Geography of Puerto Rico

The island of Puerto Rico is a very popular tourist destination because of its location, rich history and warm atmostphere. The island is located in the Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic, about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) southeast of Miami, Florida. Puerto Rico is one of the 28 islands in the Caribbean.

Puerto Rico is almost rectangular in shape, approximately 100 miles long by 35 miles wide and is the smallest and the most eastern island of the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica and Puerto Rico).

Although, often referred an island, Puerto Rico is an archipelago formed by the main island and 143 small islands, islets and cays, including Vieques, Culebra, Culebrita, Palomino, Mona, and Monito. Vieques and Culebra are also known by some by the Spanish Virgin Islands, formerly called the Passage Islands and also known as the Puerto Rican Virgin Islands.

Its coasts measures approximately 580 km, and if the adjacent islands Vieques and Culebra are included the coast measures approximately 700 km. With an area of 3,425 square miles (9,104 sq km), Puerto Rico is the third largest island in the United States and the 82nd largest island in the world.

Geographic Coordinates: Latitude: 18° 15" N   Longitude: 66° 30" W

Total Area: 9,104 sq km (3,508 sq mi)
The maximum length from east to west (from Punta Puerca to Punta Higuero) of 180 km (110 mi) and with a maximum width from north to south (from Isabella to Punta Colón) of 65 km (40 mi).

Land Area: 8,959 sq km

Comparative Area: Puerto Rico is approximately three times the size of Rhode Island and 1,080 times smaller than the United States.

Water Area: 145 sq km

Region: North America

Subregion: Caribbean

Map References: Central America and the Caribbean

Limits:
To the west by Haití and the Dominican Republic (La Hispañola), separated by the Mona Passage ("Mona Canal"), to the east by the Virgin Islands, to the north by the Atlantic Ocean, and to the south by the Caribbean Sea.

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 501 km

Borders:
Puerto Rico is under the U.S. customs jurisdiction. Borders are open between P.R. and the U.S., allowing for free movement of people and merchandise.

Maritime Claims:
Continental shelf: 200 NM (depth)
Exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Territorial sea: 12 NM

Geology

Puerto Rico is composed of Jurassic to Eocene volcanic and plutonic rocks, which are overlain by younger Oligocene to recent carbonates and other sedimentary rocks. Most of the caverns and karst topography on the island occurs in the northern Oligocene to recent carbonates. The oldest rocks are approximately 190 million years old (Jurassic) and are located at Sierra Bermeja in the southwest part of the island.

Puerto Rico lies at the boundary between the Caribbean and North American plates. This means that it is currently being deformed by the tectonic stresses caused by the interaction of these plates.

Deep oceans waters fringe Puerto Rico. To the west, the Mona Passage, which separates the island from Hispaniola to the west, is about 80 miles (130 km) wide and more that 3,300 feet (1,000 meters) deep. Off the northern coast in the Atlantic Ocean at the boundary between the Caribbean and North American plates is the Puerto Rico Trench, the largest and deepest trench in the Atlantic. The trench is 800 kilometres (497 mi) long and has a maximum depth of 8,000 metres (26,247 ft) at Milwaukee Deep, which is the deepest point in the Atlantic Ocean. To the south the sea bottom descends to the 16,400 feet (5,000 meters) deep Venezuelan Basin of the Caribbean.

Because of the proximity to the two tectonic plates Puerto Rico experiences an average of five earthquakes (including aftershocks) with a magnitude greater than 1.5 occurring near per day.

Although the vast majority of these earthquakes are too small to be felt by people, but provides evidence that the North American plate is moving westward relative to the Caribbean plate at about two centimeters per year.

Topography

The territory is very mountainous (covering about 60%), except in the regional coasts, but Puerto Rico offers astonishing variety: rain forest, deserts, beaches, caves, oceans and rivers. Puerto Rico has three main physiographic regions: the mountainous interior, the coastal lowlands, and the karst area.

The mountainous interior is formed by a central mountain chain commonly known as the Cordillera Central, extending across the interior of the island, from Mayagüez to Aibonito, which transects the island from east to west. These mountain ranges are La Cordillera Central, La Sierra de Cayey, La Sierra de Luquillo, and La Sierra Bermeja.

The highest mountains are Cerro La Punta (1,338 m) in Jayuya; Rosas (1,267 m) found between Jayuya and Ciales, Guilarte (1,205 m) in Adjuntas, Tres Picachos (1,204 m) in Jayuya, and Maravilla (1,182m) in Ponce. Toward to the northeast is Sierra de Luquillo, whose highest peaks are: Toro Hill (1,074 m) found between Río Grande, Naguabo and Las Piedras, and El Yunque Peak (1,065 m) found in Río Grande. Another mountain chain is the Sierra de Luquillo in the northeast.

The second main physiographic feature is the coastal lowlands, which extend 13 to 19 km (8 to 12 mi) inward in the north and 3 to 13 km (2 to 8 mi) in the south. A series of smaller valleys lie perpendicular near the west and east coast. This area was originally formed by the erosion of the interior mountains.

