Puerto Rico: Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
rvv |
i have written the correct capital |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
hubert is the owne[[Media:r of the world]][[Media:[[Media:Example.ogg]][[Media:[[Media:Example.ogg]][[Media:[[Media:Example.ogg]][[Media:[[Media:Example.ogg]][[Media:[[Media:Example.ogg]][[Media:<math>Example.ogg</math><math><math>Insert formula here</math><math>[[Insert formula here]][[[[Link title]][[http://www.example.com link title][[http://www.example.com link title][[http://www.example.com link title] |
|||
{{For|the board game|Puerto Rico (board game)}} |
|||
== |
|||
{{Infobox_Country| |
|||
== Headline text == |
|||
common_name = Puerto Rico | |
|||
[[Media:<br />Example.ogg<sup><sub>Superscript text</sub><sup><sup>Superscript text</sup><nowiki><nowiki>Insert non-formatted text here</nowiki>[[Media:[[Media:Example.ogg]][[Media:[[Example.ogg]]]]]]</nowiki></sup></sup>]] == |
|||
native_name = ''Estado Libre Asociado''<br>''de Puerto Rico''<br><br>Commonwealth of Puerto Rico| |
|||
]]]]]</math></math>]]]]]]]]]]]] |
|||
image_flag = Flag of Puerto Rico.svg | |
|||
image_coat = Escudo de Puerto Rico.jpg| |
|||
symbol_type = Coat of arms | |
|||
image_map = LocationPuertoRico.png | |
|||
national_motto = [[Latin]]: ''Joannes Est Nomen Eius''<br>[[Spanish language|Spanish]]: ''Juan es su nombre''<br> |
|||
([[English language|English]]: "[[List of U.S. state mottos|John is his name]]") | |
|||
national_anthem = "''[[La Borinqueña]]''" | |
|||
official_languages = [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and [[English language|English]]| |
|||
demonym = Puerto Rican | |
|||
capital = [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]] | |
|||
largest_city = [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]] | |
|||
government_type = [[Commonwealth]] | |
|||
leader_title1 = [[Governor of Puerto Rico|Governor]] | |
|||
leader_name1 = [[Aníbal Acevedo Vilá]]| |
|||
area = 9,104| |
|||
areami²= 3,514<!-- Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]] -->| |
|||
area_rank=169th| |
|||
area_magnitude=1 E9| |
|||
percent_water=1.6| |
|||
population_estimate =3,944,259| |
|||
population_estimate_year=July 2007 | |
|||
population_estimate_rank=127th | |
|||
population_density = 434| |
|||
population_densitymi² = 1,115<!-- Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]] -->| |
|||
population_density_rank=21st | |
|||
population_census = 3,913,054 | |
|||
population_census_year=2006| |
|||
GDP_PPP = $74.89 billion<!--cia.gov-->| |
|||
GDP_PPP_year=2006| |
|||
GDP_PPP_rank=68th| |
|||
GDP_PPP_per_capita = $19,100| |
|||
GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank= N/A| |
|||
sovereignty_type = [[Independence]] | |
|||
sovereignty_note = None (Self governing with an association as a Commonwealth with the [[United States|U.S.]] <ref name="wfb"> [http://www.lexjuris.com/lexprcont.htm CIA - Constitution of PR - Puerto Rico]</ref>) | |
|||
HDI_year = n/a| |
|||
HDI = | |
|||
HDI_rank = not ranked | |
|||
HDI_category = |
|||
|currency = [[United States dollar]] |
|||
|currency_code =USD |
|||
|time_zone = [[Atlantic Standard Time|AST]] |
|||
|utc_offset =-4 |
|||
|time_zone_DST = No DST |utc_offset_DST=-4 |
|||
|cctld = [[.pr]]|[[.us]] |
|||
|calling_code = 1 |
|||
|calling_code_note = spec. [[Area code 787|+1-787]] and [[Area code 939|+1-939]] |
|||
|footnotes = | |
|||
}} |
|||
'''Puerto Rico''', officially the '''Commonwealth of Puerto Rico''' ({{lang-es|"Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico"}}, [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] {{IPA|[estado libɾe asosjado de pweɾto riko]}}), is a self governing [[unincorporated territory]] of the [[United States]] with [[Commonwealth (United States insular area)|Commonwealth]] status<ref name="wfb"> [http://www.gobierno.pr/GPRPortal/Inicio/RamaEjecutiva/Organigrama.htm Government of Puerto Rico - Puerto Rico]</ref> located in the northeastern [[Caribbean]], east of the [[Dominican Republic]] and west of the [[Virgin Islands]]; approximately 1,280 miles (2,000 km) off the coast of [[Florida]] (the nearest of the mainland United States). The [[archipelago]] of Puerto Rico includes the main island of Puerto Rico, the smallest of the [[Greater Antilles]], and a number of smaller islands and [[archipelago|key]]s, the largest of which are [[Mona, Puerto Rico|Mona]], [[Vieques, Puerto Rico|Vieques]], and [[Culebra, Puerto Rico|Culebra]]. Puerto Ricans sometimes refer to their island as '''Borikén''', or the [[Spanish language|Spanish]] variant '''Borinquen''', a name for the island used by [[Indigenous (ecology)|indigenous]] [[Taíno]] people. The current term ''boricua'' derives from the Taíno name for the island, and is commonly used to identify oneself as [[Puerto Rican]]. |
|||
Even though all people born in Puerto Rico are [[statutory]] U.S. citizens, the nature of Puerto Rico's political relationship with the United States is the subject of ongoing debate on the island, in the [[United States Congress]], and in the [[United Nations]].<ref name="sdc">[http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/gacol3138.doc.htm United Nations special decolonization committee- Puerto Rico].</ref> Those who support maintaining the ''status quo'' (''i.e.'', Commonwealth status) insist that upon attaining this status, Puerto Rico entered into a voluntary association with the U.S. "in the nature of a [[interstate compact|compact]]", but according to a President's Task Force report,<ref>[http://charma.uprm.edu/~angel/Puerto_Rico/reporte_status.pdf report] accessed on April 9, 2007</ref> Puerto Rico is an [[incorporated territory|unincorporated]] [[organized territory]] of the United States, subject to the [[plenary power]]s of the U.S. Congress and with the "right to establish a constitution for the internal administration of government and on matters of purely local concern". |
|||
==History== |
|||
{{main|History of Puerto Rico}} |
|||
===Pre-Columbian era=== |
|||
The history of the island of Puerto Rico (Spanish for rich port) before the arrival of [[Christopher Columbus]] is not well understood. What is known today comes from findings and from early Spanish accounts. The first comprehensive book on the history of Puerto Rico was written by [[Fray Iñigo Abbad y Lasierra]] in 1786, 293 years after the first [[Spanish people|Spaniards]] arrived on the island.<ref>Iñigo Abbad y Lasierra. Historia Geográfica, Civil y Natural de la Isla de San Juan Bautista de Puerto Rico.</ref> |
|||
[[Image:Taino Village.JPG|left|thumb|Taíno Village at the Tibes Ceremonial Center]] |
|||
The first indigenous settlers of Puerto Rico were the [[Ortoiroid people|Ortoiroid]], an Archaic age culture. An archaeological dig in the island of Vieques in 1990 found the remains of what is believed to be an ''Arcaico'' (Archaic) man (named Puerto Ferro man) which was dated to around 2000 BC.<ref>[http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/travel/story.html?id=eb3c0119-8328-4b52-96ed-4a63763160f7 Vieques Island - What lies beneath].</ref> Between AD 120 and 400, the [[Igneri]], a tribe from the [[Orinoco]] region, arrived on the island.<ref>[http://iprac.aspira.org/PDF%27s/Chronology%20of%20Puerto%20Rico.pdf Brief Chronology of Puerto Rico].</ref> Between the 7th and 11th century the [[Taíno]] culture developed on the island and, by approximately AD 1000, the Taíno culture had become dominant, a trend that lasted until the Spanish arrived in 1493. |
|||
===Spanish colony=== |
|||
When [[Christopher Columbus]] arrived at Puerto Rico during his second voyage on [[November 19]], [[1493]], the island was inhabited by a group of [[Arawak]] [[Amerindian|Indians]] known as [[Taíno]]s. The Taínos called the island "Borikén" or "Borinquen".<ref> Presently, Puerto Ricans are also known as Boricuas, or people from Borinquen.</ref> Columbus named the island San Juan Bautista, in honor of Saint [[John the Baptist]]. Later the island took the name of Puerto Rico ({{lang-en|Rich Port}}) while the capital was named [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]]. In 1508, Spanish ''[[conquistador]]'' [[Juan Ponce de León]] became the island's [[List of Governors of Puerto Rico|first governor]] to take office.<ref>[[Vicente Yáñez Pinzón]] was the first appointed governor but he never arrived on the island.</ref> |
|||
