Puerto Rico: colonial sadness. Island territory of the United States Puerto Rico Entertainment and recreation

Associated Free State of Puerto Rico(Spanish) Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico ) is located in the Caribbean Sea, is part of the Greater Antilles and consists of the island of Puerto Rico and a number of adjacent small islands. Puerto Rico is a dependent territory of the United States and has the status Unincorporated organized territory, which means that it does not have the US Constitution, but the Bill of Rights and 3 branches of government.

Puerto Rico has its own Constitution, legislative, executive and judicial branches. The connection to the US is shared citizenship, currency and defense. Currently, Puerto Rican politicians are discussing the feasibility of granting statehood to this territory.

History of the island

Pre-Columbian period

The history of Puerto Rico in the period preceding the arrival of Christopher Columbus on this land has not been fully studied. Everything that is known today came to us from archaeological excavations and oral histories of early Spanish travelers. The first book to comprehensively describe the history of Puerto Rico was written Freym Lasierra(Spanish) Fray Iñigo Abbad y Lasierra) in 1786, 293 years after the Spaniards first visited this island.

The first settlers of Puerto Rico were orthoroids(English) Orthoroid), representatives of ancient culture. Excavations carried out in 1990 found the remains of primitive man, dating back to approximately 2,000 BC (4,000 years ago). The remains were named " Puerto Ferro man"(English) Puerto Ferro man). Between 120 and 400 AD, representatives of the Igneri Indian tribe arrived on the island. Igneri) from the Orinoco River region in South America. Between the 7th and 11th centuries, the island was inhabited by the Arawak Indian tribe, who founded the Taino culture, and by about 1000 AD, this culture began to dominate the island until Columbus arrived in 1493.

Spanish colonial period

When Christopher Columbus arrived on the island on November 19, 1493, as a result of his second voyage to the shores of America, the island was inhabited by Indians who called themselves Tainos. Tainos called the island " Boriken"(Spanish) Borikén), which was later interpreted by the Spaniards as " Borikuen"(Spanish) Borinquen). The island was originally named by the Spaniards San Juan Bautista in honor of St. John the Baptist, but ultimately the island was named Puerto Rico, which means " rich port" Name San Juan passed to the capital of the territory and to a small island " Old San Juan"(English) Old San Juan), now part of the capital. In 1508, the Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon(Spanish) Juan Ponce de Leon) became the first governor of the island.

The island was soon colonized by the Spaniards. African slaves were brought to the island as free work force in exchange for a rapidly declining Indian population forced to work for the Spanish crown. In the end, Tainos completely died out as a result of diseases brought by the Spaniards and Africans, as well as from the harsh conditions in which they were forced to endure. Puerto Rico quickly became an important fortress and port of the Spanish Empire in the Caribbean. However, the colonial emphasis at the end of the 17th-18th centuries was still placed on the more prosperous territories of the mainland rather than on the island, impoverished by population decline. To protect against the threats of Spain's European enemies, various forts and fortresses gradually appeared on the island, such as La Fortaleza(Spanish) La Fortaleza), Fuerte San Filipe del Morro(Spanish) Fort San Felipe del Morro) And San Cristobal(Spanish) El Castillo de San Cristóbal). The French, Dutch and British made repeated attempts to capture Puerto Rico, but were defeated in their long occupation of the island.

In 1809, at a time when the troops of Napoleon I occupied most of the Iberian Peninsula and the First Spanish Revolution was in full swing, a meeting of populists from spanish city Cadiz declared Puerto Rico an overseas province of Spain with the right of representation at the Spanish court. First representative of the island in the Cadiz Cortes Ramon Power and Gilart(Spanish) Ramon Power and Giralt) died shortly after arriving in Spain. With the adoption of the Cadiz Constitution in 1812, when Spanish territories were divided into provinces, Puerto Ricans were granted conditional citizenship.

On August 10, 1815, Spain issued a royal decree encouraging Spaniards and other non-Spanish Europeans loyal to the Spanish Crown and the Roman Catholic Church to settle on the island, opening the door for Puerto Rico to trade with other countries. This was the beginning of the growth of the island's agricultural economy, with sugar, tobacco and coffee becoming the main export products. The island began to fill with immigrants from Germany, Corsica, Ireland, France, Portugal and Canary Islands, fleeing difficult economic times in Europe and attracted by free entry to the island. However, these minor concessions and rights were soon revoked. After the overthrow of Napoleon I, an absolute monarchy returned to Spain, which abolished the Candiza Constitution and returned Puerto Rico to the status of a colony, a symbol of the unlimited power of the Spanish monarchy.

June 25, 1835 wife Spanish king Ferdinand VII Maria Cristina, being at that moment the regent of Spain (1833-1840), abolished the slave trade in the Spanish colonies. In 1851, the island's governor Juan de la Pezuela Cevallos(Spanish) Juan de la Pezuela Cevallos) founded on the island Royal Academy of Belles Letters, which educated school teachers, formulated teaching methods, and organized literary competitions that propelled the island's intellectual and literary progress. In 1858, Samuel Morse established in the city Arroyo(Spanish) Arroyo) the first telegraph apparatus on the island.

