There are more than 1,000 small streams and about 45 rivers in Puerto Rico, they are shallow and unsuitable for passage in large boats. All of these steams and rivers, including the arecibo, the longest river, flow northward from the mountain ranges into the Atlantic Ocean.

And while there are no natural lakes, there are 17 man-made artificial likes such as yauco in the southwestern hills (which was created by a dam on the yauco river) and there are more then 50 rivers and water sources for irrigation, industry, and hydroelectric power.

Puerto Rico is in the Atlantic time zone, but does not observe daylight savings time. The island uses standard U.S. electric current.

Close to 4 million people live on the "Island of Enchantment," with more than a million in the greater San Juan metropolitan area alone. It is a vibrant, modern, bilingual, multicultural society, one that has been molded by Spanish, African, Indian and U.S. influences. Residents of Puerto Rico have much in common with their fellow Americans in the continental United States, yet they retain a decidedly Hispanic heritage.

Since the first humans came ashore thousands of years ago, the island that is now known as Puerto Rico has sheltered Indians, Spaniards, Africans and Anglos. The Spaniards had the earliest and greatest influence to the Island at their arrival in 1493. During their 400-year tenure the Spaniards laid the bedrock of the language and culture. They built cities and towns, fortresses and churches, lighthouses and roadways. They brought slaves from Africa to work in the fields, who, in turn, contributed the spice of their culture, enriching the language, music and diets.