Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico, beautiful… Tropical beaches warm sunny skies and fresh smelling air. Tall trees and secrets untold there are a lot of mysteries in this beautiful land there is also a history of the people that once defended this great island. There story’s are more than just story’s there the way life of these great people. Come with me and explore and learn who these people were how they survived and what eventually brought their demise.

The commonwealth island of Puerto Rico is located approximately 50 miles east of the Dominican Republic 40 miles west of the Virgin Islands and 1,000 miles of southeast U.S state Florida. Its latitude and longitude are 18.2500 N and 66.5000 W. It’s about 3,515 Sq miles long. Its population is about 3.667 million, the third largest Island in the U.S and, 82nd largest island in the world. The currency used in Puerto Rico was the peso but today’s currency in Puerto Rico is U.S Dollars. The languages spoken by the indigenous that lived there almost 400 years ago were {the Taino Indians} a language derived from an Arawakians Language and, mixed with languages of the Spaniards that tried to colonize the island. The owners before the U.S were Spain but with the 1898 Treaty of Paris Spain handed the land of Puerto Rico to the U.S.

The Way of life for the Taino’s that lived there was very important for them. They survived by hunting small animals like the hutia. A hutia is a large cave rodent. There are usually cooked in large pots. Kids had no easy time they were also a big part of the Taino community. Another animal hunted by the Tainos was the marine animal manatees they were caught in large fisherman’s nets and cooked. This was very sad considering the trusting of the manatees. The various techniques...

... middle of paper ...

...hich is why it is a nature reserve. It is also known for its beautiful beaches. It also holds flora and fauna not found any were else in the world. It has no permanent residents living on the island but is guarded by on duty Natural reserve security.

In today’s society the Taino are all but extinct as declared the official verdict of their society and people. Although many of Puerto Ricans and Dominicans have some remnants of Taino the reasons why are that they probably mated with other ethnic groups.

Of my heritages there are only two Puerto Rican which consist of Taino Indian, European, and African and, Mexican which consist of French, European, and Aztec blood. I am very proud of my heritage and am glad to have learned so much of my roots and who I am. I think that the stuff they tell you in school is not anything like what I have described in my essay.