Puerto Rico

The island of Puerto Rico is almost rectangular in shape, and is the smallest and the most eastern island of the Greater Antilles . Its coasts measures approximately 580 km, and if the adjacent islands Vieques and Culebra are included the coast measures approximately 700 km. To the north and south seas capes measure 8.525 m for the Grave of Puerto Rico and 5.000 m for the Grave of Tanner. In addition to the principal island, the Commonwealth includes: Vieques, Culebra, Culebrita, Palomino (known by some by the Spanish Virgin Islands), Mona, Monito and various others isolated islands. Deep oceans waters fringe Puerto Rico. The Mona Passage, which separates the island from Hispaniola to the west, is about 75 miles (120 km) wide and more that 3,300 feet (1,000 meters) deep. Off the northern coast is the 28,000 feet (8,500 meters) deep Puerto Rico Trench, and to the south the sea bottom descends to the 16,400 feet (5,000 meters) deep Venezuelan Basin of the Caribbean.

El Yunque Peak is the Caribbean National Forest. These 28,000 acres are all that remain of the rain forest that once covered much of the island (indeed, much of the entire northern Caribbean). More than 100 billion gallons (yes, billion) of rain fall here each year, creating a lush forest with plants of incredible proportions and variety. A moist hike or horseback ride take you past 240 species of trees, some thousands of years old, 50 species of ferns, 20 varieties of wild orchids and riotous multitude of flowers. Living in the forest (all over the island in fact but quite far to spot) is the tiny coquí frog. The name is derived from his cricket like ko-kee chirp, <!--Because this tiny (a quarter to one inch in size) island native can only survive on Puerto Rico soil, he is quite appropriately -->this tiny creature (a quarter to one inch in size) is considered to be the national mascot. Other forest areas are: Guajataca in the Northwest; Río Abajo, between Arecibo and Utuado; Aguirre in the South; Piñones, east of San Juan; Guánica, west of Ponce; Maricao, Guilarte, Toro Negro and Carite (Guavate), all on the transinsular Panoramic Route . The largest number of bird species can be found at Guánica Forest, which is home to 700 plant species of which 48 are endangered and 16 exist nowhere else.

 Puerto Ricans are known for their warm hospitality, often considered very friendly and expressive to strangers. Greetings are often cordial and genuine. When people are first introduced, a handshake is usual, however, close friends and family members always greet you hello or goodbye with a kiss on the cheek or a combination hug and kiss.  This happens between female friends and between men and women, but not between male friends. 

Puerto Ricans are best known by speaking using lively hand and facial gestures, as hand and body language are important forms of communication.