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(Opposite) A view of San Cristóbal Canyon, Barranquitas, in central Puerto Rico. (Right) Swimmers enjoy the warm bay waters of Guánica, on the southern coast of the island. In addi- tion to its beautiful beaches, Guánica is popular as a hiking area and for the rare dry forest nearby, which has been named a World Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations. 1

Rugged Island in the Caribbean

PUERTO RICO IS a rugged swatch of green in a deep blue sea. The fourth- largest island in the Caribbean—110 miles (177 kilometers) long and 35 miles (56 km) wide—it lies at the eastern end of the island chain called the Greater Antilles. To Puerto Rico’s north is the Atlantic Ocean; to the south, the Caribbean Sea. The islands of Vieques and Culebra, as well as some smaller islands, are included in its territory. A Diverse Landscape Although Puerto Rico is best known to the world for its sunny beaches, rough mountains make up most of the island’s terrain. The main mountain range runs from east to west through the middle of the island and is called the Cordillera Central. The highest peak in this range is Cerro de Punta, at

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