Puerto Rico By: Tori Brown

Geography/Location Puerto Rico is located in the Caribbean. It is found between the bulk of Hispaniola (shared by Dominican Republic and Haiti) and the tiny archipelagos of the US Virgin Islands. The Atlantic Ocean is to the north and the Caribbean Sea is to the south.

Geography/Location cont. The small islands of Vieques and Culebra (to the east) and Mona (to the west) are also Puerto Rican territory.

Government The government type of Puerto Rico is commonwealth of the United States. The Governor (head of government) is Aníbal Acevedo Vilá. The President (head of state) is George W. Bush.

Currency Their monetary system is the US Dollar (US$). On the front of the bill is Juan Ponce de Leon. On the back is the Stripe- headed Tanager bird, the Puerto Rican Hibiscus flower, the Spanish Castle of El Morro (built between 1539 and 1584) and Coqui.

School Free public education is provided by the government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for elementary, intermediate and high-school students. The school terms in Puerto Rico public schools begin in August through mid-December and January through late May. Education in the public school system is conducted in Spanish. English is taught as a second language.

Natural Resources The natural resources of Puerto Rico are copper and nickel: potential for onshore and offshore oil.

Family Just as there is no typical American family, there is no typical Puerto Rican family; wide differences exist in the way they feel about the education of their children, religion, food, and even women’s liberation!

Tourist Attractions Puerto Rico has many beautiful attractions for visiting.

History On Sept. 5, 1852 a hurricane struck Puerto Rico. On March 1, 1859 the telegraph lines were formed.

Food They eat foods such as pastels, lechón asado, arroz con dulce, tembleque, and coquito.

The End