Life in Puerto Rico in the second half of the 19th century took place against the backdrop of a struggle for autonomy. The 1860 census showed the island's population to be 583,308. Of these, 300,406 (51.5%) people were white, the rest belonged to other races. Of these, the vast majority (83.7%) belonged to the poor. The island's agricultural development was hampered by a lack of roads, primitive tools, and natural disasters such as hurricanes and drought. The economy also suffered from high tariffs and taxes imposed by the Spanish royalty. September 23, 1868 in the city Lares(Spanish) Lares) a rebellion for independence broke out, known as El Grito de Lares", which was soon quickly suppressed. The leaders of this revolt Ramon Emerito Betances(Spanish) Ramon Emeterio Betances) And Serguno Ruiz Belvis(Spanish) Segundo Ruiz Belvis) in modern Puerto Rico are regarded as the fathers of the Puerto Rican nation. Later, a political movement for independence arose under the leadership of Romana Baldorioti de Castro(lang-es|Román Baldorioty de Castro), and at the end of the century the movement led Luisa Munoz Rivera(lang-es|Luis Muñoz Rivera). In 1897, Munoz Rivera and his associates spoke to the liberal Spanish government for autonomy for Cuba and Puerto Rico. The following year, 1898, an autonomous government was declared for a short period. The Charter of Autonomy was responsible to the island's governor, appointed by Spain. The governor had the right to annul any decision of the local government, and participated in parliamentary elections.

American rule period

On July 25, 1898, during the Spanish-American War, American troops invaded Puerto Rico and landed in the municipality Guantica(Spanish) Guanica). As a result of the war, Spain was forced to cede Puerto Rico, as well as Cuba, the Philippines and the island of Guam under the Treaty of Paris in 1898)]. Puerto Rico entered the 20th century under the military rule of the United States, including a governor appointed by the President of the United States. In 1917, according to Jones-Shafroth Act(English) Jones-Shafroth Act) Puerto Rican residents were granted U.S. citizenship, a status that continues to this day. Since World War I, many Puerto Ricans have served in the US military. Natural disasters and the Great Depression made life on the island worse. Some politicians, such as the leader of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Pedro Albizu Campos(Spanish) Pedro Albizu Campos), advocated for granting independence to the island. He was subsequently arrested twice and imprisoned for subversive activities against the American administration on the island. First democratic elected governor of Puerto Rico Luis Munoz Marin(Spanish) Luis Muñoz Marin) also initially advocated the independence of the territory, but observing a serious economic decline, accompanied by an increase in crime and popular discontent, chose the status of an associated territory as an intermediate stage on the path to independence.

During the Roosevelt-Truman administrations, changes occurred in the nature of the territory's internal governance, as a result of compromise between various political forces. These changes culminated in President Harry Truman's appointment of the first Puerto Rican-born governor in 1946. Jesus T. Pinero(Spanish) Jesus T. Piñero). In 1947, the Americans gave Puerto Rico the right to choose its own governor. In 1948, Luis Munoz Marin was democratically elected governor of Puerto Rico, serving in this post for 16 years until 1964.

From now on, a large number of immigrants from the island moved to the main US territory in search of better life. If in 1945 there were about 13,000 Puerto Ricans living in New York City, then by 1955 their number was already about 700,000 people, and by the mid-1960s they exceeded a million.

November 1, 1950 Puerto Rican nationalists Griselio Torresola(Spanish) Griselio Torresola) And Oscar Gollazo(Spanish) Oscar Collazo) attempted an assassination attempt on President Truman. The consequence of this incident was Truman's agreement to hold a referendum on the island regarding Puerto Rico's own constitution. As a result of the approved constitution on July 25, 1952, Puerto Rico received its current status as an associated territory. In the 1950s, the island experienced rapid growth in industrial production, which allowed Puerto Rico's economy to transform from an agricultural to an industrialized one.

Currently, Puerto Rico has become a major tourist destination with a developed pharmaceutical and manufacturing structure. The political status is still not fully determined, and therefore last years Various plebiscites are held on the island.

Geographical data

Puerto Rico is made up of the main island of Puerto Rico and many smaller islands and cays including Mona(Isla de Mona) Vieques(Vieques) Culebra(Culebra) Dececheo(Desecheo) and Caja de Muertos(Caja de Muerto). Of the last five islands, only Vieques and Culebra are inhabited throughout the year. Mona Island is inhabited only by employees of the Puerto Rican Ministry of National Resources.

The main island is 170 km long and 60 km wide, mostly mountainous with large coastal areas in the northern and southern parts. The main mountain range of the island is called " La Cordillera Central”, which means “central ridge”, it also contains the most high point Puerto Rico - Mt. Sierra de Punta(Cerro de Punta), altitude 1,338 m above sea level. Another important peak, Mt. El Yunque(El Yunque), 1,065 m above sea level, located in Caribbean National Forest in the municipality Sierra de Luquillo(Sierra de Luquillo). The island's capital, San Juan, is located on the northern coast of the island.

The climate of Puerto Rico is marine tropical, mild with slight seasonal temperature fluctuations: in the southern part the temperature is slightly higher than in the northern part, and in the central mountainous part it is always cooler than on the rest of the island. The average annual temperature is + 28ºC. Hurricane season lasts between June and November.

Puerto Rico has 17 lakes, none of which are natural, and more than 50 rivers, most of which flow from the main mountain range. In the northern part of the island, the rivers are wider and deeper than in the southern part.

As of 1998, the flora of Puerto Rico was 239 various types plants, 16 species of birds and 39 species of amphibians and endemic reptiles were observed in the fauna. The most recognizable species and pride of Puerto Rico is the Tiny Frog (Eleutherdactylus coqui), known for its loud croaking. Humid tropical Caribbean National Forest, also known as " El Yunque", is the main habitat of these frogs.

Geological structure

The geological structure of the island consists of volcanic and igneous rocks formed between the Cretaceous period and the Eocene epoch of the Paleogene period, on top of later rocks of the Oligocene era, and even later carbonates and sedimentary rocks. The oldest rocks are estimated to be approximately 190 million years old (Jurassic) and are located in the municipality Sierra Bermeja(Sierra Bermeja) in the southwestern part of the island. These rocks may represent parts of oceanic crust, and apparently came from the Pacific Ocean.