The island was soon colonized by the Spanish. Taínos were forced to work for the Spanish crown but were decimated by diseases brought by the Spaniards and the harsh conditions in which they were forced to work. African slaves were introduced as labor to replace the decreasing populations of Taíno. Puerto Rico soon became an important stronghold and port for the [[Spanish Empire]] in the Caribbean, gaining the title of "''La Llave de las Americas''" (The Key of the Americas). Colonial emphasis during the late 17th - 18th centuries, however, focused on the more prosperous mainland territories, leaving the island impoverished of settlers. A prominent resident of this early period was [[Bernardo de Balbuena]], Bishop of Puerto Rico, who wrote Baroque poetry extolling the beauty of the New World, especially Mexico. Many of his manuscripts were burned by Dutch pirates when they sacked the island in 1625. |
|||
[[Image:garita morro s.jpg|thumb|[[guerite|Garita]] at Fort San Felipe del Morro]] |
|||
Because of concerns of threats from European enemies, over the centuries various forts and walls, such as [[La Fortaleza]], [[Fort San Felipe del Morro|El Castillo San Felipe del Morro]] and [[Fort San Cristóbal|El Castillo de San Cristóbal]], were built to protect the port of San Juan. The [[France|French]], [[The Netherlands|Dutch]] and [[England|English]] made several attempts to capture Puerto Rico but failed to wrest long-term occupancy of the island. |
|||
In 1809, while [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon]] occupied the majority of the Iberian peninsula, a [[populist]] assembly based in [[Cádiz]] recognized Puerto Rico as an overseas province of Spain with the right to send representatives to the Spanish Court. The representative [[Ramon Power y Giralt]] died soon after arriving in Spain. These constitutional reforms were reversed when autocratic monarchy was restored. Nineteenth century reforms augmented the population and economy, and expanded the local character of the island. After the rapid gains of independence by the South and Central American states in the first part of the century, Puerto Rico and [[Cuba]] became the sole New World remnants of the large Spanish empire. |
|||
[[Image:Lares Revolutionary Flag (original).jpg|thumb|The Original Lares Revolutionary Flag.]] |
|||
Toward the end of the 19th century, poverty and political estrangement with Spain led to a small but significant uprising in 1868 known as "[[Grito de Lares]]". The uprising was easily and quickly crushed. Leaders of this independence movement included [[Ramón Emeterio Betances]], considered the "father" of the Puerto Rican nation, and other political figures such as [[Segundo Ruiz Belvis]]. Later, another political stronghold was the autonomist movement originated by [[Román Baldorioty de Castro]] and, toward the end of the century, by [[Luis Muñoz Rivera]]. In 1897, Muñoz Rivera and others persuaded the liberal Spanish government to agree to a Charters of Autonomy for Cuba and Puerto Rico. The following year, Puerto Rico's first, but short-lived, autonomous government was organized. The charter maintained a governor appointed by Spain, who held the power to annul any legislative decision he disagreed with, and a partially elected parliamentary structure. |
|||
===Puerto Rico under United States rule=== |
|||
On [[July 25]], [[1898]] at the outbreak of the [[Spanish-American War|Spanish–American War]], Puerto Rico was invaded by the United States with a landing at [[Guánica, Puerto Rico|Guánica]]. Following the outcome of the war, Spain was forced to cede Puerto Rico, along with [[Cuba]], the [[Philippines]], and [[Guam]] to the United States under the [[Treaty of Paris (1898)]].<ref>[http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/diplomacy/spain/sp1898.htm Treaty of Paris (1898)]</ref> Puerto Rico began the twentieth century under the military rule of the United States with officials, including the governor, appointed by the [[President of the United States]]. The [[Foraker Act]] of 1900 had given Puerto Rico a certain amount of popular government including a popularly-elected House of Representatives. By 1917, the [[Jones-Shafroth Act]] granted U.S. [[citizenship]] to Puerto Ricans - a status they still hold today - and provided for a popularly-elected Senate to complete a bicameral elected Legislative Assembly. Until the first gubernatorial election in 1948, the Presidency of the Senate and the Resident Commissioner seat in Congress were held by Puerto Rico's top politicians. Many Puerto Ricans served in the [[U.S. Armed Forces]] beginning in [[World War I]]. Natural disasters and the [[Great Depression]] impoverished the island. Some political leaders demanded change; some, like [[Pedro Albizu Campos]], would lead a [[Nationalism|nationalist]] (The [[Puerto Rican Nationalist Party]]) movement in favor of independence. He served many years in prison for seditious conspiracy to overthrow the U.S. Government in Puerto Rico.<ref>{{cite web|last = García|first = Marvin|url = http://www.nl.edu/academics/cas/ace/resources/campos.cfm|title = Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos|publisher = National-Louis University|accessdate= April 28|accessyear = 2006}}</ref> [[Luis Muñoz Marín]] initially favored independence, but saw a severe decline of the Puerto Rican economy, as well as growing violence and uprisings and opted to support the "commonwealth" option instead. The "commonwealth" was supported before Luis Muñoz Marín by other political leaders. |
|||
Change in the nature of the internal governance of the island came about during the later years of the [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|Roosevelt]]–[[Harry S. Truman|Truman]] administrations, as a form of compromise spearheaded by Muñoz Marín and others, and which culminated with the appointment by President [[Harry Truman]] in 1946 of the first Puerto Rican-born governor, [[Jesus T. Piñero]]. In 1947, the United States granted the right to democratically elect the [[governor of Puerto Rico]]. Luis Muñoz Marín became the first elected governor of Puerto Rico in the 1948 general elections, serving as such for 16 years, until 1964. |
|||
Starting at this time, there was heavy migration from Puerto Rico to the [[Continental United States]], particularly [[New York City]], in search of better economic conditions. Puerto Rican migration to New York displayed an average yearly migration that is summarized as follows: 1930-1940, 1,800; 1946-1950, 31,000; 1951-1960, 45,000, 1953 (peak year), 75,000.<ref>[http://palante.org/History.htm Latino/a Education Network Service, retrieved 5 February 2007]</ref> As of 2003, the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]] estimates that there are more people of Puerto Rican birth or ancestry living in the United States than in Puerto Rico itself.<ref>[http://www.prfaa.com/uploadedfiles/PRFAA_Atlas_12_06_04.pdf Anglelo Falcón, "Atlas of Stateside Puerto Ricans", Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, published 6 December 2004, retrieved 5 February 2007]</ref> |
|||
On [[November 1]], [[1950]], Puerto Rican nationalists [[Griselio Torresola]] and [[Oscar Collazo]] [[Truman assassination attempt|attempted to assassinate]] President [[Harry S Truman]]. Subsequently, the Truman Administration allowed for a democratic [[referendum]] in Puerto Rico to determine whether Puerto Ricans desired to draft their own local constitution.<ref>Act of July 3, 1950, Ch. 446, 64 Stat. 319.</ref> Puerto Rico adopted [[Constitution of Puerto Rico|its own local constitution]] in [[July 25]], [[1952]] which adopted the name of "Estado Libre Asociado" (Free Associated State), translated into English as [[Commonwealth (United States insular area)|Commonwealth]], for the [[body politic]] and which continues to denote Puerto Rico's current relationship with the United States.<ref>[http://www.lexjuris.com/lexprcont.htm Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico - in Spanish (original)].</ref><ref>[http://topuertorico.org/constitu.shtml Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico - in English (translation)].</ref> During the 1950s Puerto Rico experienced a rapid industrialization, due in large part to ''Operación Manos a la Obra'' ("[[Operation Bootstrap]]") (an offshoot of FDR's New Deal) which aimed to industrialize Puerto Rico's economy from agriculture-based into manufacturing-based. |
|||
