Puerto Rico Geography 1997

Location Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean,east of the Dominican Republic

Geographic coordinates 18 15 N, 66 30 W

Map references Central America and the Caribbean

Area
total: 9,104 sq km
land: 8,959 sq km
water: 145 sq km

Area - comparative slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island

Land boundaries 0 km

Coastline 501 km

Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea : 12 nm

Climate tropical marine, mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitousto sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m

Natural resources some copper and nickel, potential for onshore and offshore oil

Land use
arable land: 4%
permanent crops : 5%
permanent pastures: 26%
forests and woodland: 16%
other: 49% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land 390 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards periodic droughts

Environment - current issues the recent drought has caused water levels in reservoirs to drop andprompted water rationing for more than one-half of the population

Environment - international agreements
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography - note important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to thePanama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land iswell watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north

NOTE: The information regarding Puerto Rico on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Puerto Rico Geography 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Puerto Rico Geography 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.