Puerto Rico lies on the boundary of the Caribbean and North American plates and is currently being tectonically deformed by the action of these plates. Such a transformation can cause earthquakes and tsunamis, which, together with landslides, pose the greatest geological hazard on the island and the northeast Caribbean Sea. The last major earthquake in Puerto Rico occurred on October 11, 1918, measuring approximately 7.5 on the Richter scale. The epicenter of the earthquake was at the bottom of the sea off the coast of the municipality Aguadilla(Aguadilla), which caused the tsunami.

The Puerto Rico Trench, located 120 km north of the island, is the largest and deepest ocean trench in Atlantic Ocean. It lies on the boundary of the Caribbean and North American plates. The length of the trench is 1.754 km, the width is about 97 km, and the greatest depth is 8.380 m.

Demography

It is sometimes said that Puerto Rico has a European (Spanish) majority, an almost extinct American Indian population, a mixed-race population, an African population, and a small Asian minority. Blood and protein analysis showed that the population was 45% Caucasian, 37% African and 18% Indian. A more recent analysis of Mitochondrial DNA from 800 individuals found American Indian mtDNA in 61.1% of the population, African mtDNA in 26.4% of the population, and Caucasian mtDNA in 12.5% ​​of the Puerto Rican population.

In the 1800s, hundreds of Corsicans, French, Lebanese, Chinese, and Portuguese, along with large numbers of immigrants from Spain, the Canary Islands, and other Spanish colonies, South America moved to Puerto Rico. After Decree 1815 year, which allowed foreigners to settle in Puerto Rico, thousands of immigrants from all over Europe arrived in the country. Massive immigration in the 19th century saw the island's population increase from 155,000 in 1800 to almost a million at the end of the century. The census taken in accordance with the royal decree of September 30, 1858, gives the following picture of the population at that time: white population - 300,430 people, free colored population - 341,015, slaves - 41,736, unspecified - 127 people. Puerto Rico later became the permanent home of more than 100,000 immigrants, coming not only from Spain but also from countries Latin America. Immigrants from Argentina, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Colombia and Venezuela. The wide variety of surnames also gives an idea of ​​different origins.

Emigration from the country has also been an integral part of Puerto Rico's recent history. After the end of World War II, due to poverty, cheap airfare and support from the island government, waves of emigration moved to the United States, especially to New York, Chicago, Boston, Orlando, Tampa and Hartford. Emigration continued even after the economy improved and the birth rate fell. It continues at the present time, and together with the fall in the birth rate, in the next 20 years it can lead to rapid aging of the population and its decrease.

In 2000, a census was taken that asked Puerto Ricans what race they considered themselves to be. 95.8% reported only one race: 80.5% described themselves as white, 8% as black, and 0.4% described themselves as Native American. One of the problems of modern Puerto Rico is the high level of poverty - 50% of the population lives below the poverty line.

Education

Education in Puerto Rico is four-level and is divided into elementary, middle and high schools, as well as higher education. The school can be either public or private. According to a 2000 survey, 60.0% percent of the population received a certificate of completion high school(analogous to complete secondary education in Russia) and higher, and 18.3% have at least a bachelor's degree. These figures rank sixth lowest compared to the mainland US, where the national average is 80.4% and 24.4%, respectively. As of 2002, the literacy rate of the island's population is 94.1%, with female literacy rates slightly better than male literacy rates.

Private schools are run by various non-governmental organizations, mostly by the Roman Catholic Church. Two large public higher education institutions are University of Puerto Rico(Spanish) Universidad de Puerto Rico) And University of San Juan(Spanish) Colegio Universitario de San Juan ). The major private universities on the island are Ana G. Mendes University(Spanish) Sistema Universitario Ana G. Mendez ), Inter-American University(Spanish) Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico ), Catholic University(Spanish) Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico ) And Sacred Hearts University(Spanish) Universidad del Sagrado Corazon ).

Every year approximately 100,000 students attend 1,500 schools. The Ministry of Education, with 45,000 teachers, is the largest employer on the island. Puerto Rico Teachers Federation(Spanish) Federación de Maestros de Puerto Rico ) is the largest union representing all permanent teachers in the public sector.

Languages

The official languages ​​of Puerto Rico are Spanish and English. Spanish is the main language in government institutions, although English is a compulsory subject of study from primary school to the second year of college). As of 2006, approximately 3,860,120 people use Spanish as their primary language and 82,000 use English. Although a relatively small proportion of islanders consider English their primary language, the majority of the population in major cities speaks both languages, or at least understands English and uses it in certain situations.

In 1991, the island's governor Rafael Hernandez Colon(Spanish) Rafael Hernandez Colon) signed legislation declaring Spanish as the only official language in government offices in Puerto Rico. Although many politicians supported this decision, supporters of joining the United States as a state saw this as a threat to their aspirations. The law was also welcomed by the people of Puerto Rico, resulting in the prestigious 1991 Prince of Asturias Awards(Spanish) Premio Principe de Asturias) in literature, awarded annually for contributions to literature on Spanish. In 1993 new governor Pedro Rosselló(Spanish) Pedro Rossello) signed another law, returning English to state status. This was seen by many as a step towards rapprochement with the United States.

Religion

The Roman Catholic Church historically dominates the island's religious communities, although the advent of American sovereignty has seen the emergence of followers of Jehovah's Witnesses, various Protestant communities, and Mormons. Protestantism was persecuted during Spanish rule. For example, the first non-Catholic Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity in Ponch began to ring its bells only in 1898, with the landing of American troops on the island.