Present-day Puerto Rico has become a major tourist destination and a leading pharmaceutical and manufacturing center. Still, Puerto Rico continues to struggle to define its political status. Three locally-authorized plebiscites have been held in recent decades to decide whether Puerto Rico should pursue independence, enhanced commonwealth status, or statehood. Narrow victories by commonwealth supporters over statehood advocates in the first two plebiscites and an unacceptable definition of Commonwealth by the pro statehood leadership on the ballots in the third has allowed the relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States government to remain unchanged. In the latest status referendum of 1998, the "none of the above" option won over Statehood, a rejection by Commonwealthers of the definition of their status on the ballots, with 50.2% of the votes. Support for the pro-statehood party ([[Partido Nuevo Progresista]] or PNP) and the pro-commonwealth party ([[Partido Popular Democrático]] or PPD) remains about equal. The only registered independence party on the island, the [[Puerto Rican Independence Party|Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño]] or PIP, usually receives 3-5% of the electoral votes, though there are several smaller independence groups like the Partido Nacionalista de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rican Nationalist Party), el Movimiento Independentista Nacional Hostosiano (National Hostosian Independence Movement), and the ''Macheteros - Ejercito Popular Boricua'' (or [[Boricua Popular Army]]). |
|||
On [[25 October]][[2006]], the [[Puerto Rico State Department]] conferred to [[Juan Mari Brás]] [[Puerto Rican Citizenship|Puerto Rico Citizenship]]. The Puerto Rico Supreme Court and the Puerto Rican Secretary of Justice determined that the Puerto Rican citizenship in fact exists and was recognized in the Constitution of Puerto Rico, as in the [[Insular Cases]] (''Casos Insulares'' in Spanish) of 1901 through 1922 of the [[U.S. Supreme Court]]. The Puerto Rico State Department has developed, since the summer of 2007, the protocol to grant the Puerto Rican citizenship to Puerto Ricans<ref>http://www.estado.gobierno.pr/Ciudadania_Puertorriquena.htm</ref> |
|||
== Geography == |
|||
[[Image:rico.png|thumb|340px|Map of Puerto Rico]] |
|||
{{main|Geography of Puerto Rico}} |
|||
Puerto Rico consists of a main island of Puerto Rico and various smaller islands, including [[Vieques, Puerto Rico|Vieques]], [[Culebra, Puerto Rico|Culebra]], [[Mona, Puerto Rico|Mona]], [[Desecheo Island|Desecheo]], and [[Caja de Muertos, Puerto Rico|Caja de Muertos]]. Of the latter five, only Culebra and Vieques are inhabited year-round. Mona is uninhabited through large parts of the year except for employees of the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources. There are also many other even smaller islands including [[Monito Island|Monito]] and "La Isleta de San Juan" known as [[Old San Juan]]. |
|||
The mainland measures some {{convert|100|nmi|km|-1}} by {{convert|35|nmi|km|0}}. It is mostly mountainous with large coastal areas in the north and south regions of the island. The main mountainous range is called "[[Cordillera Central (Puerto Rico)|La Cordillera Central]]" (The Central Range). The highest elevation point of Puerto Rico, [[Cerro de Punta]] (4,390 [[foot (unit of length)|feet]]; 1,338 [[Metre|m]]),<ref name=usgs>{{cite web| year =[[29 April]] [[2005]] | url =http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html#Highest| title =Elevations and Distances in the United States| publisher =U.S Geological Survey| accessdate = November 9| accessyear = 2006}}</ref> is located in this range. Another important peak is [[El Yunque, Puerto Rico|El Yunque]], located in the ''[[Sierra de Luquillo]]'' at the El Yunque National Forest, with a maximum elevation of 3,494 feet (1,065 m). The [[capital]], [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]], is located on the main island's north coast. |
|||
Located in the [[tropics]], Puerto Rico enjoys an average temperature of 82.4 °F (28 °C) throughout the year. The seasons do not change very drastically. 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. [[List of Atlantic hurricane seasons|Hurricane season]] spans between June and November. |
|||
{{See also|Climate of Puerto Rico}} |
|||
Puerto Rico has 17 [[lake]]s, all of which are man-made [[reservoir]]s,<ref>[http://www.gobierno.pr/DRNA/ReservasNaturales/LagosRiosLagunas/Lagos/Lagos_I.htm Los Lagos de Puerto Rico] {{es icon}}</ref> and more than [[List of Puerto Rico rivers|50 rivers]], most born in the Cordillera Central. The rivers in the northern region of the island are typically larger and with higher [[Volumetric flow rate|water flow rates]] than those of the south region, given that the south receives less rain than the central and north regions. |
|||
As of 1998, 239 [[plant]]s, sixteen [[bird]]s and 39 [[amphibian]]s/[[reptile]]s have been discovered that are [[endemic (ecology)|endemic]] to the archipelago of Puerto Rico. The majority of these (234, 12 and 33 respectively) are found on the main island.<ref>[http://islands.unep.ch/ISV.htm#459 Island Directory].</ref> The most recognizable endemic species and a symbol of Puerto Rican pride is the [[Coquí]], a small frog easily recognized by the sound from which it gets its name. The [[El Yunque National Forest]], previously known as the [[Caribbean National Forest]], a [[Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests|tropical rainforest]] is home to the majority (13 of 16) of species of coquí. It is also home to more than 240 plants, 26 of which are endemic and 50 bird species, including one of the top 10 [[Endangered Species#Endangered birds|endangered]] birds in the world, the [[Puerto Rican Amazon]]. |
|||
{{See also|Fauna of Puerto Rico}} |
|||
==Geology== |
|||
Puerto Rico is composed of [[Cretaceous]] to [[Eocene]] [[volcanic]] and [[plutonic]] rocks, which are overlain by younger [[Oligocene]] to recent [[carbonate]]s and other [[sedimentary rock]]s. Most of the [[cavern]]s 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. These rocks may represent part of the [[oceanic crust]] and are believed to come from the [[Pacific Ocean]] realm. |
|||
Puerto Rico lies at the boundary between the Caribbean and North American [[plate]]s and is currently being deformed by the [[tectonic]] stresses caused by the interaction of these plates. These stresses may cause [[earthquakes]] and [[tsunami]]s. These [[seismic]] events, along with [[landslide]]s, represent some of the most dangerous [[geologic hazards]] in the island and in the northeastern Caribbean. The [[1918 Puerto Rico Earthquake|most recent major earthquake]] occurred on [[October 11]], [[1918]] and had an estimated magnitude of 7.5 on the [[Richter magnitude scale|Richter scale]].<ref name="1918 quake">{{cite web| url=http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/world/puerto_rico/puerto_rico_history.php| title=Earthquake History of Puerto Rico| publisher=U.S. Geological Survey| accessdate=2007-09-11}}</ref> It originated off the coast of [[Aguadilla]] and was accompanied by a [[tsunami]]. |
|||
The [[Puerto Rico Trench]], the largest and deepest trench in the Atlantic, is located about 75 [[mile]]s (120 [[km]]) north of Puerto Rico in the [[Atlantic Ocean]] at the boundary between the Caribbean and North American plates.<ref name="trench">{{cite web| author=Uri ten Brink| url=http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03trench/welcome.html| title=Explorations: Puerto Rico Trench 2003 - Cruise Summary and Results| publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration| accessdate=2007-09-11}}</ref> The trench is 1,090 miles (1,754 km) long and about 60 miles (97 km) wide. At its deepest point, named the [[Milwaukee Deep]], it is 27,493 feet (8,380 m) deep, or about 5.2 miles (8.38 km).<ref name="trench"/> |
|||
Puerto Rico experiences warm temperatures trought the year with an average annual temperature of 78° - 83 °F (26° - 28 °C).<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.fajardoinn.com/local-weather.html| title=Local Puerto Rico Weather| publisher=Fajardo Inn| accessdate=2007-09-11}}</ref> |
|||
==Demographics== |
|||
{{main|Demographics of Puerto Rico}} |
|||
[[Image:Real Cédula de Gracia.jpg|right|175px|thumb|Royal Decree of Graces, 1815]] |
|||
