Fun facts of puerto rico: 100 Amazing Puerto Rico Facts You Should Not Miss

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February 9, 2023
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Puerto Rico Fun Facts — 8 Interesting Facts About Puerto Rico

by Gary Arndt

Surprisingly, the Puerto Rican flag was not designed to resemble the American flag.

Located just off the coast of the U.S., Puerto Rico is more than just another territory of the United States—there’s a lot of interesting things about this island nation that most people might not know. On one of my trips to Puerto Rico I visited as a guest of the island’s tourism board. I spent my week cave exploring, visiting the island of Culebra, riding the world’s highest zip line, exploring the Old City of San Juan UNESCO site, and visiting the territory’s national park site. Given a it’s a new place, it’s the right time for the next installment of 8 Facts You Might Not Have Known: Puerto Rico facts edition.

1. The flag of Puerto Rico is not based on the American Flag.

Puerto Rico was taken by the Americans from the Spanish in 1898. The flag was designed in 1895 in solidarity with the Free Cuba Movement. It is the same layout and design as the Cuban flag, but with the colors reversed.

The one acknowledgment to the U.S. was in 1952 when the blue field was changed from a light blue to a darker blue to better resemble like the American flag.

2. Puerto Rico has elements of an independent country.

While Puerto Rico is technically a territory of the U.S., there are many facts about it that make it more like an independent country. Puerto Rico competes under its own name and flag at the Olympics and has won eight medals in Olympic history. They have their own entry in the Miss Universe competition, and have had two winners in the last decade. Puerto Rico also has a top level domain name like other countries (.pr).

Aerial view of Castillo San Felipe del Morro in Puerto Rico.

3. The original inhabitants of Puerto Rico were the Taino Indians.

The Taino Indians gave us the words for hurricane (huracán) and barbecue (barbacoa). They invented the hammock. Puerto Ricans often call the island Borinquen, from Taino word Borikén, which means “Land of the Valiant Lord. ” It was thought that the Taino Indians were exterminated in Puerto Rico, but most recent DNA studies have found that they hid in mountains and later melted into the population.

4. There are many famous Puerto Ricans.

Think you don’t know any Puerto Ricans? We bet you do as they include a staggeringly long list of Oscar winners, athletes, and hall of famers.

Oscar Winners: Benicio Del Toro, José Ferrer, Rita Moreno, José Rivera.

Baseball Hall of Famers: Roberto Clemente, Orlando Cepeda, Roberto Alomar.

Actors: John Leguizamo, Erik Estrada, Rosie Perez, Chita Rivera, Jimmy Smits.

Musicians: Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, José Feliciano, Tito Puente.

Athletes: Felix Trinidad, Juan “Chi-Chi” Rodríguez, Héctor “Macho” Camacho.

Plus many more not listed here—because it’s a long, long list.

5. The world’s largest telescope is in Puerto Rico.

The Arecibo Radio Telescope is located in Puerto Rico. It is 305 m (1,001 ft) in diameter, making it by far the largest single astronomical observing object in the world. It’s located inside a sinkhole, which supports its massive size. It has appeared in many movies and TV shows, including “Contact” with Jodie Foster.

6. Puerto Rico is home to more bioluminescent bays than anywhere in the world.

The waters in Fajardo Bay, Mosquito Bay, and La Parguera Bay all contain tens to hundreds of thousands of microorganisms (dinoflagellates) per gallon of water. When the dinoflagellates are disturbed they glow, resulting in glowing water around anything that moves through the water. It’s a favorite aspect with tourists as it’s fairly incredible to watch the waters light up around you while swimming at night.

7. Puerto Rico is more than just one island.

Between the main island of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands lies Vieques Culebra (one of my favorite beaches in the world), which are sometimes known as the Spanish Virgin Islands. Also, between the main island and the Dominican Republic is Puerto Rico’s island of Mona. Additionally, there are many other small uninhabited islands.

