78-575: Mona Island (Spanish: Isla de Mona ) is the third-largest island of the Puerto Rican archipelago , after the main island of Puerto Rico and Vieques . It is the largest of three islands in the Mona Passage , the strait between Hispaniola and Puerto Rico, with the others being Monito Island and Desecheo Island . It measures about 7 miles by 4 miles (11 km by 7 km), and lies 41 mi (66 km) west of Puerto Rico, of which it
156-508: A tropical savanna climate ( Aw according to the Köppen climate classification ), with a dry season and wet season and the temperature being warm year-round. The average annual mean is 26.6 °C (79.9 °F), an average annual high is 31.7 °C (89.1 °F) and an average annual low is 21.5 °C (70.7 °F). August, the warmest month, has a mean of 28.3 °C (82.9 °F) and an average high of 33.8 °C (92.8 °F), while
234-487: A history of smuggling , with its geographic location making it a prime location for rum runners to smuggle rum, bourbon , and other liquor. In 1923, a stash of liquor, drugs, and perfumes, reportedly from the French islands of Martinique and Saint Martin and worth US$ 75,000, was found in a cave by customs officials. In 1942, at the height of World War II , a German U-156 submarine fired 30 shells from its deck gun at
312-713: A land area of 8,868 sq km (3,424 sq mi ), the main island is the 3rd largest in the U.S. , 4th in the Caribbean , 29th in the Americas , and 81st in the world , making it the 174th largest country or dependency by surface area. With 3.2 million residents , it is the 2nd largest in the U.S., 4th in the Caribbean, 4th in the Americas, and 31st in the world, making it the 136th largest country or dependency by population. Geologically separated from
390-691: A large and increasing hawksbill sea turtle ( Eretmochelys imbricata ) rookery with over 1,500 clutches laid annually on its beaches. The island is recognized as one of the principal sites for hawksbill nesting in the Wider Caribbean and Western Atlantic region, along with Mexico ( Yucatán Peninsula beaches), Barbados , Panama ( Bocas del Toro ), and Brazil. Southeast beaches Southwest beaches Western beaches The only campsites are at Playa de Pájaros and Playa Sardinera . In addition, Playa Uveros, Pájaros, Playa Mujeres and Playa Brava are important to visitors. The island presently serves as
468-506: A part of that colony (which at the time occupied the entirety of Hispaniola). The reasons offered were simply that the island was closer to Santo Domingo (presently the Dominican Republic ) than to Puerto Rico, and that it had a small population which could help the colony's economy in overall agricultural production. However, the petition was turned down and the island continued to remain politically part of Puerto Rico. In 1583,
546-539: A population of zero. The island is a barrio of the municipality of Mayagüez , together with Monito Island 3.1 mi (5 km) northwest ( Isla de Mona e Islote Monito barrio ). This is the largest ward of Mayagüez by area, and the only one without permanent population. The total land area of both islands in the barrio is about 21.98 square miles (56.93 km) (Mona Island 21.924 square miles [56.783 km] and nearby Monito Island 0.057 square miles [0.147 km]), and it comprises 28.3 percent of
624-498: A refuge by pirates and privateers, including the notorious Captain Kidd who hid out there in 1699. The island's circumstances changed in the mid-19th century when it became the site of commercial guano mining operations. Various companies were granted licenses to extract the bat and seagull guano (a valuable fertilizer and key strategic commodity for the production of gunpowder) from the island's caves. Mining continued until 1927. With
702-426: A retreat for Puerto Ricans and nature enthusiasts from all around the world, and has also become a popular destination for Puerto Rican Boy and Girl Scouts . Due to the islands' unique topography, ecology and location, Mona, Desecheo and Monito have been nicknamed "The Galápagos Islands of the Caribbean". Scientists, ecologists, and students have visited Mona Island to explore its distinct ecosystem, which includes
780-542: A roadway and a cistern. Mona has an area of about 22 sq mi (57 km) and lies 41 mi (66 km) west of the main island of Puerto Rico, 38 mi (61 km) east of the Dominican Republic , and 30 mi (48 km) southwest of Desecheo Island , another island in the Mona Passage . Mona has been designated an ecological reserve by the Puerto Rican government and is not permanently inhabited. The US census of 2000 reported six housing units, but
858-465: A small limestone island located in the Jamaica Channel , between Jamaica and Haiti . There are around 200 caves, including El gato , La esperanza , La negra , Los ingleses , El rifle , El toro , Del norte , Ataúd , Nuevos Lirios and Gallinas on Isla de Mona, with thousands of examples of native art, marks and later on, graffiti. The Isla de Mona has
