Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico

1. World Cultures Club
UMS-Wright MS
10 Facts

2. Puerto Rico
Population: 3,676,141
Capital: San Juan
Official Language: Spanish
and English
Nationality: Puerto Ricans
(Boricua)
Government: Free State
Associated with the United
States
Monetary: U.S. Dollar
National Sport: Baseball (or
Softball for women)
Motto:

4. Puerto Rico was first named San
Juan Bautista and the capital was
named Puerto Rico (meaning Rich
Port).
The two names were switched by
the Puerto Rico’s first governor,
Juan Ponce de León.

5. Indigenous cultures
thrived for centuries
in Puerto Rico, until
Columbus claimed
the land for Spain in
1493. The island
remained under
colonial Spanish
rule for more than
400 years.

6. After their defeat in the Spanish-American
War in 1898, Spain ceded the islands of
Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Philippines to
the United States. In 1917, Puerto Ricans
received United States citizenships,
although in elections since then, they have
chosen to retain their status as a
commonwealth.

7. Puerto Rico is a self-governing
commonwealth in association with the
U.S. The U.S. and Puerto Rico share
citizenship, currency, customs borders,
and defense. However, Puerto Ricans
are not required to pay federal income
tax. Puerto Ricans have rejected the
prospect of United States statehood in
three different elections.

8. Since becoming a U.S territory in 1898, language
has been a central issue for the people of Puerto
Rico. For 90 years, Spanish and English were
the official languages. But in 1991, Governor
Rafael Hernandez Colon, a supporter of Puerto
Rican independence, abolished English as an
official language. In 1993, a pro-statehood
governor restored equal official status to English
and Spanish, and it remains so today. English is
spoken by approximately ¼ of the population,
and is spoken in nearly all areas frequented by
tourists.

9. Geography
La Cordillera Central runs
nearly the length of the island
from east to west, with
mountains covering 60% of
the island’s terrain. Fed from
rains in the interior
mountains, short rivers drain
into the Atlantic and the
Caribbean. These rivers
assure that the land is well
watered and contribute to the
fertility of the coastal
lowlands.

10. Geography
El flamboyán is a tree
with beautiful red
flowers that grows in La
Cordillera Central.

11. El Yunque or the
Caribbean National
Forest is the
rainforest of Puerto
Rico
It receives more than
100 billion gallons of
rainfall each year.
Puerto Rican parrots
are only found in a
few hidden areas of
the Caribbean
National Forest.

12. El Yunque
El Yunque
El Yunque HD

13. El coquí is the most
famous amphibian in
Puerto Rico.
El coquí was named
because of the sound it
makes.

14. Category 5
Devastation
People without electricity
Lack of food
Lack of water
People still in shelters
What can we
do to help?
CBS
Puerto Rico
abc

15. Puerto Rican cuisine
is a reflection of the
island’s history and
the various cultures.
The cocina criolla, or
native cooking, is a
blend of indigenous,
Spanish, African,
Mexican, and North
American influences.

16. Pollo Frito (Fried
Chicken) con tostones
is a typical dish of
Puerto Rico.
Tostones are deep fried
plantains.
Las habichuelas are
another typical Puerto
Rican dish of beans
served with rice and
chicken on meat.

17. La fiesta de Santiago,
held in the small town of
Loiza Aldea, reenacts
the Spanish conquest
over the Moors. In the
third week of July, this
town of mostly African
descent honors the
town’s patron Saint
James (Santiago) and his
role in the unification of
Spain.

18. El festival Casals is a
40+ year old festival
dedicated to Classical
music. It was created by
Pablo Casals. The
festival is held every
year in San Juan.

19. Salsa
The most widely
heard and influential
form of music from
Puerto Rico. The term
translates to English
as "sauce" to denote
music that spices and
enlivens things. It is a
complex musical
genre that evolved
from many roots into a
uniquely Puerto Rican
product.

20. Salsa music was made
famous my
instruments like the
güiro and maracas.
Famous Puerto
musicians who are
noted for making salsa
music popular world-
wide are:
Willie Colón
Tito Puente
Marc Anthony