The island of Culebrita as seen from Culebra, Puerto Rico.

8. San Juan is the second oldest European city in the Western Hemisphere.

The official name is Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista (St. John the Baptist). Founded in 1508, only the Colonial City of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic is older. The Old City of San Juan was a walled city with two major forts: Fort San Felipe del Morro and Fort San Cristóbal. Fort San Cristóbal was the largest citadel built by the Spanish in the New World. The old city is now part of a National Historic Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The striking Raices Fountain in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.

FAQ About Puerto Rico

Is Puerto Rico a U.S. territory?

Yes. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory—it’s been a territory of the United States since 1898, since it was ceded to the U. S. by Spain in the Treaty of Paris. And since 1917, Puerto Ricans have been citizens of the U.S., able to travel freely within the U.S.

Why is Puerto Rico a U.S. territory?

About the size of Connecticut, Puerto Rico was first settled by the Spanish in the 1500s. After the Spanish/American War, the island was given to the United States by Spain in the 1898 Treaty of Paris, thus making Puerto Rico a U.S. territory.

When did Puerto Rico become a territory?

Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory in 1898 after it was ceded to the United States by Spain.

Inside Camuy Cave in Puerto Rico.

10 Fun Facts About Puerto Rico

All righty! Who hasn’t heard the song Despacito by Puerto Rican artists Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee? I bet you have! It’s been a worldwide mega hit that has put my little island on the map.

With that being said, I’m pretty excited to share with you 10 fun facts about Puerto Rico.

When you think of Puerto Rico you think of sandy white beaches and blue turquoise water..

1. First fun fact about Puerto Rico we have a beach with black sand! It’s called Playa Negra. Yes, Black Beach! The black sand is caused by mixture of sedimentary rocks and the shifting of the tectonic plates that formed the island so many millions of years ago.

2. Monica Puig is Puerto Rico’s first Olympic Gold Medalist. Yes, although Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth of the United States, it can still send their athletes to represent us in the Olympics. (Psst: Have you seen these fun-tastic Olympics themed Printable Passports?)

Can’t contain my excitement! Wepa boricua! #picapower #boricuapride She was the underdog! Ranking 33 in the finals…. and she just won a gold medal for Puerto Rico! ?????????????????????? . . . . . . . . #mkbkids #puertorico #goldmedal #boricua #wepa #monicapuig #ganamoslamedalladeoro #firstgoldmedalpuertorico #proud #picapower
A post shared by Frances|Latina Blogger|Writer (@discoveringtheworld.frances) on Aug 13, 2016 at 5:44pm PDT

3. Unlike the United States where English is the de facto language, Puerto Rico has two official languages Spanish and English. People born in Puerto Rico are also U.S. citizens. However, Puerto Ricans can’t vote for the President of the United States.

In less than 3 hours Puerto Rico ?? will play against the United States ?? in the World ? Baseball ⚾️ Classic 2017′ . . This is the F-I-N-A-L-S mi gente! . ???????? The U.S. and undefeated P.R. will both be looking to win their first Classic title! . . My heart is torn but I will be rooting for the #bleachboys #teamrubio as many #boricuas across the world will be doing tonight as well. ???????? . This will be a show stopper, heart racing, and emotional game! . . Wepa! ¡Viva Puerto Rico! Soy Boricua ?? aunque naciera en la luna! ? . . #wbc2017 #yosoyboricua #losnuestros
A post shared by Frances|Latina Blogger|Writer (@discoveringtheworld.frances) on Mar 22, 2017 at 3:44pm PDT

4. The largest telescope in the world is located in Puerto Rico. It is used to look at asteroids in space, and determine if ever any get too close to the Earth’s surface.

Ground control to major Tom #arecibotelescope #childhooddream
A post shared by Matt Valoatto (@mvaloatto) on Aug 31, 2014 at 4:03pm PDT

5. Puerto Rico has a line-up of life-like bronze statues that are aligned across the Capitol building: Walkway of the Presidents. The Walkway of the Presidents is a homage to all of the presidents that have ever visited Puerto Rico.