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#1732790267411936-594: A small ranger post was established to monitor the island, operated by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources . In July 1972 the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board , because of growing interest in the development of the islands, made a full scientific assessment of Mona and Monito using a local team of volunteer scientists. A two-volume report with maps of natural and historic features
1014-435: A special permit issued by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources to use the airport's facilities. The most common form of transportation is by private yacht, though commercial excursions are available from Cabo Rojo for small groups of up to twelve people traveling together. Hunting is permitted in season to control the population growth of non-indigenous species (goats and wild boars ) because they can represent
1092-486: A stepping stone to the United States, but they are usually deported immediately. Due to the island's natural and cultural importance there has been interest in seeking world heritage status for Mona as a UNESCO World Heritage Site by the Puerto Rican government. Scenes around Isla de Mona: Geography of Puerto Rico Puerto Rico ( Spanish for 'rich port'; abbreviated PR ), officially
1170-507: A threat to various endangered species. The hunting season usually commences in December and ends in April. Camping is allowed from May through November. In recent years, the island has become a major drop-off point especially for Dominicans , as well as Haitians and Cubans trying to reach Puerto Rico illegally. As a U.S. Commonwealth , Puerto Rico is seen by many undocumented migrants as
1248-455: Is a Puerto Rican forester who uses silvicultural techniques. Fernandez is currently developing cutting edge forestry methods known as the "Borincano Model". The model capitalizes on the diversity of ecological niches in Puerto Rican forests and native disturbance regimes to formulate practices uniquely suited to the forests of the territory. About his model Fernandez has been known to comment, " Soy de aquí como el coquí " (I am from here just like
1326-508: Is administratively a part. It is one of two islands that make up the Isla de Mona e Islote Monito barrio in the municipality of Mayagüez . The island is managed under the Mona and Monito Islands Nature Reserve ( Reserva Natural Islas de Mona y Monito ). There are no permanent inhabitants; only rangers and biologists from the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources reside on
1404-617: Is also home to more than 240 plants, 26 of which are endemic, and 50 bird species, including the critically endangered Puerto Rican amazon ( Amazona vittata ). Forests of Puerto Rico are well represented by the flora of the Luquillo Experimental Forest (LEF), a Long Term Ecological Research Network site managed by the United States Forest Service and University of Puerto Rico . At this site, there are four main life zones, delineated on
1482-429: Is an important part for the continuation of American power abroad . 18°15′N 66°30′W / 18.250°N 66.500°W / 18.250; -66.500 Alonso Manso Alonso Manso (1460 – September 27, 1539) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as the first Bishop of Puerto Rico (1511–1539), and first Bishop of Magua (1504–1511), and as the eighth governor of Puerto Rico. Alonso Manso
1560-515: Is believed to have been originally settled by the Taíno since the 12th century or sooner. An archeological excavation during the 1980s discovered many Pre-Columbian objects on the island that helped support historians' theories of the island's first inhabitants. Stone tools found in a rock shelter have been dated to around 3000 BC . Much later the island was settled by the Taínos and remained so until
1638-415: Is currently being deformed by the tectonic stresses caused by the interaction of these plates. These stresses may cause earthquakes and tsunamis . These seismic events, along with landslides , represent some of the most dangerous geologic hazards in the island and in the northeastern Caribbean . The most recent major earthquake occurred on October 11, 1918 , with seismic moment estimated at 7.5 on
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#17327902674111716-561: Is located in this range. Another important peak is El Yunque , the second highest peak in the Sierra de Luquillo at the El Yunque National Forest , with an elevation of 3,494 ft (1,065 m). Puerto Rico is composed of Cretaceous to Eocene volcanic and plutonic rocks, which are overlain by younger Oligocene to recent carbonates and other sedimentary rocks . Most of the caverns and karst topography on
1794-462: Is not a popular issue among Puerto Ricans. As an unincorporated territory of the United States , Puerto Rico does not have any first-order administrative divisions as defined by the U.S. Government , but there are 78 municipalities at the second level. Municipalities are further subdivided into barrios . Each municipality has a mayor and a municipal legislature elected for a 4-year term. The first permanent municipality of Puerto Rico, San Juan ,
