Puerto Rico
Alfonse Bowman
Geography
Puerto Rico consists of an archipelago located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of the Virgin Islands. The main island of Puerto Rico is the smallest and most eastern of the Greater Antilles.
Population
3.548 million
Culture
The culture of Puerto Rico has been greatly influenced by its history. With the blend of Taino Indians, Spanish and African cultures, comes a melting pot of people and traditions, as well as the impact of the United States political and social exchange into every aspect of life.
Politics
The politics of Puerto Rico take place in the framework of a republic democratic form of government that is under the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the United States as an organized unincorporated territory
History
On November 19, 1493, Puerto Rico was discovered by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to claim lands for the rulers of Spain, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. In 1493 the island was called Borinquen by the indians who lived there. Columbus named it San Juan Bautista.
Tourism
Puerto Rico attracted 4.2 million visitors in 2013 and 4 million visitors in 2011, a notable increase over 2010 at 3.68 million, tourism has been a money revenue industry for Puerto Rico for a number of decades given it is host to diverse natural wonders, cultural and historical buildings, concerts and sporting events. The fact that visitors from the United States do not need a passport to enter Puerto Rico attracts a large number of tourists from the mainland each year