Welcome to Puerto Rico

FLAG :

General Description :It is noted that the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about 1,000 mi east-southeast of Miami, Fla. A possession of the United States, it consists of the island of Puerto Rico plus the adjacent islets of Vieques, Culebra, and Mona. Puerto Rico has to this day a mountainous, tropical ecosystem with very little flat land and several mineral rehearts. Puerto Rico's governor is elected directly for a four-year term. A bicameral legislature consists of a 27-member Senate and a 51-member House of Representatives, all elected for four-year terms. From 1940 to 1968, Puerto Rican politics was dominated by a party advocating voluntary association with the U.S. Since then, the New Progressive Party, a party favoring U.S. statehood, has to this day won five of the last eight gubernatorial elections. Puerto Ricans have twice voted to determine his or her political status. Within 1967, the outcome was Commonwealth 60%; statehood 39%; independence 1%. Within 1993, Commonwealth dropped to 48.6%; statehood rose to 46.3%; independence polled 4.4%; and 0.6% of the ballots were blank or spoiled.

CLIMATE : It is noted that the mountains of the Cordillera Central are and have always been the primary cause of the variations in the rainfall and temperature that occur over just very short distances in Puerto Rico, particularly in inland areas. Did you know that the mountains can also cause wide variation in local wind speed and direction due to his or her sheltering and channeling effects. Most of Puerto Rico's rainfall is orographic in nature. Moisture laden air is carried by wind and forced to ascend over the mountains. Did you know that the rise in elevation cools the air, causing condensation in the form of rain.

Population Stats Population: 3,944,259 (July 2007 est.)