The Walkway of US Presidents that have visited Puerto Rico since its citizens became recognized as US citizens in 1917 #paseodelospresidentes?? #sanjuan #history #capitalcity #vacation #puertorico #Berniewasheretodaytoo?
A post shared by tonyaarchie (@nacaegabbadah2447) on May 16, 2016 at 4:29pm PDT

6. You can explore 100’s of caves in Las Cavernas de Camuy . It is the 3rd largest underground cave system in the world and the Rio Camuy runs through it. It is also home to 13 species of bats, and hundreds of other insect, arachnid and frog species.

Some shots from in and around the caves #cavernasdecamuy #cavehiking
A post shared by Pablo Iván McConnie-Saad (@pabloivan215) on Aug 5, 2017 at 2:35pm PDT

7. Americans do not need a passport to visit Puerto Rico. This beautiful island is part of the United States and as such a commonwealth. There’s no passport or visa requirement for U.S. citizens. Basically traveling to Puerto Rico is considered a domestic flight.

Our US Passports arrived today!!! #uspassport
A post shared by Vivathana Phaphouampheng (@viva_mouse4life) on Jan 31, 2017 at 12:35am PST

8. El coquí is a tiny tree frog named after the loud sound that it makes; it is also the “unofficial mascot” of Puerto Rico. Check out these children’s book about Puerto Rico’s beloved coquí: here, here and here.

Puerto Rico: Beautiful sounds of our island ??? * El Coquí will SING again * Coquí is the common name for several species of small frogs in the Eleutherodactylus genus that are native to Puerto Rico. They are onomatopoeically named for the very loud mating call which the males of two species, the common coquí and the mountain coquí, make at night. The coquí is one of the most common frogs in Puerto Rico with more than 16 different species found within its territory, including 13 in the El Yunque National Forest. ~Wikipedia
A post shared by Lornalitz Baez (@lornalitz) on Sep 24, 2017 at 12:12am PDT

9. Puerto Rico is home to the one of the most important archaeological site in the Caribbean of the Igneri, pre-Taíno and Taíno cultures of ancient Puerto Rico at the Tibes Indian Ceremonial Center. You can explore more about the Taíno petroglyph here.

During our stay in Puerto Rico we were super excited to visit the Tibes Indian Ceremonial Center in Ponce. We had been learning and studying about the Taínos and to actually walk through the bateys, plazas and see an actual petroglyph was the highlight of our trip! The Tibes Indian Ceremonial Center is the most important archaeological site in the Caribbean of the Igneri, pre-Taíno and Taíno cultures of ancient Puerto Rico. #mkbkids #puertorico #ponce #taino #igneri
A post shared by Frances|Latina Blogger|Writer (@discoveringtheworld.frances) on Jan 30, 2016 at 6:20pm PST

10. The piña colada is the official drink of Puerto Rico. Get your kid-friendly piña colada recipe here. You can read more about Puerto Rican Food and Culture here.

*English version below* ¡La piña colada es la bebida perfecta para estos días calurosos! ¿Sueñas con estar en la playa? Bueno, imagínate en la playa bajo la sombra de una palma con una copa de ésta refrescante y deliciosa bebida. Si no estás en la playa nada cuesta con soñar ¿no? Jajajajaja Receta disponible en el blog. Ve a mi perfil bajo “Instagram Featured Post” para obtenerla. ¿Cuál es tu bebida favorita para el verano? Déjame saber en los comentarios y comparte tu foto usando el hashtag #SoyMamaLatina Piña colada is the perfect beverage for these hot days! Do you dream of being at the beach? Now imagine you’re at the beach relaxing under the shade of a palm tree with a glass of this refreshing and delish drink. If you’re not at the beach right now, it won’t hurt to dream right? Hahahahaha Recipe on the blog. Click on the link on my profile under “Instagram Featured Post.” What’s your favorite summer drink or beverage? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #piñacolada #summerdrink #verano #summer #foodphotography #foodlife #nomnom #delish #instafood #instaeat #instayummy #eat #yum #delicious #delicioso #riquisimo #bebidarica #buenprovecho #latinamom #latinablogger #kbnmoms #momsoninstagram #kidbloggerofig #mamasblogueras #puertorico #MKBkids
A post shared by Frances|Latina Blogger|Writer (@discoveringtheworld.frances) on Jun 23, 2017 at 8:29am PDT

