Puerto Rico is made up of a series of tropical islands in the Caribbean Sea. Being tropical means that the island is warm, usually between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, all year. e island is famous for its beautiful beaches, friendly people, large caves and wonderful food. e territory is one of the most unique parts of the United States.

• The official name is the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
• It is three times the size of Rhode Island.
• The capital is San Juan.
• San Juan is also the city with the highest population on the islands.
• The official languages are Spanish and English.
• The official money is the U.S. Dollar.
• The island was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493.
• The largest telescope in the world is in Puerto Rico.
• The widest part of the island is 65 km.
• It has 270 miles of beaches.
• Puerto Rico means “Rich Port City.” is was originally the name the Spanish settlers gave to San Juan before it became the name of the islands.
• El Yunque, which is in Puerto Rico, is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest system.
• U.S. bought Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines under the Treaty of Paris during the Spanish-American War for $20,000,000.
• Barceloneta is called “the pineapple city.”
• Five million people visit San Juan every year.

Puerto Rico is officially a territory of the United States; this is kind of like being a state but a little different. Like a state, U.S. citizens don’t need a passport to travel there. Also, people born in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens. However, there are some differences. Citizens of Puerto Rico can vote in the primaries but cannot vote in the general presidential elections. They also do not have any representation in Congress. is is a complicated relationship because Puerto Ricans have all the benefits of being an American, but very little say in making the rules. is is because the Constitution says that only states can participate in the presidential election, and Puerto Rico is a territory, not a state. Other U.S. territories are American Samoa, Guam, Swains Island and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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