Introduction - Puerto Rico: |
Location - Puerto Rico: |
Location | Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic |
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Geographic coordinates | 18 15 N, 66 30 W |
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Map references | Central America and the Caribbean |
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Area | total: 13,790 sq km
land: 8,870 sq km
water: 4,921 sq km |
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Area comparative | slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island |
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Land boundaries | 0 km |
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Coastline | 501 km |
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Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
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Climate | tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation |
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Terrain | mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas |
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Elevation extremes | lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,339 m |
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Natural resources | some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil |
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Land use | arable land: 3.69%
permanent crops: 5.59%
other: 90.72% (2005) |
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Irrigated land | 400 sq km (2003) |
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Natural hazards | periodic droughts; hurricanes |
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Environment current issues | erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages |
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Geography note | important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north |
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People - Puerto Rico: |
Government - Puerto Rico: |
Economy - Puerto Rico: |
Communications - Puerto Rico: |
Transportation - Puerto Rico: |
Military - Puerto Rico: |
This page was last updated on 16 September, 2007