Chemistry teacher, 11th. grade, University Gardens High School
Teaching experience: 28 years
Presently:
Department of Education, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Statewide Sistemic Initiative (PRSSI)

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic

Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 66 30 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 9,104 sq km
land: 8,959 sq km
water: 145 sq km

Area comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island

Land boundaries: 0 km

Climate: tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along
most coastal areas

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m

Natural resources: some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil

Natural hazards: periodic droughts

Environment current issues: occasional drought has caused water levels in reservoirs to drop and has prompted water
rationing

Geography note: important location along the Mona Passage a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of
the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered;
south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north

Population: 3,857,070 (July 1998 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Puerto Rican

Ethnic groups: Hispanic

Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant denominations and other 15%

Languages: Spanish, English

Economy overview: Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. A diverse industrial sector has surpassed agriculture as the primary locus of economic activity and income. Encouraged by duty-free access to the US and by tax incentives, US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wage laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and other livestock products as the main source of income in the agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income for the island, with estimated arrivals of nearly 4 million tourists in 1993. The construction sector has been a key factor in recent economic growth.

Rutgers Experiment	Classroom Activities	Materials	Websites
Standards, Inquiry Assessment	Glossary	Mahalo (Acknowledgments)	Ask an Expert

 

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