1872-420: Is the wettest season, while winter is the driest. The wettest month is May, which receives 125 millimetres (4.9 in) of precipitation on average. October has 12.7 precipitation days on average, which is the highest of any month. January is the driest month, receiving 41 millimetres (1.6 in), while April has the least precipitation days (8.3). Four types of land cover can be identified: Mona Island hosts
1950-620: The Age of Exploration and Sail , Puerto Rico was known to the Spanish as La Llave de las Indias (The Key to the Indies ), as it was the closest, European-settled major area of land in the Americas to both continental Europe and Africa with open access to the Atlantic Ocean . The northeast trade winds , coupled with the canary and north equatorial ocean currents , naturally made
2028-666: The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an archipelagic island U.S. territory comprised of the eponymous main island of Puerto Rico and 142 smaller islands , including Vieques , Culebra , and Mona . It is located between the Greater and Lesser Antilles in the northeastern Caribbean Sea , east of Hispaniola , west of Saint Thomas , north of Venezuela , and south of the Puerto Rico Trench . 177 km (110 mi ; 96 nmi) long and 65 km (40 mi; 35 nmi) wide with
2106-766: The Gibraltar of the Caribbean , as it stands guard over the entrance to the Caribbean Sea , itself a passageway into North , Central , and South America , just as British Gibraltar stands guard over the Strait of Gibraltar , the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean. Like Hawaii in the middle of the Pacific Ocean , Puerto Rico in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean
2184-891: The Greater Antilles island of Hispaniola by the Mona Passage and from the Lesser Antilles island arc by the Anegada Passage , the main island of Puerto Rico, the Spanish Virgin Islands of Vieques and Culebra, the British Virgin Islands , and the U.S. Virgin Islands except for the southernmost island of Saint Croix all lie on the same carbonate platform and insular shelf , the Puerto Rico Bank , between
2262-619: The Leeward Islands . That same year he was appointed as the first Inquisitor General of the Indies and two years later he directed the construction of the Cathedral of San Juan. However, the cathedral would be completely destroyed by a hurricane in 1539, shortly after his death. Bishop Manso, as was customary at the time, became involved in politics. He became the eighth governor of Puerto Rico in 1523. However, his stay in power
2340-738: The Milwaukee Depth , it is 27,493 ft (8,380 m) deep, or about 5.21 mi (8.38 km). The archipelago of Puerto Rico is located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean , east of the Hispaniola and west of the Virgin Islands . Located in the northeastern Caribbean Sea, Puerto Rico was key to the Spanish Empire since the early years of exploration, conquest and colonization of
2418-553: The New World . The topography of the main island is divided into three major regions: the mountainous region, which includes the Cordillera Central , the Sierra de Luquillo , and the Sierra de Cayey ; the coastal plains; and the northern karst region. The Cordillera Central extends through the entire island, dividing it into the northern and southern regions. The mountain region accounts for approximately 60% of
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2496-537: The Puerto Rico Trench in the North Atlantic Ocean and the Muertos Trough in the northeastern Caribbean Sea . The archipelagos of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands except for Saint Croix also lie on the same tectonic plate , the Puerto Rico–Virgin Islands microplate . Around 60% mountainous, the main island of Puerto Rico has one principal mountain range covering the central region of
2574-510: The moment magnitude scale . It originated off the coast of Aguadilla and was accompanied by a tsunami . Lying about 75 mi (121 km) north of Puerto Rico in the Atlantic Ocean at the boundary between the Caribbean and North American plates is the Puerto Rico Trench , the largest and deepest trench in the Atlantic. The trench is 1,090 mi (1,750 km) long and about 97 km (60 mi) wide. At its deepest point, named
2652-775: The wildlife refuge in Cabo Rojo and Desecheo , the estuarine research reserve of Bahía de Jobos in Salinas , and the national park of the El Yunque forest in Rio Grande . Puerto Rico is mostly mountainous with large coastal areas in the north and south. The main mountain range is called Cordillera Central (Central Mountain Range). The highest elevation in Puerto Rico, Cerro de Punta at 4,393 feet (1,339 m),