During the 1800s, hundreds of [[Corsican immigration to Puerto Rico|Corsica]]n, [[French immigration to Puerto Rico|French]], [[Lebanon|Lebanese]], [[Overseas Chinese|Chinese]], and [[Portugal|Portuguese]] families, along with large numbers of immigrants from Spain (mainly from [[Catalonia]], [[Asturias]], [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]], the [[Balearic Islands]], [[Andalusia]], and the [[Canary Islands]]) and numerous Spanish loyalists from Spain's former colonies in South America, arrived in Puerto Rico. Other settlers have included [[Irish immigration to Puerto Rico|Irish]], [[Scotland|Scots]], [[German immigration to Puerto Rico|Germans]], [[Italian people|Italians]], and thousands others who were granted land from Spain during the ''Real Cedula de Gracias de 1815'' ([[Royal Decree of Graces of 1815]]), which allowed European Catholics to settle in the island with a certain amount of free land. This mass immigration during the 19th century helped the population grow from 155,000 in 1800 to almost a million at the close of the century. A census conducted by royal decree on [[September 30]],[[1858]], gives the following totals of the Puerto Rican population at this time, with 300,430 identified as [[Whites]] ; 341,015 as Free [[colored]]; and 41,736 as [[Slaves]]. More recently, Puerto Rico has become the permanent home of over 100,000 legal residents who immigrated from not only Spain, but from [[Latin America]] as well. Argentines, [[Cuba]]ns, Dominicans, [[Colombia]]ns and [[Venezuela]]ns can also be counted as settlers. |
|||
[[Emigration]] has been a major part of Puerto Rico's recent history as well. Starting in the Post-[[World War II|WWII]] period, due to poverty, cheap airfare, and promotion by the island government, waves of Puerto Ricans moved to the continental United States, particularly to [[New York City, New York]] [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]], [[Jersey City, New Jersey|Jersey City]], [[Paterson, New Jersey|Paterson]], and [[Camden, New Jersey|Camden]], [[New Jersey]]; [[Chicago]]; [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]] and [[Boston, Massachusetts]]; [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], [[Miami, Florida|Miami]] and [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]], [[Florida]]; [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]; [[Hartford, Connecticut]]; [[Washington, D.C.]], and [[Los Angeles, California]]. This continued even as Puerto Rico's economy improved and its birth rate declined. Emigration continues at the present time, and this, combined with Puerto Rico's greatly lowered birth rate, suggests that the island's population will age rapidly and start to decline sometime within the next couple of decades. |
|||
In the [[United States Census 2000|2000 U.S. Census]] Puerto Ricans were asked to indicate in which racial categories they consider themselves to belong.95.8% answered. The breakdown is as follows: 80% described themselves as "white"; 8% described themselves as "[[blacks|black]]"; 12% described themselves as "[[mulatto]]" and only 0.4% described themselves as "[[American Indian]] or [[Alaska Native]]" (the US Census does not consider Hispanic to be a race, and asks if a person considers himself Hispanic in a separate question).<ref>{{cite web |
|||
|url=http://www.the-dispatch.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=NEWS&template=wiki&text=Puerto_Rico |
|||
|title=Puerto Rico |
|||
|date=[[25 June]] [[2007]] |
|||
|publisher=The Dispatch Online |
|||
|accessdate=2007-06-26 |
|||
}}</ref><ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=04000US72&-qr_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_DP1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U Puerto Rico DP-1. Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000].</ref> |
|||
A recent study of [[Mitochondrial DNA]] (mtDNA) from 800 individuals found 61.1% as having Amerindian maternal mtDNA, 26.4% as having African maternal mtDNA, and 12.5% as having Caucasian maternal mtDNA.<ref name=Ancestry>Martínez Cruzado, Juan C. (2002). The Use of Mitochondrial DNA to Discover Pre-Columbian Migrations to the Caribbean:Results for Puerto Rico and Expectations for the Dominican Republic. KACIKE: The Journal of Caribbean Amerindian History and Anthropology [On-line Journal], Special Issue, Lynne Guitar, Ed. Available at: http://www.kacike.org/MartinezEnglish.pdf [Date of access: 25 September, 2006]</ref> Conversely, patrilineal input, as indicated by the [[Y chromosome]], showed that 70% of all Puerto Rican males have inherited Y chromosome DNA from a male European ancestor, 20% have inherited Y chromosome DNA from a male African ancestor, and fewer than 10% have inherited Y chromosome DNA from a male Amerindian ancestor. In summary, the results suggest that the three largest components of the Puerto Rican genetic pool are Amerindian, African, and European. |
|||
===Languages=== |
|||
The official languages of the island are [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and [[English language|English]]. Spanish is the primary language of Puerto Ricans, though English is taught as a foreign language in public schools from elementary levels to high school. English is, with limitations, spoken by about only 1/4 of the population. <ref>[http://topuertorico.org/descrip.shtml Description of Puerto Rico] by Topuertorico.org.</ref> |
|||
In 1991, Governor [[Rafael Hernández Colón]] signed a law declaring Spanish as the sole official language of the island's government. While some applauded the governor's decision (mainly members of the political parties supporting commonwealth-status and independence), others opposed it, including statehood supporters. As a result of his actions, the People of Puerto Rico won the Literature's [[Prince of Asturias Award]] in 1991, which is awarded annually to those who defend and contribute to the growth of the Spanish language.<ref>[http://www.fundacionprincipedeasturias.org/ing/04/premiados/trayectorias/trayectoria697.html Fundación Príncipe de Asturias]</ref> Upon his election as governor in 1993, pro-statehood former Governor [[Pedro Rosselló]] overturned the law enacted by his predecessor and once again established both English and Spanish as official languages. This move by the pro-statehood governor was seen by many as another attempt to move the island closer to statehood, however, despite many attempts and plebiscites, it never came about during his two consecutive terms. |
|||
===Religion=== |
|||
The [[Roman Catholic Church]] has been historically the most dominant religion of the majority of Puerto Ricans, although the presence of various Protestant denominations has increased under American sovereignty, making modern Puerto Rico an interconfessional country. Protestantism was suppressed under the Spanish regime, but encouraged under American rule of the island. |
|||
The three main Islamic mosques are located in Rio Piedras, Ponce, and Vega Alta. |
|||
Taíno religious practices have to a degree been rediscovered/reinvented by a handful of advocates. Various African religious practices have been present since the arrival of enslaved Africans. In particular, the [[Yoruba]] beliefs of [[Santeria]] and/or [[Ifá]], and the [[Kongo]] derived [[Palo Mayombe]] (sometimes called an African belief system, but rather a way of [[Bantu]] lifestyle of [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|Congo]] origin) find adherence among individuals who practice some form of [[African traditional religion]]. |
|||
== Politics == |
|||
<!-- |
|||
Please add important yet concise information to these sections. New detailed information should be added to the relevant articles of the series. |
|||
--> |
|||
=== Government of Puerto Rico === |
|||
{{main|Government of Puerto Rico}} |
|||
Puerto Rico's head of state is the President of the United States. The government of Puerto Rico is based on the formal [[Republicanism in the United States|republican system]] composed of three branches: the [[Executive branch]] headed by the [[Governor of Puerto Rico|Governor]], currently [[Anibal Acevedo Vila]], the [[Legislative branch]] consisting of a [[bicameral]] [[Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico|Legislative Assembly]] (a [[Senate of Puerto Rico|Senate]] and a [[House of Representatives of Puerto Rico|House of Representatives]]), headed by the President of the Senate, currently [[Kenneth McClintock]] and the House Speaker, currently [[Jóse Aponte Hernandez]], and the [[Judicial branch]], headed by the Chief Justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court, currently [[Federico Hernandez Denton]], that form the formal government. The legal system is based on a mix of the [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]] and the [[common law]] systems. The governor as well as legislators are elected by popular vote every four years. Members of the Judicial branch are appointed by the governor with the "advice and consent" of the Senate. |
|||
