Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico (officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the northeast Caribbean Sea, approximately 1,000 miles southeast of Miami, Florida.

History

The history of Puerto Rico began with the settlement of the archipelago by the Ortoiroid people between 3,000 and 2,000 BC. Other tribes, such as the Saladoid and Arawak Native Puerto Ricans, populated the island between 430 BC and 1000 AD. At the time of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the New World in 1492, the dominant indigenous culture was that of the Taíno.

Geography

Puerto Rico is composed of an archipelago that includes the main island of Puerto Rico and a number of smaller islands. The largest of these islands are Vieques, Culebra, and Mona. The main island of Puerto Rico is the smallest by land area of the Greater Antilles.

Economy

The economy of Puerto Rico is classified as a high income economy by the World Bank and as the most competitive economy in Latin America by the World Economic Forum. The main drivers of its economy are manufacturing, primarily pharmaceuticals, textiles, petrochemicals, and electronics; followed by the service industry, notably finance, insurance, real estate, and tourism.

Culture

The culture of Puerto Rico is the result of a number of international and indigenous influences, both past and present. Modern cultural manifestations showcase the island's rich history and help to create an identity among locals and foreigners alike. These cultural distinctions are apparent in the lifestyle, literature, culinary arts, music, and art of the Puerto Rican people.

See also

• History of Puerto Rico
• Geography of Puerto Rico
• Economy of Puerto Rico
• Culture of Puerto Rico

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