1
Puerto Rico’s nickname is La Isla Del Encanto, which is translated as, “The enchanted island”.
2
Spanish is merely one one of the official languages of Puerto Rico. The other? English.
3
Did you know that Puerto Rico has 17 man-made lakes and more than 50 rivers, and is joined by many small islands, including Culebra and Caja de Muertos?
4
Puerto Rico is an official part of the United States of America, and the U.S. is its official currency. Some people have even suggested that it might eventually become the 51st state. Should it ever become a state, it would be fairly small one as Puerto Rico is only about the size of Connecticut — if you include the network of islands around the mainland.
5
Jewish or not, Christopher Columbus discovered Puerto Rico while on his second voyage to the Americas in 1492.
6
Known as the Galapagos of the Caribbean because of its vast wildlife, Mona Island is home to more than 100 endangered species. One particular animal, the Mona Iguana, is found nowhere else on Earth, but Puerto Rico.
7
If you want to make a L’Chaim, a toast, you might want to have a daiquiri in hand, as rum is an essential product found on the island. More than 70 percent of the rum sold within the United States comes straight from Puerto Rico. In fact, the island is referred to as the “rum capital of the world,” as it produces 100,000 tons each year.
8
Puerto Rico is notable for its gleaming beaches; but did you know, the island is equipped with 270 miles of beaches! That stretch is even longer than the distance from New York City to Washington, D.C.
9
The El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. Forest Service.
10
America’s favorite pastime, baseball, was one of the first sports to gain widespread popularity in Puerto Rico. Among the country’s star players is Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar.
11
The country has 239 varieties of plants, 39 types of reptiles and amphibians, and 16 bird species that are endemic only to the area.
12
“Coqui!” If that rings a bit lyrical when you say it aloud that’s not surprising, given that it is the name of tiny tree frog that lives in Puerto Rico. The island mascot, a Coqui measures just one-inch long! These talented frogs are famed for their eclectic sound; a sweet melody that can be heard for miles across the island.