About Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island and unincorporated U.S. territory with a landscape of green mountains, waterfalls and the tropical rainforest of El Yunque National Forest. It's known for its white-sand beaches and coral reefs, popular for snorkeling, diving, surfing and sailing. In San Juan, the capital and largest city, the Isla Verde area is known for its beach bars, nightclubs and casinos. Originally populated by the aboriginal Taíno people, the island was claimed in 1493 by Christopher Columbus for the Kingdom of Spain. Spain ceded the island to the United States under the terms of the Treaty of Paris. Located in the tropics, Puerto Rico has a rainy season which stretches from April into November. The island has an average temperature of 82.4 °F (28 °C) throughout the year. Modern Puerto Rican culture is a unique mix of cultural antecedents: including Taíno (Amerindian), European (mainly Spanish), African, and, more recently, North American.