Geography

Puerto Rico is an Island part of the archipelago of the Greater Antilles, and is formed by the main island and other islands, islets and keys, including the islands of Mona, Vieques, Culebra, Desecheo and Caja de Muertos.

Location: Between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. To the east of the Dominican Republic, to the west of the British Virgin Islands and to the northwest of the Virgin Islands of the United States.

The island measures 111 miles long (East to West) and 39.5 wide (North to South) and its geographic coordinates are: 18 ° 15'N 66 ° 30'W.

Hydrography

The rivers of the north slope are plentiful; those of the south slope short and with strong drainages. Most of the rivers of Puerto Rico flow into reservoirs surrounded by exuberant tropical vegetation. Among the most important rivers are:

Río La Plata - It is the longest (97 kilometers) although not the most mighty. It is born in the hill La Santa (municipality of Cayey) and empties into the Atlantic, in the jurisdiction of Dorado. It crosses the municipalities of Cayey, Guayama (where Lake Carite is repressed and forms), Cidra (Puerto Rico), Aibonito (Puerto Rico), Barranquitas (Puerto Rico), Comerío (Puerto Rico); (where the oldest reservoirs of the Island, Comerío1 and Comerío2 are located); Naranjito, Bayamón, Toa Alta (where the La Plata Lake dam is located), Toa Baja and Dorado. Its main tributaries are the rivers: Guavate, Matón, Usabón, Hondo, Arroyata, Cuesta Arriba, Guadiana, Cañas, Mucarabones and Lajas 

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Guajataca River - Born in a mountainous region a few kilometers south of Lares. After traveling 41 km. It flows into the Atlantic, between Isabela and Quebradillas. It forms the Guajataca reservoir

Río de Coamo (30.4 km., Passes through Coamo (Puerto Rico) and Santa Isabel, forms the Coamo reservoir)

Yagüez River (20.8 km, born near Maricao, flows into the Canal de la Mona)

Culebrinas River (54 km, it flows into the Aguada coast, it is famous for having anchored, near its delta, Christopher Columbus on his second trip)

Río Grande de Añasco (64 km), flows into the west coast, in the Canal de la Mona, on this river drowned by the Diego Indians

Highest mountains in Puerto Rico

The highest peaks of Puerto Rico are:

• Location:
• Monte Rosa 1,267 m Ciales-Jayuya
• Cerro Piedra Blanca 1,240 m Jayuya
• The Three Picachos 1,205 m Ciales-Jayuya
• Monte Guilarte 1,204 m Adjuntas
• Cerro Saliente 1,190 m Jayuya
• Cerro Maravilla 1,183 m Jayuya-Ciales
• Cerro Silla de Calderón 1,150 m Adjuntas
• Monte Membrillo 1,100 m Yauco
• Cerro Bolo 1,080 m Orocovis
• Cerro Mogote 1,079 m Orocovis
• Hill of Doña Juana 1,078 m Villalba
• El Toro 1,074 m Las Piedras

Temperature

Puerto Rico offers a more pleasant tropical climate than other Caribbean countries due to the influence of the nearby trade winds that push the clouds and cool the air. The temperature, without large annual variations, recorded a daytime average of 24 to 27 ° C (75.2 to 80.6 ° F), descending at night in the mountain areas. In places higher than 3,000 feet (900 m) the climate can change to temperate or subtropical in height, as in places like Jayuya, Adjuntas and Maricao where there are pine forests and temperatures up to 20 ° F (~ 10 ° C) ) lower than in the city of San Juan. However, in the summer the temperature can be felt close to 38.5 ° C (100 ° F). In the summer of 2009, heats of up to 105 ° F have been felt

Precipitation

The sun shines almost always and the rains are sporadic, although when they appear they do it with the force of the tropical storms and the strong electrical storms that are developed in the summer and spring. From December to April are the driest months and from May to September the rainiest months (summer). The annual average of precipitations goes up the 1,780 mm, although the trade winds of the Northeast sometimes drag big clouds that discharge when hitting with the mountainous area. In La Perla, the average is 3,400 mm. The rains of the north contrast with the drought of the south, where it usually passes months and months without rain. Although the good weather predominates throughout the year, most visitors are registered in the months of December to April, months that could be considered high season, although during the summer there is also a large influx of visitors.

Hurricanes

The official hurricane season runs between June 1 and November 30. However, August and September are the months of greatest activity in the Atlantic Ocean, with 75% of the hurricanes having developed in these months.

Among the strongest hurricanes are:

• San Ciriaco (August 7, 1899)
• San Felipe (September 13, 1928)
• Hortense (September 9, 1996)
• Georges (September 21, 1998)
• Jeanne (September 15, 2004)
• Irene (August 21, 2011)
• Irma (September 5, 2017)
• Maria (September 20, 2017)