![\"Map](\n\"http:\/\/news.bbcimg.co.uk\/media\/images\/45837000\/gif\/_45837786_puertorico226.gif\"\nwidth=\"226\")
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\nHispanic, Afro-Caribbean and North American
\ninfluences meld in Puerto Rico, a self-governing commonwealth that
\nbelongs to the United States.<\/p>\n
The subtropical Caribbean territory is urbanised, industrialised
\nand relatively prosperous.<\/p>\n
Overview<\/h2>\n\n- Overview<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The US invaded and occupied Puerto Rico during the
\nSpanish-American War of 1898, ending centuries of rule from Spain.
\nThe US saw the island as a strategic asset and ran it as a colonial
\nprotectorate.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n\n![\n\"Spanish-built](\n\"http:\/\/news.bbcimg.co.uk\/media\/images\/40987000\/jpg\/_40987496_pr_bbc.jpg\"\nwidth=\"203\")
<\/p>\nSpanish-built defences survey the ocean at Old San Juan<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n
Under American administration Puerto Rico saw growth and
\ndevelopment. But nationalist sentiment sometimes spilled over into
\nviolence, notably in the 1930s and 1940s. Nationalists staged an
\narmed attack in the US Congress in 1954.<\/p>\n
A series of bombings and killings in the 1970s and 1980s were
\nblamed on a pro-independence group, the Macheteros, or Cane
\nCutters. The group’s fugitive leader was killed by federal agents
\nin 2005.<\/p>\n
Puerto Rican voters, who elect a governor for the island, have
\ntended to favour parties that support the union with the US. Puerto
\nRicans do not pay US income tax, and the island receives federal
\nfunds.<\/p>\n
There is an established cycle of migration between Puerto Rico
\nand the US; hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans have lived and
\nworked in New York and other cities.<\/p>\n
The once substantial US military presence has been scaled down
\nwith the closures of a major naval base and a bombing range.
\nRancour over the latter grew after a civilian employee was killed
\nby a stray bomb.<\/p>\n
Explorer Christopher Columbus claimed Puerto Rico for Spain in
\n1493, heralding an influx of Spanish settlers. The newcomers, and
\nthe diseases they brought with them, decimated the territory’s
\nTaino indian population.<\/p>\n
The main settlement, San Juan, became an important Spanish
\noutpost. Slaves were brought to the island in the 16th and 17th
\ncenturies.<\/p>\n
Puerto Rico’s landscape is varied, and includes rainforests in
\nthe north-east. The territory is prone to hurricanes.<\/p>\n
Tourism is an important money-earner; the island receives up to
\ntwo million visitors each year and is a port-of-call for cruise
\nliners.<\/p>\n
Facts<\/h2>\n\n- Facts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Territory:<\/b> Puerto Rico<\/li>\n
- Status:<\/b> Self-governing territory belonging to the
\nUSA<\/li>\n- Full name:<\/b> Commonwealth of Puerto Rico<\/li>\n
- Population:<\/b> 3.9 million (via UN, 2006)<\/li>\n
- Capital:<\/b> San Juan<\/li>\n
- Area:<\/b> 8,959 sq km (3,459 sq miles)<\/li>\n
- Major languages:<\/b> Spanish, English (both official)<\/li>\n
- Major religion:<\/b> Christianity<\/li>\n
- Life expectancy:<\/b> 71 years (men) 80 years (women)<\/li>\n
- Monetary unit:<\/b> US dollar<\/li>\n
- Main exports:<\/b> Chemicals, foodstuffs, machinery<\/li>\n
- GNI per capita:<\/b> $10,950 (World Bank, 2001)<\/li>\n
- Internet domain:<\/b> .pr<\/li>\n
- International dialling code:<\/b> +1787<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Leaders<\/h2>\n\n- Leaders<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Head of state:<\/b> President Barack Obama<\/p>\n
Governor:<\/b> Luis Guillermo Fortuno<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\n![\"Luis](\n\"http:\/\/news.bbcimg.co.uk\/media\/images\/46496000\/jpg\/_46496655_b86a3d86-63e0-4706-ba69-f3817610e51c.jpg\"\nwidth=\"226\")
<\/p>\nLuis Guillermo Fortuno<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n
Luis Fortuno of the New Progressive Party began his term in
\nJanuary 2009, and is the ninth governor of Puerto Rico. His party,
\nwhich favours full integration of Puerto Rico as the 51st US state,
\nalso won the November 2008 elections to Puerto Rico’s legislative
\nassembly.<\/p>\n
He succeeded Anibal Acevedo Vila of the Popular Democratic
\nParty, who served from 2004-2008. Mr Acevedo Vila had initially
\nfavoured maintaining Puerto Rico’s commonwealth status, but later
\ncalled on the USA to let it decide its own future.<\/p>\n
Puerto Ricans elect their governor for a four-year term. The
\nconstitution, modelled on that of the US, provides for a Senate and
\nHouse of Representatives. However, voters in a referendum in 2005
\nbacked the idea of replacing the bodies with a one-house
\nlegislature.<\/p>\n
Residents of Puerto Rico cannot vote in US presidential
\nelections. But they do elect a non-voting delegate to the US
\nCongress.<\/p>\n
Since taking office, Mr Fortuno has launched a major programme
\nof public spending cuts. In May 2009 tens of thousands of workers
\nmarched through the streets of San Juan in protest at possible
\nmajor layoffs.<\/p>\n
Media<\/h2>\n\n- Media<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Broadcasting is regulated by the US Federal Communications
\nCommission (FCC).<\/p>\n
Home-grown comedies, talk shows and Spanish-language soaps are
\nstaple fare on local TV stations. The multichannel offerings of
\ncable TV are widely available.<\/p>\n
News and talk and Spanish-language pop music are among the most
\npopular radio formats.<\/p>\n
The press<\/p>\n
\n- The San Juan Star<\/a>
\n– English-language daily<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nTelevision<\/p>\n
The US invaded and occupied Puerto Rico during the
\nSpanish-American War of 1898, ending centuries of rule from Spain.
\nThe US saw the island as a strategic asset and ran it as a colonial
\nprotectorate.<\/p>\n
| <\/p>\n Spanish-built defences survey the ocean at Old San Juan<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n Under American administration Puerto Rico saw growth and A series of bombings and killings in the 1970s and 1980s were Puerto Rican voters, who elect a governor for the island, have There is an established cycle of migration between Puerto Rico The once substantial US military presence has been scaled down Explorer Christopher Columbus claimed Puerto Rico for Spain in The main settlement, San Juan, became an important Spanish Puerto Rico’s landscape is varied, and includes rainforests in Tourism is an important money-earner; the island receives up to Facts<\/h2>\n
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