If you’d like to learn more about Puerto Rico’s landmarks snag your free printable here.

As I am finalizing this post, I can’t help but get emotional. I am on the verge of tears. On September 20, 2017 Puerto Rico was struck by Hurricane Maria. Hurricane Maria has become Puerto Rico’s strongest storm in 85 years I’m not sure if any of the landmarks that I write about in this post are still there.

However, I can say that the resilience and strength of Puerto Ricans is present, and amidst the chaos ensued by this hurricane we will continue to smile and rebuild our beautiful island.

If you find it in your heart to help Puerto Rico here’s how you can help.

We are so excited for our sixth annual Hispanic Heritage Month series and giveaway! Through the month (September 15 – October 15), you’ll find great resources to share Hispanic Heritage with kids, plus you can enter to win in our great giveaway and link up your own posts on Hispanic Heritage!

September 15
Embracing Diversity on Multicultural Kid Blogs: 10 Fun Facts About Dominican Republic

September 18
Spanish Mama: Nazca Lines – Exploratory Art Project

September 19
Hispanic Mama: Fun Ways to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Your Children

September 20
Inspired by Family: 16 Great Children’s Books About South America

September 21
Spanish Mama: Folk Songs in Spanish

September 25
Spanish Playground: Food from Latin America Infographic Picture Cards Activities

September 26
All Done Monkey: 60+ Hispanic Heritage Month Recipes to Try with Kids

September 27
Discovering the World Through My Son’s Eyes: Hispanic Inspired Crafts for Kids

September 28
Kid World Citizen: 35+ Best Resources and Activities to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

September 29
Pura Vida Moms on Multicultural Kid Blogs: Costa Rican Food – 9 Favorite Recipes

October 2
Discovering the World Through My Son’s Eyes on Multicultural Kid Blogs: 10 Fun Facts About Puerto Rico

October 5
Spanglish House

October 6
Mama Tortuga

October 12
Tiny Tapping Toes

Don’t miss all of the great posts from previous years as well: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

Hispanic Heritage Month Giveaway!

Giveaway begins September 15 and goes through October 15, 2017. Enter below for a chance to win one of these amazing prize packages! Some prizes have shipping restrictions. In the event that a winner lives outside the designated shipping area, that prize will then become part of the following prize package. For more information, read our full giveaway rules.

Grand Prize

From Mariana Iranzi: A digital copy of her new CD Primavera
From Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer: A print copy of Cántale a tu bebé with music download – US Shipping Only
From 123 Andrés: A copy of the CD Arriba Abajo (digital copy if outside the US)
From Spanish Playground: Set of books, crafts, and toys from Latin America – US Shipping Only
From Carole P. Roman: Set of If You Were Me and Lived In… books on Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Peru, Portugal, and the Mayan Empire – US Shipping Only
From Mister G: A copy of the new CD Mundo Verde/Green World (digital copy if outside the US)
From World Music with Daria: Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Musical Craft and Coloring E-Book
From Gus on the Go: Spanish Alphabet Print (US Shipping Only) & single-use promo code for Spanish for kids language app
From Lectura Para Niños: A set of printable little readers, one for each letter of the Spanish alphabet. Designed to last the entire school year, with one new book each week plus several review weeks included throughout the set

