Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico, officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Spanish: "Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico") is a self-governing unincorporated territory of the United States. The island is located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of the Virgin Islands.
The main island of Puerto Rico is the smallest by land area and second smallest by population among the four Greater Antilles (Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico). Puerto Rico is also composed of a number of smaller islands and keys, the largest of which are Vieques, Culebra, and Mona.
Puerto Ricans often call the island Borinquen, from “Borikén”, its indigenous Taíno name. The terms “boricua” and “borincano” derive from Borikén and Borinquen respectively, and are commonly used to identify someone of Puerto Rican heritage.
Puerto Rican culture is a mix of four cultures, African (from the slaves), Taíno (Amerindians), Spanish, and more recently, North American.
The island is also popularly known as "La Isla del Encanto", which translated means "The Island of Enchantment."
Puerto Rico has it all!
You can find the most beautiful beaches, national landmarks, rainforests, cavern systems, fluorescent bays and many more wonders. If you want to experience the enchantments of Puerto Rico visit us soon.
For more information visit the Puerto Rico Tourism Company Website
El Yunque
(from the U.S. Forest Service)
New 7 Wonders of Nature
HAVE YOU HEARD THE LATEST NEWS?
Your votes have made the difference! Because you took the time to vote, the El Yunque National Forest has been thrust into the international spotlight – becoming one of only 28 outstanding international finalists in the exciting World New 7 Wonders of Nature Competition!
Selection as a finalist from among an outstanding group of 261 nature venues from all over the world is both an enormous achievement and a great honor…
It happened only because you believed so strongly in this incredibly bio-diverse forest, and the potential educational and recreational impact it can have on the international community, but, most importantly, you took the time to vote for El Yunque!
The Final Phase of the Contest has now officially begun – and we need your help again if the El Yunque Rainforest is to take its rightful place as one of the World New 7 Wonders of Nature!
Your vote will make the difference!
Here’s what you can do to make this happen – VOTE HERE for El Yunque– the ecotourism jewel of the caribbean and the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. Forest System.
Voting will continue throughout 2010 and on into 2011 – during this period the New 7 Wonders of Nature Tour will visit each of the finalists to allow them to present themselves to voters across the globe – the final declaration of the 7 winning New Wonders of Nature will be made in 2011.
So, get ahead of the crowd and vote for the El Yunque National Rainforest.
About El Yunque
Located on the Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico in the Greater Antilles group, the El Yunque National Forest is the sole tropical rain forest in the U.S. National Forest System. The forest’s relatively small 28, 000 acre size belies its importance. It differs significantly from all the other U.S. National Forests because of its year-round tropical climate and immense biodiversity.
The rugged Luquillo Mountains that rise to 3,533 ft. above sea level comprise most of the forest land. Their steep slopes can sometimes receive rainfall of over 200 inches (508 centimeters) at higher elevations! Caressed by gentle easterly winds the forest has an average temperature of 73°F (21°C), and seasonal changes are almost imperceptible. It is the ideal climate for exuberant tropical vegetation. The rain forest is noted for its biodiversity; it is “home” to thousands of native plants including 150 fern species, 240 tree species (88 of these are endemic or rare and 23 are exclusively found in this forest). The El Yunque National Forest has no large wildlife species, but hundreds of smaller animals abound in this gentle forest, many of which exist nowhere else on the planet!!
Each year we welcome about 600,000 visitors from all over the world who come to sample the rain-forest’s eco-tourism pleasures while developing a greater understanding of its ecological importance by walking our many beautiful trails.