There is also a small but diverse Jewish community in and around the city of San Juan, representing all branches of Judaism. There is a Muslim community with houses of worship throughout the island. The three main mosques are located in Rio Pedras, Poncha and Mega Alta.

Thanks to several advocates, Taino religious practices were rediscovered.

Administrative division

Puerto Rico is divided into 78 municipalities, which in turn are divided into districts, and those into sectors (Mona Island is part of the municipality Mayaguez(Spanish) Mayagüez)) Each municipality has its own mayor, elected for a 4-year period. First municipality (formerly known as "city"), San Juan, was formed in 1521. In the 16th century, two more municipalities were formed, Koamo(Coamo) and San German(San Germán), both in 1570. In the 17th century, three more municipalities appeared - Arecibo(Arecibo), 1614; Aguada(Aguada), 1692 and Ponche(Ponce). IN XVIII-XIX centuries The island's population grew rapidly, leading to the creation of 30 municipalities in the 18th century and another 34 in the 19th century. In the 20th century, only 6 municipalities were founded, the last of which was Florida(Florida), formed in 1971.

Economy

In the early 1900s, Puerto Rico's economy was predominantly agricultural, with sugar being its main commodity. In the late 1940s, several projects were launched under the code name " Operation Bootstrap", the essence of which was tax exemption and the construction of factories. As a result, industrial production became the main industry of the island. During the Great Depression, economic conditions in Puerto Rico improved markedly due to outside investment in capital-intensive industries such as petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. Thanks to American tax breaks, local industries can now compete with countries where wages are far below American standards. In recent years, many U.S. and foreign manufacturers have moved to low-wage countries in Latin America and Asia. Puerto Rico follows US labor laws and restrictions.

Tourism is an important component of the Puerto Rican economy and generates approximately $1.8 billion annually. In 1999, about 5 million tourists visited the island, mostly from the United States. About a third of them are passengers cruise ships. The number of hotel registrations is constantly increasing (statistics since 1998), new hotels and other tourism centers are being built, which indicates the good state of the tourism industry.

The island's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2004 was 17,700 per year per capita, showing a significant increase from 2002 (14,412). However, if we compare this value with the main territory of the United States, then according to American statistics, the poorest US state of Mississippi in 2002-04 had an income of 21,587 per year per capita, which is much higher than the Puerto Rican indicators. Since 1952, the difference in per capita GDP between Puerto Rico and the main U.S. territory has remained constant—the island has about a third of the U.S. average.

On May 1, 2006, Puerto Rico's budget faced a severe cash shortage, leading to the closure of the local Department of Education and 42 other government agencies. All 1,536 state schools were closed and 95,762 people faced a partial government shutdown for the first time in the island's history. On May 10, 2006, the budget crisis was resolved with a new tax deal so that all government employees could return to work.

Culture and sports

The national symbols of Puerto Rico are the small bird of the tanager family Spindalis portoricensis, the Thespesia flower (Thespesia grandiflora) and the cotton tree (Ceiba pentandra). The unofficial national animal is the Tiny Frog (Eleutherdactylus coqui).

Representatives of Puerto Rico constantly participate in the Miss World and Miss Universe beauty contests. Contest Miss Universe Puerto Ricans have won 5 times (1970, 1985, 1993, 2001, 2006), second only to the United States in the number of nominations, and once won the Miss World competition (1975). At this competition in 2005, the representative of Puerto Rico took second place.

Puerto Rico has its own Olympic team in the Summer and Winter Olympics and also competes in other major international competitions such as Pan American Games(English) Pan American Games), Central American and Caribbean Games(English) Central American and Caribbean Games ), And Caribbean Cup Baseball(English) Caribbean World Series). At the Olympic Games, Puerto Rican athletes have won 6 medals (1 silver and 5 bronze) since 1948, when Juan Evangelista Venegas(Juan Evangelista Venegas) won a bronze medal in boxing.

Although the island is known for boxing, basketball, volleyball and baseball, the latter was traditionally considered the most popular sport on the island until the number of basketball players increased in recent years. The island has its own professional baseball league. Puerto Rico participates in the World Baseball Championship and has 1 gold (1951), 4 silver and 4 bronze awards.

August 8, 2004 marked a milestone for the Puerto Rican Olympic team when the national basketball team defeated Team USA at the Athens Olympics.

Transport

The island has a well-developed network of roads, including highways, which are under the control of the local Department of Roads and Transport(English) Roads and Transportation Authority ). In large cities there is bus service and the metro, called here "Tren Urbano". Main airport " international Airport Luis Muñoz Marin"(Spanish) Aeropuerto Internacional Luis Muñoz Marín ) is located in the municipality of Carolina, the main port of the island is Port of San Juan(English) San Juan Port).

Puerto Rican culture is a mixture of Spanish, African and Native American traditions, with significant influences from US culture. Puerto Ricans consider themselves Americans, but they always clarify that they are “Puerto Ricanos” or “Boricuas”, and their homeland is Puerto Rico, not the United States. For most of them, “my country” does not mean the United States, but rather their small island, and the word “criolho” (Creole) usually means “everything that is theirs”: music, cuisine, language, art, people, religion and other aspects. The islanders are fiercely proud of their island and its culture, sometimes even contrasting their traditions with what they consider to be the "poor" inhabitants of the North American continent. This is where numerous conflicts arise between ethnic Puerto Ricans and residents of the United States, manifested both in mutual claims to the way of life and in the expansion of cultures, as well as the constant desire of the inhabitants of the island for national independence, expressed in constant debates about the status of the island in modern world. Puerto Ricans clearly see their differences from the United States and believe that the island has much more in common with its Latin American neighbors than with the subjects of Uncle Sam.