2730-554: The 1898 Treaty of Paris , Isla de la Mona, along with the rest of Puerto Rico, was handed to the United States by Spain. The population of Mona Isla was six at the time. Within two years of occupation, the Mona Island Light , left in an unfinished state since the beginning of the Spanish–American War , was completed and began operation. The lighthouse was not, as commonly believed, designed by Gustave Eiffel , but by
2808-538: The 19th century. Only six municipalities were founded in the 20th century with the last, Florida , being founded in 1971. Under Spanish rule, as of the 1880s, Puerto Rico was subdivided into regional districts (or " departamentos ") that contained smaller ayuntamientos (municipalities). Since the European colonization of Puerto Rico in the early 1500s, the geographic location of the island has been recognized for its strategic significance and accessibility. During
2886-409: The Atlantic hurricane season from May to November. Puerto Rico has lakes (none of them natural) and more than 50 rivers . Most of these rivers are born in the Cordillera Central , Puerto Rico's principal mountain range located across the center of the island. The rivers in the north of the island are bigger and with higher flow capacity than those of the south. The south is thus drier and hotter than
2964-569: The Nazi U-boat had sunk nineteen ships in the region including one named Del Plata in Puerto Rican waters. On June 4, 1942, the oil tanker MV C.O. Stillman was sunk by the German submarine U-68 41 nautical miles (76 km) southwest of Isla de Mona. From 1945 to 1955 Mona Island was leased to the U.S. Air Force as a military exercise area. Since 1941 the island has also been used for camping and hunting goats and wild boar. In 1960
3042-579: The Spanish archbishop of Puerto Rico received royal permission to bring Christianity to Mona Island. However, by this time most Taínos remaining on the island had either died or fled to mainland Puerto Rico due to repeated raiding by European (especially French) ships. From the end of the 16th century up until the mid-19th century the island was largely abandoned by the colonial authorities. It seems to have been sporadically inhabited, although records from this period are somewhat sketchy. It continued to be used as
3120-474: The Spanish engineer Rafael Ravena in 1886. It was accessible by the Mona Island Tramway from the beach and remained in continuous operation until 1976 when it was replaced by a newer automated light near the center of the island. On December 22, 1919, the island was declared an Insular Forest of Puerto Rico , under the auspices of the U.S. Forest Law No. 22. During Prohibition the island had
3198-419: The archipelago of Puerto Rico. The majority of these (234, 12 and 33 respectively) are found on the main island. The most recognizable endemic species and a symbol of Puerto Rican pride are the coquis ( Eleutherodactylus spp.), small frogs easily recognized by the sound from which they get their name. El Yunque National Forest , a tropical rainforest , is home to the majority (13 of 16) of species of coqui. It
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3276-601: The arrival of the Spanish in the 15th century. On November 19, 1493, during his second voyage to the New World , Christopher Columbus encountered the island now known as Puerto Rico, which the natives called Borinquen (or Borikén ), and which Columbus named San Juan Bautista (Saint John the Baptist). Within hours of setting foot in Puerto Rico, Columbus and his ships headed west to Hispaniola , where he expected to meet several crewmembers who had remained behind from his first voyage. As he left Puerto Rico, he reputedly became
3354-500: The basis of temperature and precipitation (Holdridge System), in the Sierra de Luquillo : subtropical wet and subtropical rain forests are found at low and mid elevations, lower montane rain and lower montane wet forests at high elevations. There is also an area of subtropical moist forest at low elevations on the southwest slope. Tabonuco forest, so named for the dominant tabonuco tree ( Dacryodes excelsa ), covers lower slopes to about 2,000 ft (610 m). In well-developed stands
3432-560: The coolest month, January, has a mean of 24.8 °C (76.6 °F) and an average low of 20.3 °C (68.5 °F), although February has a lower average low at 20.0 °C (68.0 °F). On July 2, 1996, the Isla de Mona recorded a temperature of 40.0 °C (104.0 °F), which is the highest temperature to have ever been recorded in Puerto Rico. Isla de Mona receives 986 millimetres (38.8 in) of precipitation annually over 126.5 precipitation days. Due to tropical cyclones , autumn
3510-548: The coqui), a common patriotic axiom that is used to demonstrate their native ties to the island. The coqui and its unique vocalizations are indigenous to the island of Puerto Rico. However, there are thriving populations of coquis that, like the people of Puerto Rico, have been transported to Hawaii . The coqui is viewed as an ecological menace in Hawaii where its song of co kee co kee is found to be an irritant by many. Needless to say that efforts to eradicate its presence in Hawaii