Puerto Rico has limited representation in the U.S. Congress in the form of a [[Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico|Resident Commissioner]], currently Luis Fortuño, a nonvoting delegate, and the current Congress had returned the Commissioner's power to vote in the Committee of the Whole, but not on matters where the vote would represent a decisive participation.<ref name="rhg">[http://www.rules.house.gov/ruleprec/110th.pdf Rules of the House of Representatives]</ref> Because no federal elections are held in any of the unincorporated territories, Puerto Rico does not have electors in the [[U.S. Electoral College]]. |
|||
==== Administrative divisions ==== |
|||
{{main|Municipalities of Puerto Rico}} |
|||
As an unincorporated territory of the United States, Puerto Rico does not have any first-order administrative divisions as defined by the U.S. Government, but there are 78 [[municipalities]] at the second level ([[Mona Island]] is not a municipality, but part of the municipality of [[Mayagüez, Puerto Rico|Mayagüez]]).<ref name="wfb"/> Municipalities are subdivided into wards or [[barrio]]s, and those into sectors. Each municipality has a [[mayor]] and a municipal legislature elected for a 4 year term. |
|||
The first municipality (previously called "town") of Puerto Rico, San Juan, was founded in 1521. In the 16th century two more municipalities were established, [[Coamo]] (1570) and [[San Germán]] (1570). Three more municipalities were established in the 17th century. These were [[Arecibo]] (1614), [[Aguada, Puerto Rico|Aguada]] (1692) and [[Ponce, Puerto Rico|Ponce]] (1692). The 18th and 19th century saw an increase in settlement in Puerto Rico. 30 municipalities were established in the 18th century and 34 more were established in the 19th century. Only six municipalities were founded in the 20th century. The last municipality was [[Florida, Puerto Rico|Florida]], founded in 1971.<ref>[http://www.linktopr.com/fundacion.html LinktoPR.com - Fundación de los Pueblos].</ref> |
|||
=== Political history === |
|||
{{main|Politics of Puerto Rico}} |
|||
In 1950, the [[U.S. Congress]] gave Puerto Ricans the right to organize a constitutional convention, contingent on the results of a referendum, where the electorate would determine if they wished to organize their own government pursuant to a constitution of their own choosing. Puerto Ricans expressed their support for this measure in a 1951 referendum, which gave voters a yes-or-no choice for the commonwealth status, defined as a 'permanent association with a federal union' but which did not offer independence or statehood as ballot options. A second referendum was held to approve the constitution, which was adopted in 1952. |
|||
Prior to approving the new constitution, the Constitutional Convention specified the name by which the [[body politic]] would be known. On [[February 4]] [[1952]], the convention approved Resolution 22 which chose in English the word “[[Commonwealth (United States insular area)|Commonwealth]] ”, meaning a “politically organized community” or “[[state]],” which is simultaneously connected by a compact or treaty to another political system. The convention adopted a translation into Spanish of the term, inspired by the Irish saorstát [[Free state (government)|(Free State)]] of “Estado Libre Asociado” (ELA) to represent the compact between the people of Puerto Rico and the United States. Literally translated into English, the phrase means “Associated Free State.” |
|||
In 1967, the Legislative Assembly tested political interests of the Puerto Rican people by passing a [[plebiscite]] Act that allowed a vote on the status of Puerto Rico. This constituted the first plebiscite by the Legislature for a choice on three status options. Puerto Rican leaders had lobbied for such an opportunity repeatedly, in 1898, 1912, 1914, 1919, 1923, 1929, 1932, 1939, 1943, 1944, 1948, 1956, and 1960. The Commonwealth option, represented by the PDP, won with an overwhelming majority of 60.4 percent of the votes. The Statehood Republican Party, as well as the Puerto Rico Independence Party boycotted the vote. |
|||
Following the plebiscite, efforts in the 1970s to enact legislation to address the status issue died in Congressional committees. In the 1993 plebiscite, in which Congress played a more substantial role, Commonwealth status was again upheld.<ref>For the complete statistics regarding these plebiscites please refer to [http://electionspuertorico.org/cgi-bin/events.cgi Elections in Puerto Rico:Results].</ref> In the 1998 plebiscite, all the options were rejected when an absolute majority of the voters (50.3%) voted in favor of the "none of the above" option, again favoring the commonwealth status quo by default. <ref>http://electionspuertorico.org/1998/summary.html</ref> |
|||
==== International status ==== |
|||
On [[November 27]], [[1953]], shortly after the establishment of the Commonwealth, the General Assembly of the [[United Nations|UN]] approved [[UN General Assembly Resolution|Resolution 748]], removing Puerto Rico’s classification as a [[United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories|non-self-governing territory]] under article 73(e) of the Charter from United Nations. However, the UN General Assembly did not apply its full list of criteria to Puerto Rico for determining whether or not self-governing status had been achieved. In fact, in a 1996 report on a Puerto Rico status political bill, the U.S. [[United States House Committee on Natural Resources|Committee on Resources]] stated that Puerto Rico’s current status “does not meet the criteria for any of the options for full self-government.” The House Committee concluded that Puerto Rico is still an unincorporated territory of the United States under the territorial clause, that the establishment of local self-government with the consent of the people can be unilaterally revoked by the U.S. Congress, and that U.S. Congress can also withdraw the U.S. citizenship now enjoyed by the residents of Puerto Rico at any time, as long as it achieves a legitimate Federal purpose. <ref>http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/resources/hii43194.000/hii43194_0.HTM</ref> The application of the Constitution to Puerto Rico is limited by the [[Insular Cases]]. |
|||
Even though Puerto Rico has no established embassies, it hosts [[Consul (representative)|Consulates]] from 42 countries, mainly from the [[Western Hemisphere]] and [[Europe]]. Most consulates are located in the vicinity of San Juan, capital of Puerto Rico. |
|||
==== Political status within the United States==== |
|||
Under the 1952 constitution, Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth and enjoys an [[autonomous entity|administrative-autonomy]] similar to that of a state of the Union. Because it is not a state of the Union, federal elections are not held on the island, but everyone born in Puerto Rico is a US citizen and may vote in federal elections held in any state or incorporated territory as long as the citizen can claim residence in said state or incorporated territory. Puerto Rico does participate in the internal political process of both the Democratic and Republican Parties in the United States, and delegates from the island vote in each party's national convention. |
|||
Puerto Rico is classified by the U.S. government as an independent taxation authority by mutual agreement with the U.S. Congress. A common misconception is that residents of Puerto Rico do not have to pay federal taxes. Residents of the island pay federal taxes (import/export taxes, federal commodity taxes, social security taxes, etc.) and some even pay federal income taxes (Puerto Rico residents who are federal employees, or who do business with the federal government, Puerto Rico-based corporations that intend to send funds to the U.S., etc). While most residents of the island do not pay [[Income tax in the United States|federal income tax]], they do pay federal [[payroll tax]]es ([[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] and Medicare), as well as Puerto Rico income taxes. In addition, because the cutoff point for income taxation is lower than that of the IRS code, and because the per-capita income in Puerto Rico is much lower than the average per-capita income on the mainland, more Puerto Rico residents pay income taxes to the local taxation authority than if the IRS code were applied to the island. Puerto Rico residents are eligible for Social Security benefits upon retirement. Puerto Rico is excluded from [[Supplemental Security Income]] (SSI). Puerto Rico receives less than 15% of the [[Medicaid]] funding it would be allotted as a state. |
|||