Almost all locals settlements difficult to distinguish from anyone provincial town USA with a large Hispanic population. There are many similarities here both in the external style of cities and towns and in the way of life, if you do not take into account the significantly lower standard of living of Puerto Ricans. But if you explore the provincial areas and countryside, you can become acquainted with a complex Creole culture that goes much beyond the worship of mass culture. The mixture of cultural influences throughout the country is so extensive that almost nothing authentic can be found anywhere. Spanish is the main language of the island, but its local dialect contains so many Indian and English words that the inhabitants of Spain itself almost do not understand it. Catholicism is the dominant religion of the islanders, but its canons are greatly “diluted” by spiritualism and Indian folklore traditions. The music that can be heard on the streets of Puerto Rico sounds quite modern, but traditional bomba, reggae, calypso or salsa rhythms are no less popular. Puerto Ricans themselves are very fond of their folk music, performed using maracas, "guiro" (dried pumpkin used as a percussion instrument) and "cuatro" (ten-string guitar).

Puerto Ricans are known for their hospitality and are often very friendly to strangers who have a genuine interest in their island. Greetings are usually cordial and sincere, and a properly framed conversation often “weighs” in the eyes local residents even more than commercial gain. IN Everyday life strangers are greeted here in a completely European way - with a handshake, but friends and well-known people always greet each other with a kiss on the cheek or a whole ritual of hugs and kisses (however, more often this applies to a meeting between two women or between a man and a woman, since kisses between men can cause a very mixed reaction). Both during a meeting and in the process of communication, much attention is paid to gestures, since body language and gestures here are considered an important element in conveying one’s thoughts (the gestures themselves here are quite emotional, varied and very different from European ones, so a foreigner should not get too carried away with this).

There are no strict rules regarding clothing, but people in “beach attire” are simply not allowed into most restaurants and casinos, much less at official events. Evening dress is quite informal, but conservative and based on local traditions. For a foreigner, compliance with local clothing standards for such cases is not at all necessary - long trousers or a dress, as well as a shirt or blouse in a classic style are sufficient.

Island Puerto Rico Easy to find on the world map, this is a real paradise in the Caribbean for lovers of tropical delights, colorful coral reefs and turquoise seas.

Every year more and more tourists come here from all over the world. A relaxed lifestyle against the backdrop of paradise landscapes in the best traditions of Caribbean hospitality offers the traveler this amazing island eternal summer.

Puerto Rico on the World Atlas

Thanks to development tourism industry, every year they come to the island millions of vacationers from different parts of the planet.

This island is valued for the friendliness, warmth and sincerity of its hospitable locals.

Where is it located and what country is it?

Puerto Rico is one of the states Central America , consisting of several islands: a large one of the same name and a group of small ones: Mona, Desecheo and others. They belong to the Greater Antilles group.

From the east, the borders of the islands adjoin the British Virgin Islands, in the west - to. General square The state is 9104 km². One of the main problems of the country is significant overpopulation.

The political structure of this country is quite unusual: The fact is that Puerto Ricans have self-government and their own Constitution, but are subject to the United States Congress. This arrangement is typical for territories that were preparing to become one of the states of the American power.

Highest official - governor, which is chosen by local residents. Despite the fact that every resident of the island has American citizenship, they cannot participate in the election of the owner of the White House.

Brief historical background

An island whose name literally translates as "Rich Port", was discovered personally by Christopher Columbus during his second voyage to New Land. The first name, San Juan de Bautista, was given to the island by the great navigator himself, and today the capital bears a shortened form of this name.

The indigenous inhabitants here were the Taino Indians, who were soon destroyed everywhere by the conquistadors.

Gradually Puerto Rico became Spanish colony and went through all stages of development: from the largest commercial port to an abandoned island without serious prospects for development. At the end of the 19th century, Puerto Rico came under the control of the United States of America, but this did not bring major changes in the life of the population.

The 20th century for local residents was marked by a protracted struggle for independence, which gradually came to an end as the new millennium arrived. On this moment an increasing number of islanders are in favor of joining the United States with rights 52nd state.

Pregnant women, like no one else, should purchase travel health insurance. Read about the nuances of applying for this type of insurance.

State structure

The paradise splendor of the island does not in any way affect enough deplorable demographic situation in the country. The period of active development of Puerto Rico ceased at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, and after World War II, the outflow of the local population to continental America only intensified.

The population decline is also influenced by the deteriorating economic situation, and as a result, the low birth rate.

The religious situation in Puerto Rico is quite typical for all countries Caribbean. Has significant parity Catholic Church, since the times of Spanish rule, Protestant denominations have recently begun to gain influence, but their percentage is still not high.

A small Orthodox community of Puerto Ricans, mostly Russian-speaking, is cared for by a small metropolitan parish of the Greek Church in honor of St. Spyridon, which does not give up hope of moving into the jurisdiction of the Russian Church. There are also eight mosques in Puerto Rico and one Jewish community in the capital.

Languages ​​spoken by the vast majority of citizens - Spanish and English, and they own both of them quite confidently, especially city residents. Long time recognition in English as a second state or the abolition of this status by various Puerto Rican governors was an indicator of the level of political closeness of the local government with.

Transport

Puerto Rico's transportation infrastructure is quite extensive high level: due to absence here railway the most remote parts of the island are connected by developed roads and highways. However, it is worth noting that bus service on the island is not popular: it is easier to rent a car.

Guests from the mainland are received by the capital Carolina airport, named after Luis Munoz Marin, a famous political figure in the country and the first governor elected by popular vote. The airport also carries out large-scale cargo transportation between all countries of Central and Latin America.

