List of things to find from space:
El Moro
Camuy Crater or Sinkhole
Arecibo radio telescope
Karst Region
El Yunque
Bosque Secco (Dry Forest)
Caguana Ceremonial Center
Mangrove Islands of Parguera
Nuclear Reactor at Domes, Rincon
Caba Rojo Cape and Lighthouse
Lowlands
Cordillera Central
Good Surfing Waves
Island Ecology
The territory is very mountainous (cover 60%), except in the regional coasts, but Puerto Rico offers astonishing variety: rain forest, deserts, beaches, caves, oceans and rivers. Puerto Rico has three main physiographic regions: the mountainous interior, the coastal lowlands, and the karst area.
The mountainous interior is formed by a central mountain chain commonly known as the Cordillera Central [Glos.], extending across the interior of the island, from Mayagüez to Aibonito, which transects the island from east to west. These mountain ranges are La Cordillera Central, La Sierra de Cayey, La Sierra de Luquillo, and La Sierra Bermeja.
The largest mountains are Cerro La Punta (1,338 m) in Jayuya; Rosas (1,267 m) found between Jayuya and Ciales, Guilarte (1,205 m) in Adjuntas, Tres Picachos (1,204 m) in Jayuya, and Maravilla (1,182m) in Ponce. Toward to the northeast is Sierra de Luquillo, whose highest peaks are: Toro Hill (1,074 m) found between Río Grande, Naguabo and Las Piedras, and El Yunque Peak (1,065 m) found in Río Grande. Another mountain chain is the Sierra de Luquillo in the northeast.
The second main physiographic feature is the coastal lowlands, which extend 13 to 19 km (8 to 12 mi) inward in the north and 3 to 13 km (2 to 8 mi) in the south. A series of smaller valleys lie perpendicular near the west and east coast. This area was originally formed by the erosion of the interior mountains.
The third important physiographic feature is the karst region in the north. This area consists of formations of rugged volcanic rock dissolved by water throughout the geological ages. This limestone region is an extremely attractive zone of extensive mogotes or haystack hills, sinkholes, caves, limestone cliffs, and other karst features. The karst belt extends from Aguadilla, in the west, to a minor haystack hills formation in Loíza, just east of San Juan.
Caguana Ceremonial Center
Caguana is the largest and most complex ceremonial site in the West Indies. Caguana Ceremonial Center consists of a large central plaza, a ceremonial dance area, ten rectangular earth-and-stone–lined ball courts and plazas and one circular plaza, as well as the remains of an oval-shaped structure and a sacred cemi mound. Ethno-historical accounts of early “explorers” noted that ceremonial sites like Caguana were places where highly important ceremonial ball games were held. Today, one can still see stone collars, elbow stones, and petroglyphs carved on perimeter stones. Caguana is today one of many sacred sites for the Taíno people.
El Bosque Seco (dry forest of Guánica)
Guánica is known as "El Pueblo de las Doce Calles" (the town of the twelve streets). Guánica was founded in 1508. Guánica derives its name from the Taíno Indian term, which means "here is a place with water".
Guánica is the place where most historians concur Christopher Columbus landed during his second voyage to the New World in 1493, and later in 1898 became the site where General Miles and the U.S. troops landed to take Puerto Rico from the Spanish, during the Spanish-American War.
Guánica is located in southern coast, bordering the Caribbean Sea, south of Sabana Grande, east of Lajas, and west of Yauco. Its only river is Loco River, which rises in Yauco and flows into Guánica by the northeast and ends at the Guánica Bay. The annual precipitation is around 29 inches.
This small town is the home of Guánica Dry Forest Reserve, largest remaining tract of tropical dry coastal forest in the world and an International Biosphere Reserve. The dry forest has 700 plant species of which 48 are endangered and 16 exist nowhere else. Its forest along the coast and on low-lying hills host the greatest number of bird species on the island. The Forest was declared an International Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO because of its biological diversity. No camping allowed. The Punta Ballena Reserve is next to the Guánica Forest and is included in the Biosphere Reserve because of its coastal ecosystem. It contains mangrove forest, manatees, nesting sites for Hawksbill turtles, and crested toads.
Puerto Rican dry forests are subtropical dry forests located in southwestern and eastern Puerto Rico and on the offshore islands.[1] These forests grow in areas receiving less than 1000 mm of rain annually. Many of the trees are deciduous, losing their leaves during the dry season which normally lasts from December to July.[2]
Dry forests exist in two areas on the island of Puerto Rico - along the south coast of the island (in the dry orographic rain shadow of the Cordillera Central), particularly near Guinica, and in the northeastern corner of the island near Fajardo, where the combination of low elevation and strong winds off the ocean (Northeast Trade Winds) result in a dry environment. Dry forests also exist on the adjacent off-shore islands of Vieques, Culebra, Mona, Monito, Desecheo, Caja de Muertos and Cayo Santiago.
Camuy Caves and Sinkholes
The caves at Camuy are actually 45 million years old, but it took a few million years for nature to adorn their towering ceilings with crystalline stalactites, their walls with flowing stone tapestries and their floors with mushroom mounds of stalactites. Few cave systems in the world are as massive or dramatic as the Rio Camuy Cave Park; none has a thundering tropical river transversing countless miles of uncharted channels. Three crater-like sinkholes and one cave of the huge system in the park are open to the public and they are truly memorable experiences.
