ABOUT PUERTO RICO


Official Name:
Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico
(Commonwealth of Puerto Rico)

short form: Puerto Rico


ISO Country Code: pr

Time:
Time Zone: Atlantic Standard Time
Local Time = UTC -4h 
Capital City: San Juan (pop. 435,000)
Other Cities:
Bayamón (224,000), Carolina (186,000), Ponce (186,000), Caguas (140,502)
Government:
Type: Commonwealth
Independence: none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Constitution: ratified 3 March 1952; effective 25 July 1952
Geography:
Location: Caribbean island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic.
Terrain: Mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas.
Climate: Tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation, south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north.
People:
Nationality: noun: Puerto Rican(s), adjective: Puerto Rican
Population: 3,800,000.
Ethnic Groups: white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%, Asian 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9%
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
Languages: Spanish, English (both official)
Literacy: 94.1%
Natural resources: Some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil.
Agriculture products: Milk (dairy), Poultry, Plantains, Ornamental Plants, Coffee, Beef and Veal, Bananas, Pork, Fighting Cocks, Seeds and Seedlings.
Industries: Pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism.
Exports partners: USA 90.3%, UK 1.6%, Netherlands 1.4%, Dominican Republic 1.4% (2002 est.)
Imports partners: USA 55.0%, Ireland 23.7%, Japan 5.4% (2002 est.)
Currency: US Dollar (USD)


WHY BE A PROUD PUERTO RICAN!


Subject: The Amazing little island (approx. 100 mi. long by 35 wide) called Puerto Rico and its Residents.

The people born on the island of Puerto Rico are represented by all three races, just as in the United States mainland whom they maintain an unparalleled relationship in all aspects of life. Where today more Puerto Rican reside than on the Island. And, as earlier Americans than on the mainland, having been discovered by Christopher Columbus on his 2nd. trip to the Americas on November 14, 1493. The same feeling permeates with both cultures - they both could not care less what other people think of them, since they don't think badly about anyone!

They are not only bilingual but they can speak 'Spanglish'.

Their women are among the most beautiful in the world, (5 Miss Universe winners; plus Miss and Mrs. world titles).

They are LATINS, a product of the Mediterranean (Spanish) culture and yet AMERICANS.

Their cuisine is universally appreciated and liked.

In Puerto Rico any road will eventually take you to an outstanding beach.

They are the only 'territory' of another country with their own Olympic team.

They participate in everything under the sun and excel.

They are a territory but are still a distinct entity, that some would argue, with the qualities of a Nation.

They have many of the best athletes in the world. In all sports.

They have at least one or two singers in every Opera House in Europe. They have a performer who has won an Oscar, an Emmy, a Tony & a Grammy. Something that is said will never be duplicated. Rita Moreno.

They produce some of the best coffee of the world. Most of its exported production is sold exclusively to France and in the past the official coffee used in the Vatican.

The best pineapples are grown there. They are called the Golden pineapples of Puerto Rico in the industry.

They manufacture 95% of all of the medicines produced by American pharmaceuticals.

THEY CAN DANCE!!!!!!!!! AND HOW THEY CAN DANCE!!!!!

The world’s leading corporations come from around the world to hire their engineers, scientists, chemists and doctors.

They are the jurisdiction with the most roads by square mile (and still there are traffic jams, due to the fact there are more vehicles than people on the island.)

They have the longest swimming pool in the world (Cerromar Hotel)

La 'Calle del Cristo' (in old San Juan) was the first road of 'The New World' to be paved. With (Ballast from sailing ships) bricks that are blue in color on the top and still in use today.

86% of all the rum consumed in the U.S. is produced in Puerto Rico. Ex: Don Q, Capt. Morgan, Bacardi. Ron Rico.

They have more female engineers than any other country in the world.

The Puerto Rican basketball team kicked the DREAM TEAM'S butt.

Puerto Rico has one of the world's highest productivity ratios.

Puerto Rican Salsa style music was the fastest growing genre in the last 20 years.

99% of all of the musicians who play in the different world class orchestras have studied at the world renowned Casals conservatory of music located in San Juan.

During the American Revolutionary war, they saved 2/3 of the American Navy.

Four Puerto Ricans received the Congressional Medal of Honor; Eurípides Rubio, Carlos Lozada, Héctor Santiago and Fernando Luis Ledesma Garcia. More than any other jurisdiction under the American flag, with the exception of Texas. The other medal winners are too numerous to mention.

There are at least 19 active Generals in the U.S. Army in addition to the ones in the Air Force, the Admirals in the Navy and not to mention the Colonels, lieutenant Colonels, Majors, Captains, etc. in each of the branches of the United States armed Forces. From the past crops of officers one was named head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Rivero.

Only 4 baseball players have 2 Home Runs in the same Inning; 3 of them are Puerto Ricans Roberto Clemente (Hall of Fame), Roberto Alomar and Carlos Baerga.

The boxer Tito Trinidad never went to the Olympics, but defeated 4 gold medal champions. In comparison with other countries they have the most world boxing title holder per population and contenders, including a heavy weight champion.

NUMBER ONE HYUNDAI RECORD HOLDER FOR THE MOST AUTOS SOLD 'IN THE WORLD' IS FROM BAYAMON, PUERTO RICO (HYUNDAI DE BAYAMON).

A Puerto Rican, Nellie Toledo, designed the 1984 Camaro Berlinetta.

They were the 5th area in THE WORLD to have a radio station. (Before Washington D.C.)

Junior Cordero (Puerto Rican) won the Kentucky Derby 3 times.

There are only 7 fluorescent lagoons in the world; Puerto Rico has 4 of them.

Giovanni Hidalgo is considered the best percussionist in THE WORLD.

Jose Feliciano is among the top 3 guitar players in THE WORLD (don't forget he is blind).

The Discovery 500, solar car designed by the Mayaguez College, won 41 awards in Sunrayace, Iowa in 1993.

Puerto Rico established the first lottery system in the New World.

They were printing books in Old San Juan 100 years before Jamestown was founded.

The following has been just a small sampling of the accomplishments of the people born on the Island of Puerto Rico. How Proud we are of our People!

***NOT TO BAD FOR A 100 X 35 MILES ISLAND... SMALLER THAN THE ISLAND OF LONG ISLAND IN NEW YORK AND SITUATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CARIBBEAN. SMALLER THAN THE SMALLEST PROVINCE OF ONE OF ITS NEIGHBOR ISLANDS - CUBA***


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