The port of San Juan provides maritime traffic, and in the center of the capital there is a single-line subway, inaugurated in 2004.

Flora and fauna

Animal and vegetable world Puerto Rico is very rich and represents the best example of Caribbean fauna. Most complete with variety natural wealth The islands can be explored by visiting a local nature reserve "Caribbean National Forest" or “El Yunque”, whose area is more than 11 thousand hectares. Beautiful waterfalls, mangrove forests and unusual animals: all this will leave indelible impression for the most discerning traveler.

Puerto Rico is also surrounded by coral reefs, of which there are a huge number. The real symbol and talisman of the islanders has become a small coki frog, famous for its deafening, in the literal sense of the word, scream.

Unfortunately, the aggressive colonial activities of the Spanish invaders led to the global extinction of many species of flora and fauna of Puerto Rico.

Despite this, today the island boasts:

• 13 types of unique ground mammals;
• 18 types of unique marine mammals;
• 5 families and 13 species bats;
• 349 species birds;
• 25 types amphibians;
• 61 species reptiles;
• 677 species fish.

Vegetable world Caribbean island represented by:

1. 750 species plants;
2. 225 species trees;
3. More than 100 types mosses and ferns.

Climate

The state of Puerto Rico is located in tropical zone. The climate here is quite mild and humid. The temperature is always moderately high, on average +27-29 degrees above zero throughout the year. The south is warmest, and the coolest weather is in the center of the island, where the mountain ranges lie. and in the fall there are strong hurricane winds blowing from the Atlantic.

How to get there?

Direct flights from Puerto Rico No, so you will have to make at least one transfer in such major European or American cities as:

• Madrid;
• Frankfurt am Main;
• Miami;
• Houston.

If you have planned a trip from another Russian city, you will have to make another transfer in Moscow.

You can buy a plane ticket to connecting cities using this convenient search form. Enter cities of departure and arrival, date And number of passengers.

City infrastructure

The dense population of the islands of Puerto Rico leads to the fact that local settlements become quite large major cities . It is in the urban area that the developed infrastructure is located, which forms such an attractive resort image of the country.

Administrative division

The relatively small island of Puerto Rico and its related islands are divided into 78 municipalities, each headed by a democratically elected mayor. The period of performance of his official duties is 4 years. Each municipality divided into districts, and those into sectors.

At the moment, the number of municipalities has been finalized; the last of them was formed back in 1971.

Large resort towns

The most significant cities in Puerto Rico in terms of recreation and the level of development of resort infrastructure are:

1. San Juan. The capital of the state is not only administrative, but also tourist centre countries. Ancient city, which was founded by Columbus, reached its peak after World War II, when it became a real tourist “calling card” of the island. San Juan attracts tourists not only for its incredible beaches, but also for its architectural structures, many of which date back to the 17th century;
2. Aguadilla. The industrial capital of Puerto Rico, located in the northwest of the main island. Despite the large number of banks and business centers, Aguadilla is also rich in excellent beaches that will please everyone;
3. Mayaguez. The picturesque port city in western Puerto Rico is located in the gorge of two enchantingly beautiful rivers: the Rio Yaguez and the Rio Guanajibo. For Eugenio Maria de Hostos, this city was not only his homeland, but also his muse, as the famous Puerto Rican educator and writer has repeatedly admitted.

Every coastal town on the island boasts incredible wealth his underwater world, so this type of recreation, such as diving, is in no way inferior to beach recreation.

Puerto Rican Trench on a map of the Atlantic Ocean

On the border of the Atlantic and the Caribbean lies the infamous shift of underground plates- the Puerto Rico trench, aggravating the seismological situation in the region. A number of large-scale natural disasters, the last of which occurred in 2010, according to research, originated from here.

The Puerto Rico Trench is located 120 km north of Caribbean coast islands of the same name. It is a narrow depression, more than 1,700 km long and 94 km wide. Measurements by American scientists on the Vima ship showed that its depth is 8742 meters. This the most deep place Atlantic Ocean.

The shape of the gutter is long and narrow. It represents a transition from land to the oceans, in other words: an island with a mountain range.

The island of Puerto Rico itself is quite relief, and the main mountain range passes through its middle and is called just Central. At the bottom of the trench there are volcanoes that are currently inactive. US authorities constantly monitor the Caribbean to prevent and protect the population from natural disasters in the form of tsunamis and earthquakes.

On Sunday, the island of Puerto Rico is holding a referendum on changing the legal status of the territory, which is currently administered by the United States but not part of it. Most of Puerto Ricans want the islands to become a full state. However, this is not the first time such a plebiscite has been held, and the American authorities are unlikely to take such a step. The Puerto Rican economy is in a deep crisis, and it is simply not profitable for the United States to change the status quo.

Puerto Rico came under US control in 1898 as a result of the Spanish-American War. Now Caribbean island with a population of more than 3.5 million people, it has the status of an “unincorporated territory”, that is, it is governed by the authorities of the United States, but is not considered an integral part of it. Although all Puerto Ricans are US citizens by birth, the island is represented in the US Congress by only one member, and without the right to vote. Puerto Ricans cannot participate in the election of the American President.

The islanders elect a governor and their own congress, have their own courts, but Puerto Rico's autonomy is limited by the broad powers of the federal authorities. The island's residents are not covered by the American Bill of Rights, and a number of social programs operating in the United States do not work here.

• Reuters

At the same time, all legislative acts adopted by the American Congress are also valid in Puerto Rico. In addition, a number of American laws apply only to “unincorporated territories.” Thus, the Johnson Act of 1920, which is still in force today, prohibits the transportation of any cargo to and from Puerto Rico on ships not flying the US flag.

