Chapter 2: The Physical Geography of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico:
• Puerto Rico is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. In addition to the main island, it has
other smaller islands, islets, and cays.
• If we add up Puerto Rico’s territorial extent, it adds up to 5,324.5 square miles. The main
island, however, measures only 3,435 square miles.
• Puerto Rico is the smallest and easternmost of the Greater Antilles.
• Puerto Rico’s topography is mostly mountainous. About 80 percent of its territory consists of
mountains and hills.

Earth:
• Earth’s past is divided into four great areas: Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic.
These eras, in turn, are divided into periods which are subdivided into epochs, and then ages.
• Earth was part of a supercontinent called Pangaea. Gradually, the landmass broke apart into
giant pieces that drifted away from each other until reaching their current positions.
• The Earth is divided into five layers:
1. Lithosphere - has twelve masses, called tectonic plates that move independently.
2. Asthenosphere
3. Lower mantle
4. Outer core
5. Inner core

Boundaries:
• The movement of tectonic plates causes tectonic boundaries to form between tectonic plates.
• Divergent boundaries form when plates drift away form each other and separate, forming rifts
in the crust.
• Convergent Boundaries form when the plates come together and collide. These boundaries
cause mountain ranges.
• Transform boundaries form when two plates slide past each other. These cause faults and
earthquakes.

Mesozoic era:
• During the early Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic era, about 135 million years ago, the
Caribbean plate collided with the North American plate in a convergent movement. Part of the
Caribbean plate surfaces above the sea while parts of the North American plate were pushed
 under the mantle. The process caused a subduction zone that is known today as the Puerto Rico
Trench.
• All the turbulence created pressure within the crust and cause a volcanic eruption. The magma
over the course of million of years piled up and formed landmass.

Tertiary period of the Cenozoic era:

• Following this process, erosion and sediment began in the ensuing Tertiary period of the
Cenozoic era, forming what we know now as the coastal areas of Puerto Rico.
• Erosion and sedimentation are caused by certain corrosive agents such wind and water. The
agents erode in two ways: through weathering and through mass movement.
• Weathering is the process in which rocks and minerals break down on the Earth’s surface. It
must be caused by a physical or chemical process. In physical weathering, rocks and minerals
break into smaller piece. Chemical weathering causes rocks and minerals to decompose instead
of disintegrating.

Quaternary period of the Cenozoic era:

• Mass movement occurs when rocks and surface materials are pushed by gravitational forces.
• The Puerto Rico we know today finally surfaced during the ensuing Quaternary period, the last
period of the Cenozoic era.
• Puerto Rico is divided into three geomorphic regions:
• the central mountainous region
• the northern karst region
• the coastal plains

1. The central mountainous region comprises nearly 80 percent of the island’s territory and
covers the island form east to west.
2. The karst region is located north of the central mountainous region. It is commonly known as
el cars where whitish-beige limestone rocks and formations abound. It is known for its many
sinkholes, caves, caverns, limestone hills, and underground rivers.
3. The third region is the coastal plains, which is surround nearly all the island. They are
divided into four areas:
1. northern coastal plains
2. southern coastal plains
3. eastern coastal plains
4. western coastal plains
Climate:
• Climate is the long-term weather pattern that is characteristic of a particular area or region.
• The Köppen system, which is based on the observation of such criteria as vegetation,
temperature, and precipitation, is used to measure climate.
• Climate conditions in Puerto Rico are caused bu many factors. One has to do with its location
in the tropical zone. This zone is characterized by the humid temperatures, and trade winds.
• Puerto Rico’s topography has a double effect on the climate. In higher altitudes temperatures
are cooler. Second, the mountains form a barrier for trade winds and force them to unload their
humidity in the form of rain over the northern region.
• Finally, ocean currents influence the island’s climate, as well. Puerto Rico is right in the path of
the Atlantic North Equatorial Current, where it splits and passes the island in the north and
south. It is a warm ocean current that contributes to our warm, humid climate.