2. GEOGRAPHY
• The capital of Puerto Rico is San Juan.
• Puerto Rico is located in the Caribbean and east of the Dominican Republic.
3. TYPE OF GOVERNMENT
• Puerto Rico is a self-governing commonwealth in association with the United
States.
• A commonwealth is like a republic which is where the people of the country
indirectly govern themselves.
4. CITIES OF PUERTO RICO
• San Juan is the capital and most populous city in Puerto Rico. It was founded
in 1521 by Juan Ponce de León, who named it City of Puerto Rico. The
capital of Puerto Rico is the oldest city of the island.
• Bayamón is part of the metropolitan area of San Juan and is the island's
second most populous city. It is considered to be the most progressive city of
the island.
• Ponce is Puerto Rico's second largest city. Ponce is commonly known by
several names: "La Perla del Sur" (Pearl of the South), "La Ciudad de los
Leones" (City of Lions), or "La Ciudad de las Quenepas" (Genip City). Ponce
is also known as the "Ciudad Señorial" (Majestic or Noble City), because of its
many beautiful neoclassical buildings and facades. It is named after its
founder who was Juan Ponce de León's great-grandson - Loíza Ponce de
León.
6. MORE CITIES
• Vega Baja is known as "La Ciudad del Melao Melao" (syrup city). Vega Baja
was founded in October 3, 1776 by Antonio Viera, with the name of "Vega-
baxa del Naranjal de Nuestra Señora del Rosario". It’s also home of one of
the most-visited beaches in Puerto Rico, Playa Puerto Nuevo.
• Río Grande is known as "La Ciudad del Yunque" (Yunque city). Río Grande
was founded in July 25, 1840 by Deriderio Brothers and Quilimaco Escobar.
Río Grande is located in the Northern Coastal Valley, only 30 minutes from
San Juan.
8. TOURIST SITES
Puerto Rico is a highly musical culture with a rich history. Its main city, San Juan, is a vibrant community with
modern amenities mixed with old-world charm. Most of the major attractions in Puerto Rico are located in
San Juan, but the surrounding islands all have spots that are entrancing in their own right. Some activities
include snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, sunbathing, and generally relaxing are among the Puerto Rico
activities available to visitors.
• El Yunque National Rainforest is one of the most treasured and popular natural attractions on the island.
You can spend the day exploring the only rainforest under the USA flag and one that has been
nominated as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. El Yunque is safe environment, with wonderful
hiking trails that lead to waterfalls and natural pools.
• About an hour and a half drive from San Juan you can take a day trip to the north coast of Puerto
Rico, the newest tourism destination in Puerto Rico now called Porta Atlantico, which houses two world
wonders, The Arecibo Observatory, (the biggest radio telescope in the world) and the Camuy
Caverns, which is the third longest underground river system in the world. In just one day you can visit the
main attractions on the north coast of Puerto Rico.
El Yunque National Rainforest
9. CELEBRATIONS
• One of most popular Puerto Rican holidays is on June 24th when Boricuas
celebrate the birth of the patron saint of the island, San Juan Bautista.
• The most important Christmas holiday is the Epiphany on January 6th, when
The Three Wise Man or “ Los Reyes” arrive in Jerusalem to give especial
offerings to baby Jesus. This day, children in Puerto Rico receive gifts from
“ Los Tres Reyes.
• July 25th is one of the most controversial Puerto Rican holidays that always
awakes mixed feelings, it is called “Constitution Day.” On this day in 1898
during the Spanish American war, U.S. troops took Puerto Rico from the
Spaniards. Many consider this day an invasion from the U.S. while others
consider it a liberation day.
Folk dancers celebrating San
Juan Bautista.
10. POPULAR FOODS AND DISHES
• Arroz con gandules is the national dish of the island. Arroz con gandules
typically consists of pigeon peas and rice with ham, pork, chorizo, red
peppers and olives.
• There are many different types of desserts that incorporate coconut in the
ingredients of the dishes. The flavor can be found in desserts like coconut
flan, coconut cream desserts, crunchy coconut squares, coconut with
meringue, and candied coconut rice.
11. POPULAR MUSIC
• In Puerto Rico, music can always be heard and is often at the center of an
event. Drawing on the different musical influences that made it to the
island, Puerto Rico developed several types of music that use native
instruments along with traditional western instruments to create a unique
sound.
• Here are some of the main types of music you can hear in Puerto Rico:
• Bomba is purely an African-styled music with a lot of drums and beats.
• Plena is a blending of all of Puerto Rico’s native music.
• Salsa has many different instruments from different kinds of drums and bongos, to
a horn section with singers.
• Folk Music in Puerto Rico consists of mainly string instruments.
Along with these types of music, people in Puerto Rico also listen to a lot of
popular Latino artists as well as music that we listen to here in America.
12. SPORTS
• Puerto Ricans enjoy the same sports we do here in the U.S. like
baseball, basketball, golf, boxing, and even fishing.
• Here are some other sports they practice:
• Horse racing
• Windsurfing
• Bowling
• Skating
• Cock-fighting
13. INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE
• Pedro Albizu Campos (1891-1965) He was born on September 12, 1891 in
Tenerias Village, Ponce, and was the son of Alejandro Albizu and Juana
Campos. He was the nephew of Juan Morel Campos. Terrorist to his enemies
and critics, hero to the most fervent Puerto Rican nationalist. After service in
an African-American unit during World War I he developed a lasting enmity
for the United States and became the fiery champion of Puerto Rican
independence.
• José Celso Barbosa (1857-1921) He was a doctor and politician, was born on
July 27, 1857 in Bayamón. A gifted mulatto medical doctor, Barbosa is better
known as the father of the Statehood for Puerto Rico movement. He formed
the pro-statehood Republican Party (July 4, 1899) in the aftermath of the
Spanish-American War.
14. INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE (CONTINUED)
• Federico Degetau (1862-1914) He was a lawyer, politician, writer, and Puerto
Rico's first Resident Commissioner of the United States House of
Representatives from 1900 to 1904. He was born on December 5, 1862 in
Ponce. He received is early education in Ponce, and continued studies in
Barcelona, Spain, where he graduated from the law department of the
Central Univeristy of Madrid. He founded the newspaper La Isla de Puerto
Rico.
• Lola Rodríguez de Tío (1843-1924) She was a poet, was born on September
14, 1843 in San Germán. She was the first Puerto Rican-born poet to establish
a reputation throughout the West Indies. In 1868, inspired by the call for
Puerto Rican independence known as the "Grito de Lares," she wrote
patriotic lyrics to the existing tune of "La Borinqueña."
15. 5 FUN FACTS
• The Hibiscus, or Flor de maga, is Puerto Rico's national flower.
• Puerto Rico has won the Miss Universe beauty pageant crown 5 times
(1970,1985,1993,2001,2006) . The five Puerto Rican Miss Universe are: Marisol
Malaret, Debora Cathy Deu, Dayanara Torres, Denise Quiñones and Zuleyka
Rodriguez.
• Puerto Rico's Olympic team has won a total of 6 medals in the World
Olympics including a silver medal won by Luis Francisco Ortiz.
• Puerto Rico is the country with more radio stations and TV stations per square
mile in the world.
• The only place in the world where the option 'None of the Above' has won
an election was in Puerto Rico, during the 1998 referendum that option got
over 50% of the votes.
