Geography

Located in the Caribbean and founded in 1493, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is larger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined and is 9,104 square kilometers. Puerto Rico is categorized into 3 main regions: interior mountains, a flat coastal zone, and a karst area in the north. The climate is tropical, mild, and seasonal, with a temperature of about 89 degrees Fahrenheit in August and about 84 degrees Fahrenheit in February. In the north there are coastal plains and mountains, in the west there are mountains closer to the ocean, and beaches along coastal areas. The average rainfall in the rainforest is 180 inches and The El Yunque rainforest is the only tropical forest in the US National Forest System and many believe the name came from the Taíno word Yuke. Puerto Rico is mainly composed of hills and mountains; Cerro de Punta, a mountain range, is the highest point of elevation. But there are also plenty of rivers and lakes; the longest being the Grand de Arecibo. Although there are many great landmarks in Puerto Rico, there are also a few natural hazards including periodic droughts and hurricanes. This island is also unique in many ways, housing a small tree frog called the coquí, which is found almost nowhere else, and several thousand varieties of tropical plants. Overall, Puerto Rico is a unique island, where living there is doable and wild animals and plants can thrive.