As statutory U.S. citizens, Puerto Ricans may enlist in the U.S. military. Puerto Ricans have been included in the compulsory draft, when it has been in effect. Puerto Ricans have fully participated in all U.S. wars since 1898, most notably [[Puerto Ricans in World War II|in World War II]], in the [[Korean War|Korean]] and [[Vietnam War|Vietnam]] wars, and the current Middle-Eastern conflicts. |
|||
Roberto Guzman of ''The San Juan Star'' argued against the position that the current status of relations between the US and Puerto Rico is the "best of both worlds" saying it is "nonsense that keeps Puerto Rico in a permanent state of political apartheid."<ref> {{cite web |
|||
| last = |
|||
| first = |
|||
| authorlink = |
|||
| coauthors = |
|||
| title =US Congressman Urging Independence for PR Lives Paradox |
|||
| work = |
|||
| publisher =San Juan Star |
|||
| date =February 12, 1999 |
|||
| url =http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues/vol3n08/Gutierrez-en.html |
|||
| format = |
|||
| doi = |
|||
| accessdate = 2007-7-22 }}</ref> |
|||
==== Recent developments on status==== |
|||
According to a December 2005 [http://www.prfaa.com/eng/PuertoRicoBookletFinal.pdf report] by the President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status, it is not possible “to bind future (U.S.) |
|||
Congresses to any particular arrangement for Puerto Rico as a Commonwealth”. This determination was based on articles in the [[U.S. Constitution]] regarding territories. The Gov. [[Anibal Acevedo Vilá]] has since challenged the task force report, while his party, the Popular Democratic Party (PPD), denounced the task force as a political fraud that represents a threat to democracy and is a violation of the basic agreements held between the people of Puerto Rico and the United States since 1952.<ref>[http://www.ppdpr.net/media/RENU06-02.pdf PPD Party Resolution #2006-02] {{es icon}}</ref> It also announced a commitment to challenge the task force's report and validate the current status in all international forums including the United Nations. It also rejects any ''colonial or territorial status'' as a status option, and vows to keep working for the enhanced Commonwealth status that was approved by the PPD in 1998 which included sovereignty, an association based on "respect and dignity between both nations", and common citizenship. <ref>[http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues/vol2n11/indep-hearing-v2n11.html Independence Hearing] by the ''Puerto Rico Herald''.</ref> |
|||
The Legislative Branch, controlled by the opposing New Progressive Party (PNP), supported the White House Report's conclusions and has supported bills introduced by Reps. [[Jose Serrano]] (D-NY) and [[Luis Fortuño]] (R-PR) and Sens. [[Ken Salazar]] (D-CO) and [[Mel Martinez]] (R-FL) to provide for a democratic referendum process among Puerto Rico voters. |
|||
==== Political parties ==== |
|||
{{main|List of political parties in Puerto Rico}} |
|||
As unincorporated territory dependent on the U.S. since 1952, the ideology of Puerto Ricans is represented by its political parties, which stand for three distinct future political scenarios that are non-conformist regarding Puerto Rico's territorial or colonial status: (1) those who favor an autonomous, sovereign bilateral relationship with the United States (so-called "improved"/"enhanced" U.S. Commonwealth outside the U.S. Constitution's "Territorial Clause" or Free Associated Republic status); (2) those that favor that Puerto Rico's national independence should be recognized by the United States, as a full-fledged sovereign republic within the concert of the international community at-large; and, (3) those who favor Puerto Rico's entry into the United States as a full-fledged state of the federated union, by becoming the 51st state of the aforementioned country. The [[Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico|Popular Democratic Party]] (PPD) seeks to maintain the island's "association" status as a commonwealth, improved commonwealth and/or seek a true free sovereign-association status or Free Associated Republic, and has won a plurality vote in referendums on the island's status held over six decades after the island was invaded by the United States (that said, most referendums' fairness have been impugned by one or two of the opposition parties). The [[New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico|New Progressive Party]] (PNP) seeks [[51st state|statehood]] for Puerto Rico. The [[Puerto Rican Independence Party]] and the [[Nationalist Party]] both seek [[Puerto Rican independence movement|independence for the nation of Puerto Rico]], albeit through different means. The Nationalist Party, for example, does not participate in elections held every four years. Although they maintain close relations and are considered allies within an otherwise rather divided [[Puerto Rican Independence Movement]], the [[Puerto Rican Independence Party]], on the other hand, does participate in nation-wide gubernatorial elections held every four years since 1948 (fifty-years after the U.S. invasion of the island) |
|||
==Economy== |
|||
{{main|Economy of Puerto Rico}} |
|||
In the early 1900s the greatest contributor to Puerto Rico's economy was agriculture, its main crop being sugar. In the late 1940s a series of projects codenamed Operation Bootstrap encouraged, using tax exemptions, the establishment of factories. Thus manufacturing replaced agriculture as the main industry. Puerto Rico is currently classified as a [[First World#High income country|high income country]] by the [[World Bank]]. <ref>[http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/DATASTATISTICS/0,,contentMDK:20421402~pagePK:64133150~piPK:64133175~theSitePK:239419,00.html Data and Statistics of Country Groups] of the [[World Bank]]</ref> <ref>[http://devdata.worldbank.org/ict/pri_ict.pdf Income report for Puerto Rico] by the [[World Bank]].</ref> |
|||
The economic conditions in Puerto Rico have improved dramatically since the Great Depression due to external investment in capital-intensive industry such as petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and technology. Once the beneficiary of special tax treatment from the U.S. government, today local industries must compete with those in more economically depressed parts of the world where wages are not subject to U.S. minimum wage legislation. In recent years, some U.S. and foreign owned factories have moved to lower wage countries in Latin America and Asia. Puerto Rico is subject to U.S. trade laws and restrictions. |
|||
[[Tourism]] is an important component of the Puerto Rican economy supplying an approximate $1.8 billion. In 1999, an estimated 5 million tourists visited the island, most from the United States. Nearly a third of these are [[cruise ship]] passengers. A steady increase in hotel registrations, which has been observed since 1998, and the construction of new hotels and new tourism projects, such as the [[Puerto Rico Convention Center]], are indicators of the current strength of the tourism industry. |
|||
Puerto Ricans had a per capita [[Gross Domestic Product]] (GDP) estimate of $19,100 for 2006,<ref name="wfb">[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rq.html CIA - The World Factbook - Puerto Rico].</ref> which demonstrates a growth over the $14,412 level measured in the 2002 Current Population Survey by the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund.<ref>[http://www.prldef.org/ PRLDEF].</ref> In that survey, Puerto Ricans had a 48.2% poverty rate. By comparison, the poorest State of the Union, [[Mississippi]], had a median level of $21,587, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey, 2002 to 2004 Annual Social and Economic Supplements.<ref>[http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/medincsizeandstate.html U.S. Census - Median Family Income].</ref> Since 1952, the gap between Puerto Rico's per capita income and U.S. national levels has essentially remained unchanged — one third the U.S. national average and roughly half that of the poorest state. The United Nation's Human Development Index ranking is not regularly available for Puerto Rico, though the UN Development Program assigned it a .942 score in 1998, which would place it among the top 15 countries in the HDI rankings. <ref>http://islands.unep.ch/CSV.htm</ref> |
|||
{{seealso|List of countries by Human Development Index}} |
|||
