Puerto Rico

2008-05-19T02:39:39Z

Kek4: Added a historical fact

'''The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico''' is an unincorporated organized territory of the [[United States]] with Commonwealth status, located in the [[Caribbean]] Sea.<ref>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rq.html#Intro</ref> It is the smallest of the Greater Antilles [[Island]]s, which include [[Cuba]] (the largest), [[Haiti]] and the [[República Dominicana]] (sharing an island), and [[Jamaica]]. Puerto Rico is only 100 miles long by 35 miles wide. It is 1000 miles from [[Miami]].

Puerto Rico is often referred to as ''Borinquen'' or ''Borikén'', indigenous names, as well as ''Isla del Encanto'', and ''Perla del Caribe''. Puerto Ricans refer to themselves as ''Puertorriqueños'' or ''Boricuas''. Boricua is used as a term of endearment and cultural affirmation. Before the Spaniards discovered Puerto Rico, it was populated by [[Taíno]] Indians. The Taínos were a peaceful, gentle nation. They welcomed the conquistadores and shared their homes and food and gave the Spaniards many gifts. Unfortunately, the Spaniards abused their hospitality and started sodomizing their indigenous friends.

==First Contact==
[[Christopher Columbus]] sailed from [[Spain]] in his second voyage and discovered Puerto Rico on December 19, 1492. He named the island ''San Juan Bautista''. Columbus thought this island to be very beautiful and wrote so in his diary. Soon after, the island's name was changed to Puerto Rico. Columbus's ships were named [[The Niña|La Niña]], [[The Pinta|La Pinta]], and the [[Santa Maria|Santa María]]. [[Juan Ponce de Leon|Juan Ponce de León]] colonized Borinquen in 1508 and became its first governor. The Spaniard conquistadores were looking for [[gold]]. They made slaves of the Indians slowly killing them from overwork. Soon thereafter [[Africa]]n families were brought to the island as slaves. Ponce de León, the incredible explorer, was born in Valencia, Spain, in 1460. As a teenager he joined Spanish forces that defeated the [[Moors]]. In 1492 he accompanied Colombus in his second voyage to America. Later Ponce de León was granted a commission to explore Borinquen. He then set out to colonize the island of San Juan Bautista and build the first settlement called Caparra. He served as first governor from 1509-12. During his term as governor the island's name was changed from San Juan Bautista to Puerto Rico. Ponce de Leon went on to achieve other great accomplishments. His tomb is found at the San Juan Cathedral in Old San Juan. His family estate is the [[Casa Blanca]], a popular tourist site.

Many families from [[Spain]] and other [[Europe]]an nations moved to the island. Slowly the Taíno Indians married either Africans or Europeans forming a new ethnic group called the Criollas. Today there are many European, African, and Criolla families in Puerto Rico.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Islands]]
[[Category: United States Territories]]

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Puerto Rico