This is the Island of Puerto Rico, the place where I was born many moons ago. One thing I discovered throughout the years is that not many people know anything about Puerto Rico, Puerto Ricans included. Surrounded by beaches, the constant coming and going of the waves, the swaying of the palm trees, the singing of the "coqui"; it just doesn't get any better. So, being the kind of guy I am, I will take a few keystrokes to share a wealth of knowledge concerning this little Island located in the Caribbean. This is, by far, the most gorgeous tropical island in the world.

 

 

 

Location:

Puerto Rico is located in the Caribbean. It is nested between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic. For those of you who sail, the geographic coordinates are 18 15 N, 66 30 W. It is slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island.

 

 

 

Terrain:

Puerto Rico is mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas. The lowest point is the Caribbean Sea at 0 m and the highest point is Cerro de Punta at 1,338 m .

 

 

 

People Facts:

There are approximately 3,897,960 residents according to a July 2004 census. The age composition is: 0-14 years: 22.4% (male 446,474; female 426,585); 15-64 years: 65.4% (male 1,220,721; female 1,329,936); 65 years and over: 12.2% (male 205,933; female 268,311). And the median age is total: 33.8 years, broken down as follows: male: 32.1 years & female: 35.4 years. The birth rate is 14.1 births/1,000 population, whereas the death rate is 7.77 deaths/1,000 population. Lastly, the life expectancy is male 73.49 years and female 81.68 years.

 

 

 

Nationality:

Persons born in Puerto Rico are Puerto Rican and as such are US citizens. The ethnicity is divided as white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%, Asian 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9%.

 

 

 

Religion:

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%.

 

 

 

Literacy:

Defined as "age 15 and over can read and write", total population: 94.1% broken down as follows
male: 93.7% & female: 94.4%.

 

 

 

Government:

Puerto Rico is a commonwealth associated with the US.

 

 

Flag:

The flag of the Island of Puerto Rico has five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center; design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed.

 

Coat of Arms:

The figures we see on the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico are inspired on those that appear on the Coat of Arms which the Spanish Crown granted to the Island of Puerto Rico at the beginning of the XVI Century. It was first recognized by King Ferdinand by virtue of Royal Decree on November 8, 1511, but it wasn't until March 9, 1905 that a law, establishing the official Coat of Arms was signed. It is the only one in Latin America still in official use since the conquest.

The predominant color on the background is the green, it is known that this color was used at the beginnings of the Christian era in allusion to Saint John the Baptist, as a symbol of the grass or vegetation when he would preach in the deserted jungle of Judea. Within the background there is a white lamb on top of the Book of Revelations, holding the seven seals of The Apocalypse of Saint John the Apostle. The lamb represents purity which corresponds to the figure of the Lamb of God, the Agnus dei, identified as Jesus Christ. The lamb holds a white flag with a red cross, the "Cross of Jerusalem" used by the Monarchs to expel the "non christians" from the Spanish peninsula.

The rim is covered by 16 symbols: 4 castles signifying the "Kingdom of Castilla", 4 lions, representing the "Kingdom of Leon", both, lions and castles, represents the unity of both kingdoms, 4 flags, and 4 crosses of Jerusalem are symbols of Saint John the Baptist. The crown on top symbolizes the "Royalty" who authorized this shield. To the right, an "F" for Fernando, to the left, a "Y" for Ysabel, who were over the thrown (King and Queen of the Spanish Empire) when Puerto Rico was discovered, evoke the great pioneering efforts. The quiver of arrows and yoke represent ideograms for the initials of the Catholic Kings, F and Y. The inscription reads "JOHANNES EST NOMEN EJUS" or "Juan (John) is its name", as Puerto Rico was originally called San Juan (Saint John), which today is the name of the capital city.

The use of the Coat of Arms of Puerto Rico is governed by certain Regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State of Puerto Rico on May 2, 1960, according to Act No. 7 of August 8, 1952, of the Legislature, amended by Law 143 of June 3, 1976.


 

 

(Information gathered from the CIA Web Page)

 

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