Puerto Rico

Flag of Puerto Rico

Introduction Puerto Rico is a small island in the Caribbean. Its capital is San Juan. San Juan was founded by Spanish conquerors in 1521 and is one of the oldest cities in the Americas. Puerto Rico is divided into 78 municipalities. Important buildings, such as the Capitol of Puerto Rico and the Fortaleza, are located in San Juan. The Capitol is where the people who make laws meet and The Fortaleza is where the governor lives. The official languages of Puerto Rico are English and Spanish. Spanish is the main and dominant language in Puerto Rico. English is the second language. Geography The island of Puerto Rico is located in the Caribbean. It is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south. Puerto Rico is actually a group of small islands, which include the mainland and other smaller islands such as Vieques, Culebra, and Mona.

Climate The climate of Puerto Rico is tropical. This means that the climate is usually sunny, very hot and humid. The average temperature is 28C throughout the year. Temperatures do not change a lot. It is always summertime in Puerto Rico. Food Puerto Rican food is a unique blend of Spanish, African, Tano Indian, and American food. There are many indigenous ingredients that make Puerto Rican food special: sazn, papayas, plantains and many more. For example, sazn is a mix of herbs and spices used for seasoning meat, fish, pasta, and many other dishes.

Transportation In Puerto Rico, people use cars to move around through the many roads and highways. There is a metro system in San Juan called the Tren Urbano. The main airport in Puerto Rico is the Luis Muoz Marn International Airport and it is located in the municipality of Carolina.

Music There are many different types of folk music in Puerto Rico. Bomba music has its origins in Africa. It is played with two or three large drums. Bomba dancers move to the rhythm of the drums. Other popular music of Puerto Rico is salsa, pop, and reggaeton.