On [[May 1]], [[2006]], the Puerto Rican government faced significant shortages in cash flows, which forced the closure of the local Department of Education and 42 other government agencies. All 1,536 public schools closed, and 95,762 people were furloughed in the first-ever partial shutdown of the government in the island's history.<ref>{{cite news|first=Magdalys|last=Rodríguez|url=http://www.endi.com/2006/05/01/index/412858.asp?category=Ultima+hora&title=No+hubo+acuerdo+y+el+gobierno+amanecio+cerrado&artdate=2006/05/01|title=No hubo acuerdo y el gobierno amaneció cerrado|publisher=[[El Nuevo Día]]|accessdate=2006-05-01}}{{es icon}}</ref> On [[May 10]], 2006, the [[2006 Puerto Rico budget crisis|budget crisis]] was resolved with a new tax reform agreement, with plans to apply a temporary 1% tax input so that all government employees could return to work. On November 15, 2006 a 5.5% sales tax was implemented. Municipalities have the option of applying a municipal sales tax of 1.5% bringing the total sales tax to 7%.<ref>{{cite news |author= Miguel Díaz Román |title= Incierto el impacto del nuevo tributo|url=http://www.endi.com/noticia/portada/noticias/incierto_el_impacto_del_nuevo_tributo/110378 |work= |publisher=[[El Nuevo Día]] |date=2006-11-15 |accessdate=2006-11-15|language= Spanish}}</ref> |
|||
{{Seealso|2006 Puerto Rico budget crisis}} |
|||
==Culture== |
|||
{{main|Culture of Puerto Rico}} |
|||
[[Image:Kapok tree Honolulu.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Kapok tree (''Ceiba'') the national tree of Puerto Rico]] |
|||
Puerto Rican culture is a mix of four cultures, African (from the slaves), [[Taíno]] (Amerindians), Spanish, and, more recently, North American. From Africans, the Puerto Ricans have obtained the "[[bomba]] and [[plena]]", a type of music and dance including percussions and [[maraca]]s. From the Amerindians (Tainos), Puerto Ricans have kept many names for their municipalities, foods, musical instruments like the [[güiro]] and [[maraca]]s. Many words and other objects have originated from their localized language. From the Spanish they got the Spanish language, the Catholic religion and the vast majority of their cultural and moral values and traditions. From the United States they received the English language, the university system -- the [[University of Puerto Rico]] was founded in 1903, --five years after the island became part of the United States -- and a variety of hybrid cultural forms that developed between the United States mainland and the island of Puerto Rico. |
|||
The official symbols of Puerto Rico are the bird, ''Reinita mora'' (''[[Spindalis portoricensis]]''), the flower, ''Flor de Maga'' (''[[Flor de maga|Thespesia grandiflora]]''), and the tree, ''Ceiba'' or Kapok (''[[Kapok|Ceiba pentandra]]''). The unofficial favorite amphibian is the Coquí (''[[Eleutherodactylus coqui]]''). Another popular unofficial symbol of Puerto Rico is the "[[jíbaro]]" , the "countryman" . |
|||
Puerto Rico has its own representatives in international beauty pageants including [[Miss World]] and [[Miss Universe]]. Puerto Rican beauty queens have won the Miss Universe pageant five times (1970, 1985, 1993, 2001, 2006), second only to Miss USA, and the Miss World pageant once (1975). The island's contestant was first runner- up in the 2005 Miss Universe pageant and second runner- up in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant. The island's contestant was also second-runner up in the 2005 [[Miss World]] pageant, and held the title of [[Miss World Caribbean]] the same year. |
|||
==Sports== |
|||
{{main|Sports in Puerto Rico}} |
|||
[[Image:Venegas.JPG|left|150px|thumb|[[Juan Evangelista Venegas]], first Puerto Rican to win an Olympic medal.]] |
|||
Puerto Rico has an Olympic team in the [[Summer Olympics]] and the [[Winter Olympics]], as well as international representation in many other sporting events including the [[Pan-American Games]], the [[Caribbean World Series]], and the [[Central American and Caribbean Games]], of which, [[Mayagüez]] will host the upcoming 2010 event. Puerto Rican athletes have won 6 medals (1 silver, 5 bronze) in Olympic competition, the first one in 1948 by boxer [[Juan Evangelista Venegas]]. Puerto Rican professional tennis player [[Gigi Fernández|Beatriz "Gigi" Fernández]] won two gold medals in Olympic tennis doubles competitions representing the United States Olympic Team. |
|||
Although [[boxing]], [[basketball]], and [[volleyball]] are popular, traditionally [[baseball]] is the most popular sport. Puerto Rico has its own professional baseball league which operates as a winter league. No major league franchise or affiliate plays in Puerto Rico, however, San Juan hosted the [[Montreal Expos]] for several series in 2003 and 2004 before they moved to [[Washington, D.C.]] and became the [[Washington Nationals]]. Puerto Rico has participated in the [[World Cup of Baseball]] winning 1 gold (1951), 4 silver and 4 bronze medals. Famous Puerto Rican boxers include [[Felix Trinidad]], [[Miguel Cotto]], [[Wilfredo Benitez]], and [[Wilfredo Gomez]] . Puerto Rico despite being a little island have a long [[list of Boxing world champions]] compared with other countries and potences. Basketball players that played in the National Basketball Association include Ramon Rivas, Ramon Ramos [[Carlos Arroyo]], [[Jose Juan Barea]] and [[José Ortiz]]. |
|||
[[August 8]], [[2004]], became a landmark date for Puerto Rico's national Olympic team when the basketball team of Puerto Rico defeated the U.S. basketball team in [[Athens, Greece]], the defending gold medalist and basketball powerhouse in [[2004 Summer Olympic Games|Olympic play]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/basketball/3567344.stm BBC Sports - Olympics 2004].</ref> On [[September 29]], [[2005]], [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) announced that San Juan's [[Hiram Bithorn Stadium]] would be one of the sites of the opening round as well as the second round of the newly formed [[World Baseball Classic]], a 16-country tournament featuring top players, which was held in San Juan in March 2006. Puerto Rico fielded its own team in that event, composed mostly of MLB players, which survived the opening round but was eliminated in the second round. |
|||
[[Professional wrestling]] has enjoyed much popularity in Puerto Rico for a long time. Matches have been televised since the 1960s, and multiple, non-televised matches are held each week across the island. The [[World Wrestling Council]] is the main wrestling promoter in Puerto Rico. Famous Puerto Rican wrestlers have included [[Barrabas]], [[Carlos Colon]] and his son, [[Carly Colon|Carlito]], ''Los Invaders'', [[Savio Vega]], [[Pedro Morales]], and ''Los Super Médicos''. Many [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] stars, such as [[Randy Savage]] and [[Ric Flair]] have fought in Puerto Rico. Women's wrestling has been gaining popularity in Puerto Rico since the 1990s. |
|||
The [[Puerto Rico Islanders]] [[soccer]] team, founded in 2003, plays in the [[United Soccer Leagues First Division]], which constitutes the second tier of soccer in [[North America]]. |
|||
[[Road running]] is a very popular sport and recreative activity across the island. Almost each weekend several road running events are held across the island. The most successful Puerto Rican road runner is [[Jorge Gonzalez (runner)|Jorge "Peco" Gonzalez]], who won several gold medals at the [[Central American and Caribbean Games]] and [[Pan American Games]]. |
|||
==Transportation== |
|||
{{main|Transportation in Puerto Rico}} |
|||
[[Image:Tren Urbano.jpg|160px|thumb|Tren Urbano at Bayamón Station.]] |
|||
Puerto Rico is connected by a system of [[freeway]]s, [[expressway]]s, and [[highway]]s, all maintained by the [[Highways and Transportation Authority of Puerto Rico|Highways and Transportation Authority]] and patrolled by the [[Police of Puerto Rico]]. The island's [[metropolitan area]] is served by a public bus transit system and a [[rapid transit|metro system]] called ''[[Tren Urbano]]'' (in English: Urban Train). Other forms of public transportation include sea-born ferries (that serve Puerto Rico's archipielago, composed of various substantially-populated islands) as well as “Carros Públicos” [[Share taxi|(Mini Bus)]], similar to jitney service on the United States. The island's main airport, [[Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport]], is located in [[Carolina, Puerto Rico|Carolina]], and serves the rest of the island as well as the Virgin Islands. The most recently renovated airport in the west of Puerto Rico is that of the former Ramey Military airbase in Aguadilla, [[Rafael Hernandez Airport]], which has made it easier to explore the towns of the newly created tourism area known as "Porta del Sol." The main [[port]] of the island [[San Juan Port]]. |