As a result, as political activist and former New York State Assemblyman Nelson Davis notes, “to comply with the Johnson Act, all carriers must tranship cargo at American ships, and any foreign vessel entering Puerto Rican ports is required to pay a variety of fees, the burden of which ultimately falls on Puerto Rican consumers.”

“This is not a business. This is extortion, a mafia racket,” Davis said on his blog.

A report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, prepared back in 2012, emphasizes that this act undermines the development of the Puerto Rican economy, but the United States does not intend to repeal the discriminatory provisions of the law.

According to the Governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rosello, the plebiscite on June 11 should end the country's colonial status.

“Colonialism is not a choice. This is a civil rights issue. Three and a half million citizens desire absolute democracy, our colonial situation creates a situation of incredible inequality,” The Miami Herald quotes his statement as saying.

Phire

The current referendum on the actual “decolonization” of the territory is not the first. Previously, similar plebiscites were held in 1967, 1993, 1998 and 2012. At the last of them, the majority of Puerto Ricans - over 61% - voted to join the United States as a full state, but the results of this referendum were ignored by the American Congress.

Now the question of self-determination for Puerto Rico has been raised by the island’s governor, Ricardo Roseyo, an ardent supporter of turning the colony into a full-fledged state.

• Ricardo Rosello
• Reuters

Opinion polls show that the majority of Puerto Ricans - 52% - are likely to vote for this prospect again. There are several times fewer supporters of other options—preserving the current status or granting Puerto Rico independence with the possibility of signing a treaty of “free association” with the United States.

The benefit of turning Puerto Rico from a colony into a state would not only give the islanders all the civil rights that other Americans enjoy. If Puerto Rico becomes a state, many social programs will be extended to its residents, and annual federal spending will increase by $10 billion. In addition, government departments and municipalities of the island will be able to resort to bankruptcy proceedings, as Detroit did in 2012, and restructure the huge debt is the main economic problem today.

Below the poverty line

Over the past two years, Puerto Rican authorities have defaulted three times: on August 4, 2015, May 2, and July 1, 2016. The island's debt currently stands at about $70 billion, most of it debt on government bonds. The main contribution to the emergence and development of the economic crisis was made by the de facto colonial status of the island.

In 1996, the US Congress passed a law under which American companies operating in Puerto Rico received significant tax breaks. This led to massive industrial growth, primarily pharmaceuticals. In 2006, these relaxations were canceled, which led to a decrease in production and tax payments, as well as an increase in unemployment.

• Reuters

Having lost a serious source of income, the Puerto Rican authorities threw their government bonds into the financial market, the income from which was not taxed, and as a result they received money and debt of astronomical proportions. And then the 2008 crisis came.

“As a result of the 2008-2009 crisis, the Puerto Rican economy collapsed following the US economy,” Alexander Ionov, deputy director of the Institute for Security and Sustainable Development, told RT. “Only if the US economy had some kind of internal potential that it could use at the expense of the Federal Reserve System and international financial institutions, then Puerto Rico was excluded from this system.”

The Puerto Rican authorities tried to pay off debts by significantly reducing expenses. But this only led to further increases in poverty. As a result, 46% of the island's population now lives below the poverty line.

According to the Ukrainian scenario?

To deal with Puerto Rico's economic crisis, the Obama administration created the Fiscal Management and Control Board, which took charge of all economic policy on the island. The result was the introduction of austerity measures, which included cuts to pensions, scholarships and other social benefits, as well as sending thousands of workers on unpaid leave. On May 5, 2017, due to cuts in funding for the educational sector, it was announced that 184 schools would be closed on the island. The ex-Minister of Finance of Ukraine Natalya Yaresko became the executive director of the council.

• globallookpress.com
• Serg Glovny/ZUMAPRESS.com

Ionov is sure that this is not the best sign for Puerto Ricans, who as a result of Yaresko’s activities “will become even poorer, poorer and hungrier.”

The current status does not give the Puerto Rican authorities the right to negotiate with creditors themselves, as independent states do, and at the same time deprives them of the opportunity to file bankruptcy and begin debt restructuring procedures with minimal costs, as American states and municipalities do.

According to US House of Representatives member Jose Serrano, the debt crisis in Puerto Rico demonstrated the need to change the status of the island.

“Having received statehood or independence, Puerto Rico will be able to use the tools that will allow it to overcome the financial and tax crisis,” he notes on the pages of The Hill.

Washington Vs.

Experts note that Puerto Rico’s economic problems caused by the Americans will become the main obstacle to gaining the status of a full state.

“Due to the economic problems of Puerto Rico - and we know that a year and a half ago the island almost reached a technical default - the United States does not want to subsidize them,” Ionov believes.

According to the expert, due to integration into the US economy, Puerto Rico is suffering enormous losses. The status of an associated territory allows the federal government not to pay the island's debts and provide it with less funding than the full-fledged states of the country. At the same time, the United States can completely manage the affairs of the colony and keep its military on its territory.

• Reuters

Experts interviewed by RT are confident that if Puerto Ricans vote to join the United States as a state, their opinion will simply be ignored. The same thing will happen if the inhabitants of the island choose independence. The territory's status requires that the results of all referendums be approved by the US Congress.

“The American administration has not looked for ways to solve the problems of Puerto Rico in all these years since the economic crisis. And the subsidies that they allocated were at the same level as in the pre-crisis period, without adjustment for inflation, without adjustment for social packages,” says Ionov.

People actually only have a passport, but not social guarantees, the expert notes.

“Obama promised them these guarantees. With Trump, all this died completely,” Ionov believes. — The Americans allocate money only to combat protest sentiments in Puerto Rico. And they don’t do anything else.”