3588-617: The death of Ferdinand II in 1516, ownership of the island was transferred to Cardenal Cisneros. The island changed ownership again in 1520, when Francisco de Barrionuevo became the island's new landlord. By 1524, Alonso Manso , bishop of Puerto Rico, had become interested in gaining personal wealth, and he accused Barrionuevo, among others, of various crimes under the Spanish justice system of the time. Because of this situation, Barrionuevo exiled himself to one of Spain's colonies in South America, taking many Taínos along with him, and leaving
3666-695: The endemic Mona Ground Iguana . The island is also home to many cave drawings that were left behind by the island's original inhabitants. Remains of the guano mining industry can also be seen. An FAA -certified airport that can handle small aircraft was built by the Puerto Rican government. This airport has no ICAO or IATA code. The United States Coast Guard is able to provide transportation with helicopter flights from Rafael Hernández Airport in Aguadilla , to help with medicines and first aid equipment; they also fly whenever an emergency requiring hospitalization occurs. Private and commercial planes require
3744-533: The first European to sight the island on September 24, 1494, which was claimed for Spain. The name Mona derives from the Taíno name Ámona , bestowed by the natives in honor of the ruling Cacique or chief of the island. In 1502, Fray Nicolás de Ovando was sent to Isla de la Mona to keep an eye, from a safe distance, on the native revolts occurring in Hispaniola. With a group of 2,000 Spanish settlers, Ovando
3822-517: The front and vanguard of all my West Indies, and with respect to its consequences, the most appreciated of them and coveted by the enemies." King Phillip IV of Spain, May 16, 1640 In 1643, the king reiterated the importance of Puerto Rico to the Spanish Empire as: "…primera de las pobladas y principal custodia y llave de todas…" Rey Felipe IV de España, 20 de Agosto de 1643 which, translated in English , reads as: "…first of
3900-436: The ground, especially in canopy gaps; epiphytes are fairly common, and vines are uncommon. Puerto Rican dry forests are dominated by plants in the families Rubiaceae , Euphorbiaceae , and Myrtaceae . In this regard they are similar to Jamaican dry forests , but differ sharply from dry forests on the mainland of South and Central America, which are dominated by Fabaceae and Bignoniaceae . Mario Javier Fernandez-Vega
3978-697: The ground. Ascending the Luquillo mountains through these forest types, the average tree height and diameter, number of tree species, and basal area (cross sectional area of tree stems) tend to decrease, while stem density increases. There are more than 89 tree species in the LEF. The most common are Prestoea acuminata , Casearia arborea , Dacryodes excelsa , Manilkara bidentata , Inga laurina , and Sloanea berteroana . Common shrub species are Palicourea croceoides , Psychotria berteriana , and Piper glabrescens . Grasses, ferns , and forbs are frequent on
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#17327902674114056-406: The island from west to east, the Cordillera Central . It is divided into three subranges: the eponymous main subrange of Cordillera Central in the center, the Sierra de Cayey in the southeast, and the Sierra de Luquillo in the northeast. The highest elevation point in Puerto Rico, Cerro de Punta (4,390 feet or 1,338 meters), is located in the Cordillera Central , while El Yunque , one of
4134-568: The island occurs in the northern Oligocene to recent carbonates. The oldest rocks are approximately 190 million years old ( Jurassic ) and are located at Sierra Bermeja along the Lajas Valley in the southwest part of the island. These rocks may represent part of the oceanic crust and are believed to come from the Pacific Ocean realm. Puerto Rico lies at the boundary between the Caribbean and North American plates . This means that it
4212-564: The island practically deserted. By 1522, ships from other major sea powers such as England , France , and the Netherlands began to arrive at Isla de la Mona to replenish supplies for their transatlantic voyages. The island also provided a refuge from which they, as well as pirates, could attack and plunder Spanish galleons . In 1561, during an audience held in Santo Domingo , it was recommended that Isla de la Mona should become
4290-618: The island the first major location to encounter en route to the Caribbean , North America , Central America , and South America , regions where the Spanish established their territories, often simply called the Indias (Indies) . In 1640, King Philip IV of Spain described Puerto Rico as: "…siendo frente y vanguardia de todas mis Indias Occidentales, y respecto de sus consecuencias la más apreciada de ellas, y codiciada de los enemigos." Rey Felipe IV de España, 16 de Mayo de 1640 which, translated in English , reads as: "…being
