. presidential elections. Puerto Rico has republican form of government that has 3 branches: 1.The Executive Branch 2.The Legislative Branch 3.The Judicial Branch

 Puerto Rican civil and commercial

codes are fashioned after Spanish

models; penal, procedural, and public

(including constitutional) law are

fashioned after U.S. models.

GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES
The island of Puerto Rico is a very popular

tourist destination because of its location,

rich history and warm atmosphere. The

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is located in

the northeastern Caribbean, between the

Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean,

east of the Dominican Republic.

Puerto Rico is the smallest and the

most eastern island of the Greater

Antilles. It consists of the main island

of Puerto Rico and several smaller

islands and keys.

The country experiences the Tropical Marine climate.

The territory is very mountainous (covering about 60%), except in the regional coasts, but Puerto Rico offers astonishing variety: rain forest, deserts, beaches, caves, oceans and rivers. Total Area: 9,104 sq km (3,508 sq mi)

CULTURAL FEATURES
Both Spanish and English are the official languages of Puerto Rico, but Spanish is without a doubt the dominant language, as the majority of the people in Puerto Rico are not proficient in English.

The only formal music imported from Spain was chants and religious music. The major type of music coming out of Puerto

Rico is salsa, the rhythm of the islands.

The majority of Puerto Ricans are

Christians. Roman Catholicism has been

the main religion among Puerto Ricans

since the arrival of the Spanish in the

15th century. Modern Puerto Rico is now

an inter-denominational, multi-religious

community.

If you are in San Juan during the El Dia de San Juan Bautistata you will witness one of the most interesting festivals on the island. At the stroke of midnight you will find literally thousands of people lining the beaches who then walk backwards into the ocean. This ritual is done seven times and it is done to ensure good luck for the upcoming year.

During the month of November the

International Film Festival is hosted in

Puerto Rico. More than 100 films are

presented each year, and industry

people and fans from around the world

come to participate in the Film Festival.

Arroz con Gandules (Rice with Pigeon Peas) is Puerto Ricos national dish. Its a rice-and-pigeon-pea dish seasoned with sofrito and Pernil (Pork shoulder) diced smoked ham.

Another favorite dish of Puerto Rico is

Arroz con Pollo-yellow rice with

chicken Arroz y Habichuelas-rice

andbeans. Steak with onions is an everyday meal

on this beautiful tropical Island.

Rum is the national drink, and you can buy it in almost any shade. Puerto Rico is the world's leading rum producer; 80% of the rum consumed in the United States hails from the island.

THE END