Similar problems are faced by residents of other associated territories of the United States - the islands of Guam, the Marshall Islands and Mariana Islands, and indigenous people Hawaiian Islands.

According to the expert, the inaction of the United States in solving the economic and social problems of its colonies leads to the growth of the movement for independence in these territories.

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The US is blocking the island's desperate attempts to change its humiliating status

While the “exceptional superpower” teaches the whole world the basics of democracy, the presence of a non-full-fledged “semi-colony” at its side, on which it can save a lot of money, seems to suit it perfectly. Therefore, the referendum that just passed, in which 97% of its participants voted to become the 51st US state, went unnoticed.

The “unincorporated” territory, dependent on Washington, is desperately trying to get rid of its “suspended in the air” political status, but the US leadership is not particularly concerned about this.

Let us recall that in July 1898, the US armed forces captured the islands of Puerto Rico, which at that time belonged to Spain, and in December of the same year, representatives of Washington, twisting Madrid’s arms at negotiations in Paris, forced the Spaniards to cede the archipelago to them, along with the Philippines and Guam. The United States established “external government” in Puerto Rico through a governor appointed from Washington, and in 1900 created a Congress on the islands, most of the upper house of which consisted of Americans. In 1917, residents of Puerto Rico were granted American citizenship, albeit with limited political rights. The independence movement that arose in the archipelago in the 1920s and 1930s was brutally suppressed by the US authorities, and its leaders were sent to prison.

After World War II, Washington slightly expanded the political rights of Puerto Ricans, allowing them to elect their own governor, but this did not fundamentally change anything. The standard of living on the islands was much lower than “in the metropolis,” and therefore the population of Puerto Rico began to move en masse “to the mainland.” From 1945 to 1965 the number of islanders on the territory of the United States itself increased almost tenfold.

Against the backdrop of economic problems in Puerto Rico, independence fighters have once again raised their heads. To somehow reassure the people, Washington granted the archipelago the status of an “associated territory” in 1952, but this did not solve its problems. Beginning in the 60s of the twentieth century, leftist forces launched an armed struggle for the liberation of their country, but American security forces drove the opposition underground and destroyed its leadership.

Today, Puerto Rico lives significantly poorer than even the poorest states in the United States. Prices administrative services and products in the archipelago are on average one and a half times higher than in the United States, and subsidies are much lower.

But here is one of the largest concentrations of US military bases in the world (according to some sources, 37 facilities in a relatively small area). In means mass media You can find references to the fact that Puerto Rico not only has a radar station and naval exercises, but also stores American nuclear weapons.

Poverty and lack of prospects have recently again increased the flow of Puerto Ricans fleeing to the United States. In just a few years, every seventh inhabitant of the islands (about 500 thousand people) left their native lands for the sake of the “American Dream”. However, this still does not save the situation. The unemployment rate in the archipelago is 12%, and recently schools have been closed en masse, depriving many children of the chance to achieve at least something in life. Recently, local authorities were forced to begin a default procedure.

Given the fact that gaining independence for Puerto Rico is an almost impossible task, many island residents decided to get rid of the humiliating semi-colonial status in another way. In the 2012 referendum, more than 60% of its participants (with a turnout of about 77.5%) proposed including Puerto Rico in the United States as a full-fledged state. However, Washington remained deaf to the proposals of the “younger brother.”

And so, on June 11 of this year, the Governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rossello, decided to “try his luck” again and organized a new “general expression of will,” the results of which turned out to be quite ambiguous. After 2012, the outbreak of pro-American enthusiasm faded, and most of the population of the archipelago, apparently, decided to listen to the opinion of the opposition parties, which called for a boycott of the new referendum. The result, as mentioned above, was a turnout of 23%, which seems to reflect the real popularity of the ideas of local “unionists”.

Will the referendum have any legal consequences? Most experts doubt this. Washington openly ignored the results of the expression of the will of the Puerto Ricans in 2012, when one could talk about a real increase in US support on the islands. Why should the White House and Congress pay attention to a far less representative event? In addition, in both houses of the American parliament today there is a strong majority of Republicans, who have a rather cool attitude towards the islands dependent on the United States in the Caribbean. Latinos and African Americans traditionally prefer to vote Democratic. Under the current legal status, Puerto Ricans living on the islands are deprived of the right to vote in national elections, but if granted it could deal a serious electoral blow to the Republican position.

Western media have recently liked to compare Puerto Rico to Russian Crimea. However, such comparisons can hardly be called correct.

Firstly, Soviet Union, the successor of which is the Russian Federation, Crimea has never been captured. Secondly, the peninsula was part of the RSFSR for many years and even within the USSR was transferred to Ukraine illegally. Thirdly, the absolute majority of the population of Crimea are ethnic Russians who speak Russian (in Puerto Rico, Spanish-speaking Latin Americans predominate, radically different from the inhabitants of the United States in language and culture). And, most importantly, immediately after the return of Taurida to Russia, official Moscow granted Crimea and Sevastopol the status of full-fledged subjects of the federation, and their residents - citizenship with all political rights. But, even if we distance ourselves from all these differences, we will see that the Russian Federation, making the fateful decision of 2014, was guided solely by the will of the Crimeans themselves, expressed by them in the referendum.

The “exceptional” country, which is trying to teach us in a mentoring tone and is imposing sanctions against us, in its consciousness, unfortunately, is still somewhere in the 19th century and regularly grossly violates international law. Control over important geopolitical positions is much more important for Washington than the rights and freedoms of some “Latinos”...

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The article was published as part of a project using state support funds allocated as a grant in accordance with the order of the President Russian Federation dated 04/05/2016 No. 68-rp and on the basis of a competition held by the National Charitable Foundation.