Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the northeastern Caribbean. It comprises a main island and several smaller islands, and has a population of over 3.6 million people. Christopher Columbus first discovered the island of Puerto Rico in 1493 and it was later colonized by Spain. Puerto Rico came under U.S. control after the Spanish-American War in 1898 and remains a U.S. territory today. San Juan is the capital and largest city, known for its colorful historic buildings dating back to the 16th-17th centuries under Spanish rule. Puerto Rican culture is expressed through traditions like parrandas (carol singing), a long Christmas celebration season, and observing Epiphany and

1. Puerto Rico
by Noelia Vigo
2014

2. Puerto Rico
It is an unincorporated
territory of the United States,
located in the northeastern
Caribbean, east of the Dominican
Republic and west of the Virgin
Islands.
It comprises an archipelago
that includes the main island of
Puerto Rico and a number of
smaller islands, the largest of
which are Vieques, Culebra, and
Mona.

3. Puerto Rico
Population: 3,667,084
Land area: 9,104 km2
Languages: Spanish and English
Monetary unit: United States dollar ($)
Government: Unincorporated territory of the United States
Head of state: Barack Obama

4. Puerto Rico
On November 19, 1493 Christopher Columbus discovered the island in his
second voyage to the New World. He named the island San Juan Bautista.
Juan Ponce de León colonized Borinquen in 1508
and became its first governor. Many families from
Spain and European nations moved to the island,
slowly marrying Taíno Indians, forming a new
ethnic group called Criollos.
Juan Ponce de León
During the Spanish-American War of 1898 American troops invaded the
island and Spain surrendered to the U.S. Since then, Puerto Rico has
remained a U.S. territory.

5. Puerto Rico:
San Juan
San Juan is the capital and most
populated city in Puerto Rico.
Old San Juan is the name known
to the historic district of San
Juan. It is located in the islet of
San Juan, which is connected to
the main island of Puerto Rico by
bridges. The city is known for its
colourful buildings that date
back to the sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries, when the
island was a Spanish colony.

6. Puerto Rico:
Traditions
Puerto Rican culture can be seen and
felt all year round, but especially at
Christmas, when people celebrate the
traditional parrandas – Puerto Rico’s
version of carol singing – when family
and friends gather together at home.
This tradition tends to take place in
the early hours of the morning in
order to surprise the unsuspecting
family members who are normally fast
asleep.
Interestingly, Puerto Ricans celebrate what is probably the world’s longest Christmas.
The festivities get underway on 23 November and last until the end of January when
the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián take place.
Epiphany is another of Puerto Rico’s deeply-rooted celebrations, with children visiting
their relatives to collect the gifts left by the Three Wise Men.

7. Puerto Rico:
Traditions
In addition to their love for Christmas traditions, Puerto Ricans
also celebrate the Night of Saint John (the Baptist), where
crowds of people flock to the beaches around the island to jump
backwards into the sea seven times. They believe that this ritual
rids them of their bad luck. Essentially it’s a kind of baptism,
accompanied by music, dancing, eating and drinking.

8. Puerto Rico: Traditional food
Rice with Pigeon Peas
Stewed Beef
Fried Green Banana
Rice pudding
Sweet Plantain &
Beef Lasagna

9. Puerto Rico:
Basketball
Volleyball
Sports
Baseball
Boxing

10. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rico
http://welcome.topuertorico.org/