Arecibo Radio Telescope
The Arecibo Observatory is nestled in the mountains of northern Puerto Rico, about 30 minutes from Arecibo and is the world’s largest radar/radio telescope. Here scientists from all over the world use a giant 305 meter diameter dish to listen to the universe. You may view the huge telescope from an observation platform, where its austere metallic symmetry shimmers in dramatic contrast with the dense, green, tropical landscape.
El Moro
It was Ponce de Leon who was authorized by the Spanish Crown to settle the island in 1508. The original settlement was not ideal and in 1521 Ponce de Leon moved the settlement to what is know known as Old San Juan. Over time, in order to protect the growing city, the Spanish built a series of walls and forts. The two major fortifications still standing are El Moro and San Cristobal, which still stand guard over the harbor of San Juan.
El Yunque
The Caribbean National Forest, approximately 28,000 acres in size, is located in the rugged Sierra de Luquillo, 40 km southeast of San Juan. It the only tropical forest in the National Forest System. Originally set aside in 1876 by the Spanish Crown, the forest represents one of the oldest reserves in the Western Hemisphere.
Locator map for Caribbean National Forest in Puerto Rico The forest is an area of extremes. It is the rainiest National Forest; up to 240 inches per year have been recorded on the higher peaks. More than 100 billion gallons of rainwater fall on the Forest per year.
The result of such heavy rainfall and the warm tropical climate is a dense evergreen forest containing 240 native tree species and masses of vines, epiphytes, giant ferns, and mosses. Twenty-six species are found nowhere else. The true rainforest, commonly called the Tabonuco forest, is found on the lower slopes below 2,000 feet elevation— and is the most spectacular.
The Forest contains rare wildlife including the Puerto Rican Parrot, which is largely green in coloration, about 12 inches long, and displays brilliant blue wings in flight. At close range a vivid red forehead is also visible. It is found only in this part of the island. Approximately 50 other bird species are found on the Forest. Snakes are rare in the Forest. The largest one is the Puerto Rican boa which can attain a length of more than 90 inches. There are no poisonous snakes on the Forest or the island. Many species of lizards, crabs, and frogs, including the unique "coqui" are found in abundance throughout the forest. The Forest is a wildlife refuge; no hunting is allowed.
Lajas and La Parguera Mangrove islands
Lajas is a town further west than Guanica. Lajas is most famous for La Parguera. La Parguera is a huge area that features small islands with beatiful beaches, natural pools, and miles of mangrove channels. La Parguera's night secret is the luminiscent bay. A very unique world-wonder that is known for glowing water during the night caused by millions of micro-organsms. It's definite must-see when there is no moon. La Parguera: this gorgeous area features dozens of mangrove islands and sand cays spread over 5 miles of shallow, clear water.
Cabo Rojo and Los Morrillos Light House
Cabo Rojo (KAH-bo, ro-ho) located on the Western Costal Valley. Bordering the Caribbean Sea; and the Mona Passage, south of Mayagüez and Hormigueros; and east of Hormigueros, San Germán and Lajas spread over 18 wards and Cabo Rojo Pueblo (The downtown area and the administrative center of the city).
It is said that Cabo Rojo obtained its name from the considerable amount of minerals found in its coasts that made the waters look reddish. Cabo is the Spanish word for tip and analogous to the English word Cape in this context. The word rojo, translates to red. According to legend, the name was given by Christopher Columbus himself, although this is highly unlikely. The first church, founded in 1783, was called San José. The present-day main catholic church is called San Miguel Arcángel located in the town's square.
People from Combate are known as mata con hacha ("those who kill with axes") based on an old folk tale about a fight over the Salinas where those from Cabo Rojo fought with axes against people from the adjacent town of Lajas. The latter apparently fought back by throwing stones and are thus known as tira piedras ("those who throw stones").
Los Morrillos Lighthouse (Faro Los Morrillos de Cabo Rojo) is a historic lighthouse located in the municipality of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico.
Located at the southwestern tip of the island of Puerto Rico, this lighthouse was constructed in 1882 in order to guide passing ships through the southeast entrance from the Caribbean Sea through the treacherous Mona Passage into the Atlantic Ocean. The lighthouse is located over a while lime cliff which is surrounded by salt water lagoons and marshes. The cliffs surrounding the lighthouse drop over 200 feet into the ocrean.
The lighthouse's architecture is distinguished by its simplicity, with minimal decoration and an unelaborated cornice repeated through the structure. The illuminating apparatus is housed in a cast-iron, copper and glass lantern. The lenticular lens was manufactured by the French firm Sautter, Lemonnier and Company.
Originally, the lighthouse was manned by two keepers and an engineer, who lived on the grounds with their families. In 1967 the lighthouse was renovated and its operation is currently completely automated. The structure itself has been abandoned for decades, although recent the local government as well as local civic groups, such as Caborrojeños Pro Salud y Ambiente, are pushing towards turning the old lighthouse keeper's house into a museum. All of these hopes were dashed once the lighthouse undergone a recent renovation, clearing everything of historical significance from the internal structure.
Surfing Beaches (hint: look at water)
The best and most consistent surf areas in Puerto Rico are the north, northwest, and west coasts of the island. The are also some good surf spots in the south which are the ones that work around summer time (June-September) like la escuelita, inches and others. Some of the most famous spots around the island are: Gas Chambers, Chatarra, Tres Palmas, Aviones, Maria, and Hollows, but the island actually has well over 60 breaks.
Nuclear Reactor
Near the beach of Rincon: the big green dome of a closed nuclear reactor built here in the seventies and closed down shortly after. (Turns out the power plant was built not only a few hundred yards from the beach, but also on an earthquake fault, and is known to have been hit by a tsunami early in the 20th century.)