The third important physiographic feature is the karst region in the north. This area consists of formations of rugged limestone dissolved by water throughout the geological ages. This limestone region is an extremely attractive zone of extensive mogotes or haystack hills, sinkholes, caves, limestone cliffs, and other karst features. The karst belt extends from Aguadilla, in the west, to a minor haystack hills formation in Loíza, just east of San Juan.

El Yunque National Forest, formerly known as the Caribbean National Forest, located on the slopes of the Sierra de Luquillo mountains, encompasses 28,000 acres of land and is what remains of the rain forest that once covered much of the island (indeed, much of the entire northern Caribbean). More than 100 billion gallons (yes, billion) of rain fall here each year, creating a lush forest with plants of incredible proportions and variety. A moist hike or horseback ride take you past 240 species of trees, some thousands of years old, 50 species of ferns, 20 varieties of wild orchids and riotous multitude of flowers. Living in the forest (all over the island in fact but quite far to spot) is the tiny coquí frog. The name is derived from his cricket like ko-kee chirp, this tiny creature (a quarter to one inch in size) is considered to be the national mascot. Other forest areas are: Guajataca in the Northwest; Río Abajo, between Arecibo and Utuado; Aguirre in the South; Piñones, east of San Juan; Guánica, west of Ponce; Maricao, Guilarte, Toro Negro and Carite (Guavate), all on the transinsular Panoramic Route. The largest number of bird species can be found at Guánica Forest, which is home to 700 plant species of which 48 are endangered and 16 exist nowhere else. Guánica's dry forest vegetation is unique and the Forest has been declared an International Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.

Puerto Rico also has some of the most important caves in the west hemisphere. The Río Camuy runs underground for part of its course, forming the third largest subterranean river in the world. There are fine examples of stalactites, stalagmites and, of course, plenty of bats. Located near to Lares, on Route 129, Km 9.8, guided tours available, open Wed to Sun, US$10 for adults, U$S7 for children. Close by you can find the Cueva del Infierno, on which 2,000 caves have been discovered; in them live 13 species of bat, the coquí, crickets, an arachnid called the "guavá", and other species. Guide tours available, for details contact (787) 898-2723.

Another unique environment can be found on Mona Island, 50 miles off the west coast of Puerto Rico. Like the Galapagos Islands, this untouched island has species which are not found elsewhere. Mona is a protected island, under the management of the United States National Park Service and the Puerto Rican Natural Resources Department. Accessible by a sometimes difficult, long boat ride, the island is available for sport diving to those who make special arrangements and are willing to rough it out.

Terrain

Different classification schemes exist for the soils of Puerto Rico. One physiographic approach, based on a scientific classification by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service, can be summarized into five general soil types: humid coastal plains, semiarid coastal plains, humid uplands, semiarid uplands, and humid upland valleys. Another classification by soil scientists at the University of Puerto Rico groups the island's soils into coastal lowlands, alluvium, coastal plains, alluvium in terraces, upland dark, and upland reddish-purple. Traditionally, tropical soils have been looked upon as infertile and unproductive and of poor agricultural value. However, tropical countries provide such high biomass products as sugar cane, bananas, coffee, and tobacco.

Elevation

Mean Elevation:261 m

Highest Point: Cerro Punta, 1,338 m (4,389 ft)

Lowest Point: Sea level, Caribbean Sea 0 m

Rivers and Lakes

Puerto Rico, due to its relatively short width and its east-west running mountain chain, does not have long rivers or large lakes. In addition, La Cordillera Central location influences the characteristics and flow of the rivers in the island. Rivers in the north tend to be long and slow-moving currents. The longest river is the Grande de Arecibo, which flows to the northern coast. Other rivers include La Plata, Cibuco, Loíza, and, Bayamón all draining to the north, and the Grande de Añasco, draining to the west. There are other perennial rivers, mostly draining to the north and west. On the other hand, rivers in the south are short and have strong currents, rivers include Portugues, Loco, Coamo and Grande de Patillas. Many of the rivers draining south run dry most of the year; nonetheless, with heavy rainfall, they can cause flooding.

Puerto Rico does not have natural lakes, although it has 15 reservoirs, commonly called lakes, formed by damming the main rivers to produce hydroelectric power and water for irrigation. Hydroelectricity accounts for less than 1% of the electricity generated, as most electric power uses petroleum as the energy source. The island has such natural lagoons as the Condado and San Jose in San Juan, Piñones and Torrecillas in Carolina, Joyuda in Cabo Rojo, and Laguna Tortuguero in Manatí.

Bioluminescent Bays

The phenomenon of bioluminescent or phosphorescent bays is very rare in the world. Three of the five know examples occurs in Puerto Rico: Mosquito Bay in Vieques, Laguna Grande in Fajardo and La Parguera in Lajas.

