Puerto Rico: Geography#
Location | Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic |
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Geographic Coordinates | 18 15 N, 66 30 W 18.25,-66.5 |
Land boundaries | 0 km |
Coastline | 501 km |
Elevation Extremes | lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m |
Highest Mountains | |
Terrain | mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas |
Natural Hazards | periodic droughts; hurricanes |
Natural Resource | some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil |
Land Use | arable land: 6.76% permanent crops: 4.51% other: 88.73% (2011) |
Climate | tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation |
Irrigated Land | 220.4 sq km (2005) |
Renewable Water Resources | NA |
Environment_CurrentIssues | erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages |
Environment - international agreements | NA |
Large Cities | |
Geography-note | important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north |