The famous Roosevelt Clock Tower, constructed in 1937, is the center point of the
University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus.
Many
garitas 'sentry boxes', such as this one in
Fort San Felipe del Morro, were constructed by the Spaniards to guard
Old San Juan against enemy invaders. Long after their decommission, they now commonly used as the iconic representation of Puerto Rico's history and tourism.
Many landmarks in Puerto Rico, such as the
Ponce Cathedral, were influenced by European
neoclassical architecture.
City halls in Puerto Rico, such as the one in
Ponce, are usually the centerpieces of each Municipality's town center. Most are located across the
town plaza, and are frequented by the public and tourists alike.
The
Puerto Rican spindalis, known locally as Reina Mora, is the national bird of Puerto Rico. It forms an important part of the local ecosystem, because of its help in
seed dispersal and
plant reproduction.
La Fortaleza, seen at top overlooking
San Juan Bay, is the current residence of the
Governor of Puerto Rico and the oldest executive mansion in the
New World. It was declared a
UNESCO
World Heritage Site in 1983, 450 years after it was built.
The
San Juan Cathedral in
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico is one of the most important churches in the Caribbean, and one of the few in the Americas to feature New World
medieval architecture. It is also the home of the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Juan and the final resting place of Spanish
Conquistador
Juan Ponce de León.
The word
Jíbaro, is commonly used in Puerto Rico to refer to mountain dwelling peasant, which has come to represent the Puerto Rican people in all their historic, ethnic and cultural complexity. The image of a jíbaro is used in all forms of Puerto Rican art, including this monument in
Cayey.
The
1985 Mameyes landslide in
Ponce was one of the worst landslide disasters in North American history. Caused by excessive rains, it destroyed more than 100 homes and killed anywhere from 129 to 300 residents.
The first
Supreme Court of Puerto Rico was established by the
Foraker Act in 1900. A total of five members were appointed by U.S. President
William McKinley, and two more for substituting resigning members.
The
Ada orchid, like this one found in
Peñuelas, is one of many
endemic flora found in Puerto Rico.
The
Puerto Rican parrot is the only remaining native parrot in Puerto Rico and, as its current population is currently estimated at 58-80 and around 300 in captivity, is one of the 10 most
critically-endangered species in the world.
The
1868 Lares revolutionary flag was used during the
1868
rebellion against
Spain, later known as the
Grito de Lares. It was
knitted by
Mariana Bracetti.
The
Ceiba is
Puerto Rico's
national tree. It is native to
Mexico,
Central America and
the Caribbean, northern
South America, and west
Africa.
The Arecibo Observatory is the world's largest single-aperture telescope ever constructed. The telescope's dish has a diameter of over 1,000 ft (305m) and covers over 18 acres. The receiver array is suspended 450 ft (150m) above the dish, supported by three concrete towers each measuring between 265 ft (80m) and 365 ft (110m).
Puerto Rico has over 50 rivers, most originating from the island's central mountainous region which receives heavy rainfall. The largest of these rivers, Rio de la Plata, measures approximately 60.5 mi. (97 km), starting at an altitude of 2,625 ft (800 m) above sea level in Cayey before ending between the northern coastal towns of Dorado and Toa Baja.
Old San Juan is characterized by a mixture of Spanish architecture, cobblestone streets and open public plazas. Most buildings and plazas are maintained to preserve their history, with some, such as the Quinto Centenario Plaza being modernized with recent architecture and works of art.