Flora and Fauna

Several thousand varieties of tropical plants grow in Puerto Rico, including the kapok tree ("Ceiba") with its thick trunk, the poinciana (a prickly tropical shrub with brilliant reddish blossoms), the breadfruit, and the coconut palm. A tropical rain forest in the northeastern section of the island has tree ferns, orchids, and mahogany trees; part of this tropical area is included in the Caribbean National Forest. In the dry southwestern corner of Puerto Rico are cactus and bunch grass. Puerto Rico has no large wild mammals. The mongoose was brought in to control rats on sugar cane plantations. Iguanas and many small lizards abound, and bats are present. The island has few animals native to the island, found almost nowhere else in the world, the coquí (mentioned above) and the Puerto Rican Parrot (Amazona vittata) ("cotorra puertorriqueña") lives only in a few hidden areas of the Caribbean National Forest. The Puerto Rican Parrot is bright green, about a foot in length, with red forehead, blue primary wing feathers, and flesh-colored bill and feet. Barracuda, kingfish, mullet, Spanish mackerel, tuna, lobster, and oysters are among the many fish inhabiting coastal waters.

Natural Resources

Some stone, fish, copper and nickel, potential for on-shore and off-shore crude oil.

Land Use

agricultural land: 22%

arable land: 6.6%

permanent crops: 5.6%

permanent pasture: 9.8%

forest: 63.2%

other: 14.8% (2018 est.)

Irrigated Land: 220 sq km (2012)

Natural Hazards: periodic droughts; hurricanes

Environment Current Issues: erosion; occasional drought has caused water levels in reservoirs to drop and has prompted water rationing.

Many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north.

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.

Hydrography

Of the 1,200 bodies of water Puerto Rico only classifies 50 of them rivers. Numerous rivers flow down from the mountains to distinct coastal plains. The Central Range divides the north (Atlantic) and south (Caribbean) watersheds. The northern rivers are long, rich and tranquil waters in comparison to the southern rivers, and the coast is wet and green. The major rivers are: Grande de Loíza (65 km), Bayamón (40 km), La Plata (80 km), and Grande de Arecibo (55 km). To the west and the east are the rivers basins which form the water systems and these rivers are: Culebrinas (45 km), Grande de Añasco (65 km), and Guanajibo (36 km). Subterranean streams are abundant, especially toward the northwest. Between the most important thermal fountain is "Los Baños de Coamo" found in Coamo. In the southwest, mangroves have created a unique canal system. Puerto Rican rivers are not navigable by large vessels, but they provide electrical power and irrigation.

Climate

The climate is Tropical Marine with an average temperature of 80°F (26°C). Puerto Rico enjoys warm and sunny days most of the year. Lightweight clothing is appropriate year-round. The winds, which blow from the East, moderate temperatures and rainfall. In the interior, the temperature fluctuates between 73°F and 78°F (22°C and 25°C). The temperature in the south is usually a few degrees higher than the north and temperatures in the central interior mountains are always cooler than the rest of the island.

Rainfall tends to be evenly distributed throughout the year, but doubles during the months from May to October, which, unfortunately, coincides with hurricane season, as falls from November to April, with a driest period from January to April. The north coast gets twice as much rain as the south coast. Annual precipitation in the north is 1,550mm (61.02 inches); in the south is 910mm (36 inches), in coastal regions 101-381 cm (40-150 inches) and in the mountains 508 cm (200 inches).

The rainiest place of the island is El Yunque National Forest located in the northeast, where there is no real dry season, it rains year-round. With about 240 inches (6.1 m) per year, which translates to over 100 billion gallons of water. On the other hand, the driest place on the island is the Guanica Biosphere Reserve and State Forest, a desert-like forest located in the southwest region. With only about 30 inches (76.2 cm) of rain fall per year.

Hurricane Season in Puerto Rico

Because of Puerto Rico s location, the island is expose to frequent hurricane activity. Hurricanes frequently occur between August and October, although the U.S. National Weather Service considers the hurricane season for the North Atlantic Basin to run from June 1 to November 30. The North Atlantic Basin includes the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane seasons during 1995-2004 have averaged 13.6 tropical storms (34-63 knots), 7.8 hurricanes (>63 knots) and 3.8 major hurricanes (>95 knots).

Dozens of hurricanes have been recorded in the island's history, but probably the most destructive was San Ciriaco, which struck on August 8, 1899.

The relative humidity is high, about 80% throughout the year.

Time Zone: Atlantic Standard Time (AST), which is one hour later (+1) than Eastern Standard Time (EST) and four hours earlier (-4) than Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Puerto Rico does not observe Daylight Savings Time.

Atlantic Standard Time (AST, GMT-4, Zone Q), which comprises Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The time in Puerto Rico is: 5:37 AM

Sunrise/Sunset Average: 6:54 am to 6:21 pm
Because of the latitude of Puerto Rico the sun is high overhead all year, there are no great variations from day to day between the times of sunrise and sunset.

Other Resources

• Iguana de Mona (Photo source: Iguana)
• 1992 Census of Agriculture [PDF]
• National Weather Service Forecast Office - San Juan, PR
• Puerto Rico Perspectives (Cartographic maps)
• Current Conditions for Puerto Rico
• NOAA/AOML/Hurrican Research Division
• Puerto Rico
• Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands - Latest conditions, forecasts by USA Today
• Puerto Rico Trench
• San Juan Weather Report

Sources:

• Dr. Carr, Gerald (Gerry). Department of Botany and Plant Pathology. Retrieved 2020 from http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/ (offline). (Photos source: poinciana)