4368-416: The island, to manage visitors and take part in research projects. The island, along with Monito, form part of the Mona and Monito Islands National Natural Landmark which recognizes and preserves the islands' ecosystem as an outstanding example of diversity and natural history. The island is home to a number of endemic species such as the Mona ground iguana and it is an important seabird area. Mona Island
4446-511: The land area. The archipelago of Culebra , located east of Puerto Rico, north of Vieques , and west of the Virgin Islands, is composed of the island of Culebra and 28 uninhabited islets. Mainly mountainous, the island of Culebra possesses world-renowned beaches. Located in the tropics, Puerto Rico enjoys an average temperature of 81 °F (27 °C) throughout the year. The seasons do not change very drastically. The temperature in
4524-409: The large palo colorado tree ( Cyrilla racemiflora ), begins above the tabonuco forest and extends up to about 3,000 ft (910 m). Its canopy reaches only about 49 ft (15 m). Soils are saturated and root mats above the soil are common. There are some 53 tree species in this forest type. At this same elevation, but in especially steep and wet areas, is palm forest, heavily dominated by
4602-411: The larger trees exceed 98 ft (30 m) in height, there is a fairly continuous canopy at 66 ft (20 m), and the shaded understory is moderately dense. Tabonuco trees are especially large on ridges, where they are firmly rooted in the rocky substrate and connected by root grafts with each other. There are about 168 tree species in the tabonuco forest. The palo Colorado forest, named for
4680-567: The longest is Río de la Plata , and 26 reservoirs , lagoons , or lakes , among which is Laguna Grande (''big lagoon''), one of three bioluminescent bays in the archipelago of Puerto Rico located in the far northeastern municipality of Fajardo . The archipelago of Puerto Rico has numerous protected nature areas , including the nature reserves of La Cordillera in the Sonda de Vieques (Vieques Sound ) and Media Luna (''half moon'') in Lajas ,
4758-449: The mainland US; this plan was never implemented. In 1981, the Mona Island Light was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places as Faro de la Isla de la Mona . On February 15, 1985, the passenger-cargo ferry MV A Regina ran aground on a reef on the southeastern side of Mona Island. While there were no deaths nor serious injuries, 143 passengers and 72 crew members landed on Mona Island to await rescue. The wreck of
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#17327902674114836-418: The mining of guano and other minerals. Realizing that mining would require intense labor, the majority of inhabitants chose to work as fishermen and farmers. By accepting this option, they also were exempted from paying imposed taxes, and were able to avoid the hard labor many other natives endured in mines. In time, natives from other neighboring islands were brought to Mona Island to assist with labor. After
4914-513: The most popular peaks in Puerto Rico, located in the Sierra de Luquillo and part of El Yunque National Forest , has a maximum elevation of 3,540 feet (1,080 m). The main island has seven valleys : Caguas , Yabucoa , Lajas , Añasco , the Coloso and Culebrinas , Cibuco , and Guanajibo . It has two narrow coastal plains : one stretching alongside the northern coast, and the other alongside
4992-450: The north. These rivers make up 60 watersheds throughout the island, where over 95% of the runoff goes back to sea. With a length of length of approximately 74 kilometres (46 mi) La Plata River is the longest, while Loíza is the largest by discharge volume with a hydrological basin of 751 square kilometres (289.9 sq mi). As of 1998, 239 plants, 16 birds and 39 amphibians /reptiles have been discovered that are endemic to
5070-674: The populated ones and principal custodian and key of all…" King Philip IV of Spain, August 20, 1643 As a territory of the United States , the geostrategic location of Puerto Rico was paramount in the construction of the Panama Canal , and the defense of the Western Hemesphere against Nazi Operation Neuland in the Battle of the Caribbean during WWII . Puerto Rico is known as an American Gibraltar , or
5148-476: The ship was removed from the reef in 1990. In 1993, the island, inscribed as Isla de la Mona , was listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic district consists of eight contributing buildings (including the lighthouse), nine prehistoric and historic archaeological sites (including several ceremonial ball courts or bateyes ), two guano industrial ruins,
5226-437: The sierra palm tree ( Prestoea montana ). Patches of palm forest are also found in saturated riparian areas in the tabonuco forest. The palm forest reaches about 15 m in height. At the highest elevations is dwarf forest , a dense forest as short as 9.8 ft (3.0 m), on saturated soils. Here the trees are covered with epiphytic mosses and vascular plants, especially bromeliads , and these also cover large areas of
