Summary
Puerto Rico is a melting pot, where past and present blend smoothly. San Juan, the invigorating capital city and gateway of the territory, boasts vibrant markets, old-world architecture, and dynamic industries. This resolutely Latin American metropolis, with its charming cobblestoned streets and awe-inspiring historic churches, defensive walls, and fortresses, is the second-oldest Spanish settlement in the Americas. Warm and diverse, Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, offers 312 miles of white sand beaches, busy ports, and coral reefs for diving and snorkeling. Rugged hills towering above rain forest canopies and colorful mountain towns dominate the island’s interior, and an incredibly vivid array of tropical fauna and flora find protection in the Caribbean National Forest. With thorough research, crisp writing, and dazzling full-color photographs, Puerto Rico explores the commonwealth's vibrant geography and rich Latin and Afro-Caribbean cultures and traditions.
Specifications
25-30 full-color photographs.
About the Author(s)
José Javier López is Associate Professor of Geography at Minnesota State University in Mankato. He was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and received a doctorate degree in geography from Indiana State University. Following graduation, he moved to Minnesota and began a career in geographic education. Since becoming a faculty member of MSU’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences in the late 1990s, Lopez has researched different issues pertinent to the social geography of the United States and Latin America. Over the years he has taught many systematic courses, including Spatial Statistics, Spatial Analysis, Cultural Geography, Economic Geography, Social Geography, and Rural Development.