Puerto Rico Environmental Issues and Resources

A series of volcanic islands located in the Caribbean Sea, Puerto Rico has geographically distinctive zones. The Commonwealth, part of a group of islands known as the Greater Antilles, is roughly the size of Connecticut and has a population of 3.9 million, with over a third of its inhabitants living in the San Juan metropolitan area. Puerto Rico's main island comprises a coastal plain bisected by a chain of mountains that divides it in half. This central mountain range plays a large part in affecting weather patterns and accounts for the dramatic natural diversity that exists in Puerto Rico. Ecosystems range from bioluminescent bays to one of the only protected tropical rainforests in the United States. These resources draw a wide variety of visitors who travel to Puerto Rico to enjoy ecological tourism and nature-based recreational activities.