|RConstitution:|N Self-ruling commonwealth in association with the USA.
|RNational holiday:|N Constitution Day, July 25.
|RNature and climate:|N Three inhabited islands, Puerto Rico (original Caribbean name is Boriquen), Vieques and Culebra, and many smaller islands in the northeastern Caribbean Sea.
Puerto Rico is a mountainous island, the highest peak, Cerro de Punta, reaches 1338 m.a.s.l.
Average temperature throughout the year 25°C.
Percipitation between 1000 and 2000 mm in the lowlands and up to 5000 mm in the mountains.
|RPeople:|N 99,9% Hispanic. Originally inhabited by Caribbean tribes Iguens and Tainos. First European settlements in 1508 and by 1514 the Taino population had dropped from 30 000 to 4 000.
|REconomy:|N Formerly agriculture was the main industry. Most important crops are sugar, coffee, cotton, tobacco, coconuts and fruits.
Since World War II industry has been strongly developed and now comprises textile, electric, electronic, mechanical and tool factories.
|RHistory:|N Arawak Indians lived in Puerto Rico when it was first visited by Columbus an 1493. The first Spanish settlers arrived in 1508.
Most of the Indians died of work in the goldmines and later African slaves were brought in to work at the plantations.
Puerto Rico was invaded by british and Danish troops in the 17th and 18th century but remained a Spanish colony until 1898 when it was ceded to the USA after the Spanish-American war.
From 1952 an autonomous commonwealth associated with the USA.