|||
[[Image:Old San Juan Ship Dock.JPG|250px|right|thumb|Part of the San Juan Port that divides Old San Juan from the modern downtown, "New San Juan"]] |
|||
In what regards water-based transportation of any merchandise or persons shipped entirely or even partly by water between U.S. points—either directly or indirectly via one or any number of foreign points—U.S. Federal Law requires that said items or persons must travel in U.S.-built, U.S.-crewed, U.S.-citizen owned vessels that are U.S.-documented by the Coast Guard for such maritime “[[cabotage]]” carriage. This transportation/trade restriction is imposed on Puerto Rico per the Jones Act of 1920 (Merchant Marine Act of 1920). The [[Jones Act]] and various other United States laws that govern the domestic and domestic-foreign-domestic transportation of merchandise and passengers by water between two points in the United States, including Puerto Rico, have been extended to that island-territory since the initial years of United States’ claim over the sovereignty of the island. |
|||
Strictly construed, the [[Jones Act]] refers only to Section 27 of the [[Merchant Marine Act of 1920]] (46 U.S.C. 883; 19 CFR 4.80 and 4.80(b)), which has come to bear the name of its original sponsor, Sen. [[Wesley L. Jones]]. Another law that was enacted in 1886 requires essentially the same standards for the transport of passengers between U.S. points, directly or indirectly transported through foreign ports or foreign points (46 App. U.S.C. 289; 19 CFR 4.80(a)). However, since the mid-1980s, as part of a joint effort between the [[cruise-ship]] industry that serves Puerto Rico and Puerto Rican politicians such as then [[Resident Commissioner]], U.S. non-voting Representative [[Baltasar Corrada del Río]], obtained a limited-exception since no U.S. cruise ships that were Jones Act-eligible were participating in said market. |
|||
The application of these [[coastwise shipping laws]] and their imposition on Puerto Rico consist in a serious restriction of [[free trade]] and have been under scrutiny and controversy due to the apparent contradictory rhetoric involving the United States Government's sponsorship of free trade policies around the world, while its own national [[shipping]] policy ([[Cabotage]] Law) is essentially [[mercantilist]] and based on notions foreign to free-trade principles. |
|||
==See also== |
|||
{{Puerto Rican topics}} |
|||
==References== |
|||
<div class="references-small"> |
|||
<references/> |
|||
</div> |
|||
==Further reading== |
|||
* Kurlansky, Mark. 1992. ''A Continent of Islands: Searching for the Caribbean Destiny''. Addison-Wesley Publishing. ISBN 0-201-52396-5. |
|||
* Burnett, Christina Duffy and Marshall, Burke, Foreign in a Domestic Sense, Duke University Press, 2001. |
|||
== External links == |
|||
{{portalpar|Puerto Rico}} |
|||
{{sisterlinks|Puerto Rico}} |
|||
<!--===========================({{No SPAM Links}})=============================--> |
|||
<!--| DO NOT ADD SPAM LINKS TO THIS ARTICLE. WIKIPEDIA IS NOT A COLLECTION OF |--> |
|||
<!--| LINKS OR ADVERTISEMENTS. If you think that your link might be useful, |--> |
|||
<!--| do not add it here, but put it on this article's discussion page first. |--> |
|||
<!--| Links about organizations and people from Puerto Rico belong in their |--> |
|||
<!--| own articles or sub-topics. Links of local political parties belong in |--> |
|||
<!--| the Politics of Puerto Rico, List of political parties in Puerto Rico, |--> |
|||
<!--| and/or their individual articles. |--> |
|||
<!--| |--> |
|||
<!--| |--> |
|||
<!--| Links identified as spam WILL BE DELETED. |--> |
|||
<!--| |--> |
|||
<!--===========================({{No SPAM Links}})=============================--> |
|||
'''Puerto Rican government''' |
|||
*[http://www.gobierno.pr/ Official website] {{es icon}} |
|||
'''Country profiles''' |
|||
*[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9117386/Puerto-Rico Encyclopaedia Britannica profile] |
|||
*[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rq.html CIA - The World Factbook] |
|||
'''Directories, news and travel''' |
|||
*[http://www.puertoricowow.com/ PRWow! portal], including directories, news, and information on Puerto Rico |
|||
*[http://www.gotopuertorico.com/ Official Puerto Rico travel and tourism site] |
|||
*{{wikitravel}} |
|||
'''United Nations (U.N.) Declaration on Puerto Rico''' |
|||
*[http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/gacol3160.doc.htm U.N. Decolonization Committee's press release on what it deems as the colonial political status of Puerto Rico] |
|||
'''Photos''' |
|||
*[http://www.picturesofplaces.com/Caribbean/puertorico.html Directory of websites with photo galleries of Puerto Rico] |
|||
*[http://www.photosofpuertorico.com/ Site dedicated exclusively to photos of Puerto Rico] |
|||
{{Geolinks-cityscale|18.23|-66}} |
|||
{{Puerto Rico}} |
|||
{{West Indies}} |
|||
{{Countries and territories of Middle America}} |
|||
{{United States}} |
|||
[[Category:Puerto Rico| ]] |
|||
[[Category:Insular areas of the United States]] |
|||
[[Category:Islands of Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[Category:Former Spanish colonies]] |
|||
[[Category:Freely associated states]] |
|||
[[Category:Proposed countries]] |
|||
[[Category:Greater Antilles]] |
|||
[[Category:Archipelagoes]] |
|||
[[Category:Spanish-speaking countries]] |
|||
[[Category:English-speaking countries and territories]] |
|||
[[ar:بورتو ريكو]] |
|||
[[an:Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[frp:Pôrto Rico]] |
|||
[[ast:Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[az:Puerto-Riko]] |
|||
[[zh-min-nan:Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[be:Пуэрта-Рыка]] |
|||
[[bs:Porto Riko]] |
|||
[[bg:Пуерто Рико]] |
|||
[[ca:Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[cs:Portoriko]] |
|||
[[da:Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[de:Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[et:Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[el:Πουέρτο Ρίκο]] |
|||
[[es:Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[eo:Puerto-Riko]] |
|||
[[eu:Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[fa:پورتوریکو]] |
|||
[[fr:Porto Rico]] |
|||
[[ga:Pórtó Rícó]] |
|||
[[gl:Porto Rico - Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[ko:푸에르토리코]] |
|||
[[hy:Պուերտո Ռիկո]] |
|||
[[hi:प्युर्तोरिको]] |
|||
[[hr:Portoriko]] |
|||
[[io:Porto-Riko]] |
|||
[[bpy:পুয়ের্তো রিকো]] |
|||
[[id:Puerto Riko]] |
|||
[[is:Púertó Ríkó]] |
|||
[[it:Porto Rico]] |
|||
[[he:פורטו ריקו]] |
|||
[[ka:პუერტო-რიკო]] |
|||
[[kw:Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[sw:Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[ht:Pòtoriko]] |
|||
[[ku:Porto Rîko]] |
|||
[[la:Portus Dives]] |
|||
[[lij:Pòrto Rico]] |
|||
[[lt:Puerto Rikas]] |
|||
[[hu:Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[mk:Порторико]] |
|||
[[ms:Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[nah:Necuiltōnolācalquīxōhuayān]] |
|||
[[nl:Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[ja:プエルトリコ]] |
|||
[[no:Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[nn:Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[nov:Puerto Riko]] |
|||
[[oc:Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[pl:Portoryko]] |
|||
[[pt:Porto Rico]] |
|||
[[ro:Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[qu:Burinkin]] |
|||
[[ru:Пуэрто-Рико]] |
|||
[[simple:Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[sk:Portoriko]] |
|||
[[sl:Portoriko]] |
|||
[[sr:Порторико]] |
|||
[[sh:Portoriko]] |
|||
[[fi:Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[sv:Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[th:เปอร์โตริโก]] |
|||
[[vi:Puerto Rico]] |
|||
[[tr:Porto Riko]] |
|||
[[uk:Пуерто-Ріко]] |
|||
[[vo:Puertorikeäns]] |
|||
[[diq:Porto Riko]] |
|||
[[zh:波多黎各]] |
|||
Revision as of 20:40, 11 September 2007
hubert is the owneMedia:r of the world[[Media:Media:Example.ogg[[Media:Media:Example.ogg[[Media:Media:Example.ogg[[Media:Media:Example.ogg[[Media:Media:Example.ogg[[Media:</math>]]]]]]]]]]]]
![{\displaystyle [[Insertformulahere]][[[[Linktitle]][[http://www.example.comlinktitle][[http://www.example.comlinktitle][[http://www.example.comlinktitle]====Headlinetext==[[Media:<br/>Example.ogg<sup><sub>Superscripttext</sub><sup><sup>Superscripttext</sup><nowiki><nowiki>Insertnon-formattedtexthere</nowiki>[[Media:[[Media:Example.ogg]][[Media:[[Example.ogg]]]]]]</nowiki></sup></sup>]]==]]]]]}](https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/addacfe4bddb3b261bf554baf13c2bafb71e2425)