5304-468: The south is usually a few degrees higher than the north and temperatures in the central interior mountains are always cooler than the rest of the island. The highest temperature record was in the municipality of San German with 105 °F (40.6 °C) and the minimum registration is 39 °F (3.9 °C) in Aibonito . The dry season spans from December to April while the wet season coincides with
5382-583: The southern coast of the island. The crew of the Nazi vessel suspected that Camp Cofresí, a camp that the Civilian Conservation Corps were using as the base of a reforestation effort, could be an unmarked military facility. There were no significant losses, but the incident was one of the few military strikes of the war in the Caribbean , which was also the focus of a German/Italian campaign against Allied resource shipping. Prior to this,
5460-430: The southern coast. The capital, San Juan , and its metropolitan area are located on the northern coastal plain in the northeast. It also has one prominent karst formation in its northwestern central region called the Northern Karst Belt , and two prominent batholiths , one in the southeastern municipality of San Lorenzo , and the other in the western municipality of Utuado . The island has 47 major rivers, of which
5538-534: The total land area of the municipality of Mayagüez. Desecheo Island , 30 mi (49 km) to the northeast, is part of Sabanetas barrio. Mona is a mainly flat plateau surrounded by sea cliffs. It is composed of dolomite and limestone with many caves found throughout. With an arid climate and untouched by human development, many endemic species inhabit the island, such as the Mona ground iguana ( Cyclura cornuta stejnegeri ). Its topography, ecology, and modern history are similar to that of Navassa Island ,
5616-544: Was able to reclaim the island from Diego Colón , Viceroy of the Indies . By then, Isla de la Mona was an important point of trade between Spain and the rest of Latin America, as well as a rest stop for the crews of boats carrying slaves. With his possession of the island, King Ferdinand II gave the resident Taínos two options if they wished to continue living on the island: they could work by fishing, making hammocks and cultivating plants, or they could become miners and help in
5694-466: Was appointed bishop of the diocese of Puerto Rico. On March 3, 1512, he was consecrated bishop by Diego de Deza , Archbishop of Sevilla . Before even arriving to Puerto Rico on September 26, 1512, he founded the first school of advanced studies. In 1513, he became the first bishop to arrive in the New World. In 1519, at the request of Bishop Manso the diocese of Puerto Rico was expanded to cover all
5772-569: Was born in Becerril de Campos , Spain and studied theology at the University of Salamanca . He became the canon of Salamanca and the chaplain of the prince Don Juan . On November 15, 1504, he was appointed bishop of Magua , Dominican Republic . On August 8, 1511, Pope Julius II created three dioceses in the New World , two in Hispaniola ( Santo Domingo and Concepción de la Vega ) and one in Puerto Rico ( San Juan ), and Manso
5850-410: Was founded in 1521. In the 16th century two more municipalities were permanently established, Coamo (1570) and San Germán (1570). Three more municipalities were established in the 17th century. These were Arecibo (1614), Aguada (1692) and Ponce (1692). The 18th and 19th century saw an increase in settlement in Puerto Rico with 30 municipalities being established in the 18th century and 34 more in
5928-442: Was left in charge of creating a permanent settlement on the island. Due to its small size and location, the island proved inadequate to accommodate such a large settlement, and food became scarce as shipments from Hispaniola and Puerto Rico were received infrequently. Juan Ponce de León , who accompanied Columbus on his first two voyages, became the first ruling governor of Puerto Rico . In 1515, after some wrangling, Ferdinand II
6006-424: Was produced. It evaluated the climate, geology and mineral resources, soils, water resources, archaeology, vegetation, animals and insects, and pelagic life around the island. Shortly thereafter geotechnical and bathymetric studies were conducted by engineering firms to determine the feasibility of using Mona as a deep-water terminal for transferring oil from supertankers to smaller tankers which would continue to
6084-471: Was short lived as he was replaced a year later by Pedro Moreno , the man who, incidentally, he had replaced. Bishop Manso was the precursor of many acts in the New World. Aside from establishing the first advanced studies school he performed the first episcopal consecration in the New World when in 1529, at the Cathedral of San Juan, he consecrated Sebastián Ramírez de Fuenleal , elected bishop of Santo Domingo. He also founded two hospitals, Concepción (which
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