Welcome to the Puerto Rico Environment
As a volcanic island located in the Caribbean Sea, Puerto Rico is geographically distinctive. 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. The landmass of Puerto Rico is comprised of 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. With ecosystems ranging from bioluminescent bays and tropical mangrove swamps to dazzling coral reefs and one of the only protected tropical rainforests in the United States, Puerto Rico is environmentally unique. These resources draw a wide variety of visitors who travel to Puerto Rico to enjoy ecological tourism and nature-based recreational activities.
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