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Puerto Rico

about 4,390 feet (1,338 meters). The native Tainos who lived on the island more than 500 years ago believed the mighty god Juracan lived on Cerro de Punta. In the northeast part of the island, unusual limestone rock formations make up the island’s karst country. Underground rivers run through this unusual region, which is riddled with sinkholes and caverns that millions of bats call home. Puerto Rico is divided into 78 counties, with most of the major cities ringing the island along the coasts. The bustling metropolitan area of San Juan, where about one-third of the country’s nearly 4 million people live, is located in the northeast. Ponce is the major city on the southern coast. Mayagüez anchors the western end of the island. Caguas is the biggest city in the island’s interior. Puerto Rico’s golden beaches have earned the island a worldwide repu- tation as a premier tourist destination. With more than 500 miles (805 km) of coastline, the island offers beaches ranging from posh Isla Verde, with its high-rise hotels and casinos , to Caja de Muertos (literally, “coffin of the

casino— a building that houses a gambling establishment. coquí— a small tree frog that is Puerto Rico’s national mascot. karst— irregular limestone terrain characterized by underground streams and caves. Words to Understand in This Chapter