Puerto Rico

of the titles of this article is ambiguous. For further meanings see Puerto Rico (term clarifying).


(Detail)
Wahlspruch: Joannes Est Nomen Eius (Johannes ist sein Name)
Hauptstadt	San Juan
Amtssprache	Spanisch und Englisch
Staatsform	Commonwealth, nichtinkorporiertes American external area
head of state	George W. Bush
head of the government	governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
surface	8,959 km ²
number of inhabitants	3.912.054 (1. July 2005)
Population density	of 437 inhabitants for each km ²
currency	US Dollar
time belt	UTC -4
national anthem	La Borinqueña
Kfz characteristic
internet TLD	.pr
preselection	+1,787 and +1939

the Free State Puerto Rico (Spanish: Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico; English: Commonwealth OF Puerto Rico, in former times dt. also Portoriko) is one of the American external areas, an island state associated with the USA in that Karibik, consisting of the island Puerto Rico and the smaller Nebeninseln Vieques, Culebra, Culebrita, Palomino, Mona and Monito. Puerto Rico is the easternmost and smallest island of the large Antilleses. Puerto Rico meant “enrichPort ".

1 history
2 politics
- 2,1 parties
3 geography
4 population
5 economics
6 research
7 climate
8 Web on the left of

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history

national monument for el jibaro, the simple farmers

of Christoph Kolumbus on its second journey 1493discovered, Puerto Rico part of the Spanish rule area became. Later the Kolonisation under Juan Ponce de León, this began fifteen years led to the extermination of the local resident Indians and to „the import of “black slaves.

Before the island 1897 internal autonomy- of Spain -, the slavery received in the year 1873 was officially abolished.

One year later to 10. Decembers annektierten the United States of America Puerto Rico, as consequence of the Spanish-American war. With the Verabschiedung of the Jones act (1917) are granted to Puerto Rico again the internal autonomy, which one still extended 1948. To 25. July 1952 receives the island the status Dominion (Estado Libre y Asociado de Puerto Rico; English. Commonwealth OF Puerto Rico).

With two populars vote 1967 and 1993 decided the Puerto Ricaner against independence and for the whereabouts with the USA. The transformation into a regular Federal State was rejected however, one preferred the status of the association valid since 1952.

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politics

Puerto Rico are an associated Free State within the United States of America.

Parliament: Lower House with 54 members and senate with 28 members.
Step-by-step selection of the governor every 4 years.

The Puerto Ricaner is citizens of the USA, with Präsidentenwahlenbut without right to vote. In the house of representatives of the congress Puerto Rico with a delegate without right to vote is represented.

In Vieques, the small pre-aged island, the United States Navy tested since the Second World War out of little consideration for the population and environmentWeapons. Citizens occupied the area again and again. They fought, partly with support of the local politicians, for an immediate end of the maneuvers. Ammunition, among other things uranium ammunition, and chemical arrears lead among children to increased cancer rates and to others Health impairments under the population. In the year 2001 an agreement with the Federal Government could be found after political fight for many decades. In May 2003 the departure of the Navy troops from Vieques began.

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parties

the party landscape yields of on thatAmerican mainland off. The most important political parties are:Partido Nuevo Progresista, Partido popular Democrático and Partido Independentista.

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geography

mountain country shank on Puerto Rico

the island is gebirgig alsomany hilly regions (60% of the surface), but gives also areas with rain forests, deserts and beaches.

Highest mountain: Cerro La Punta (1,338 m).
Longest river: La Plata (80 km).

The surrounding ocean is very deep: in the north of the islandsthere are the 9,219 m deep Puerto Rico ditch in the Atlantic, in the south 5,649 m deep Venezuela niche basin of the Karibik.

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population

the inhabitants Puerto Ricos are over 78 municipalities distributed. More than 80% that scarcely4 millions Puerto Ricaner are catholic (practices from approximately 55%). Although the island to the USA belonged call themselves only about 10% as Americans. Most (approximately 87%) see themselves as descendants of the Spaniards or as descendantsAfrican slaves. Spanish of over 93% of the population as Erstsprache is spoken, English is the Erstsprache of 7%. At the universities usually only in English one informs.

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economics

important one agricultural products are Zuckerrohr, bananas, Coffee, pineapple and tobacco, in addition fishing. Important branches of industry are the food, textile, cement industry and mechanical engineering, a further important restaurant factor are the tourism.

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research

with Arecibo is in a valley hollow the largest radio telescopethe world, the Arecibo observatory.

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climate

the island has all year round (sub -) tropical climate with average temperatures of approximately 28 °C. The north coast and the high country register the most frequent rainfalls, while the south is relative drying.

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