1st Prize

From Mariana Iranzi: A digital copy of her new CD Primavera
From Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer: A print copy of Cántale a tu bebé with music download – US Shipping Only
From 123 Andrés: A copy of the CD Arriba Abajo (digital copy if outside the US)
From Spanish Playground: Set of books, crafts, and toys from Latin America – US Shipping Only
From Carole P. Roman: Set of If You Were Me and Lived In… books on Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Peru, Portugal, and the Mayan Empire – US Shipping Only
From Mister G: A copy of the new CD Mundo Verde/Green World (digital copy if outside the US)
From World Music with Daria: Set of maracas and a Spanish fan – US Shipping Only
From Gus on the Go: Spanish Alphabet Print (US Shipping Only) & single-use promo code for Spanish for kids language app

2nd Prize

From Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer: A print copy of Cántale a tu bebé with music download – US Shipping Only
From 123 Andrés: A copy of the CD Uno, Dos, Tres, Andrés! (digital copy if outside the US)
From Spanish Playground: Set of books, crafts, and toys from Latin America – US Shipping Only
From Carole P. Roman: Set of If You Were Me and Lived In… books on Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Peru, Portugal, and the Mayan Empire – US Shipping Only
From Mister G: A copy of the new CD Mundo Verde/Green World (digital copy if outside the US)
From Lee and Low Books: Martí’s Song for Freedom/Martí y sus versos por la libertad; Rainbow Weaver/Tejedora del arcoíris; Mamá the Alien/Mamá la extraterreste; Marisol McDonald and the Monster/Marisol McDonald y el monstruo – US Shipping Only

3rd Prize

From Carole P. Roman: Set of If You Were Me and Lived In… books on Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Peru, Portugal, and the Mayan Empire – US Shipping Only
From Mister G: A copy of the new CD Mundo Verde/Green World (digital copy if outside the US)
From Sarah Aroeste: A copy of the new Ladino/English bilingual picture book Ora de Despertar/Time to Wake Up – US Shipping Only
From Arte Público Press: Picture books Esteban de Luna, Baby Rescuer! / Esteban de Luna, ¡rescatador de bebés!, The Little Doctor / El doctorcito, Dalia’s Wondrous Hair / El cabello maravilloso de Dalia, Grandma’s Chocolate / El chocolate de Abuelita, I Kick the Ball / Pateo el balón, Level Up / Paso de nivel, A Surprise for Teresita / Una sorpresa para Teresita – US Shipping Only

Bonus Prizes

We are giving away an extra copy of the CD Mundo Verde/Green World from Mister G (US Shipping Only) and up to 10 digital downloads of this brand new album: Watch a video of the title track!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

An InLinkz Link-up

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Bio
Latest Posts

Frances Díaz Evans is a Latina Author, Educator, Multicultural and Language Advocate. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of the East in Puerto Rico and a master’s degree in Spanish education from the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina.

She is the founder and writer of the multicultural, bilingual parenting website, Discovering the World Through My Son’s Eyes and Discovering Español (Discovering Spanish), a business dedicated to teaching Spanish online.

She can be found musing on her blog, Facebook and her favorite social media platform Instagram.

Interesting Costa Rica Facts You Need to Know

If you’ve just bought your flight ticket to Costa Rica, don’t forget to read some important facts about Costa Rica. It’s always good to know the basics about the country you’re visiting, especially since there are many common misconceptions about Costa Rica.

Here are some important things to know about Costa Rica and interesting facts about the country before you fly there.

This post was updated in 2018.

Facts about Costa Rica

Costa Rica is in the Americas
This is one of the most common questions: Where is Costa Rica?

Costa Rica is not an island, but part of the American continent. It is located in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. Costa Rica is not part of Puerto Rico and is not a territory of the United States. It is its own country, having declared independence from Spain on September 15, 1821.

“Costa Rica” means rich coast in Spanish
Christopher Columbus called it that when he saw the beauty of the country.

Costa Rica is slightly smaller than the Dominican Republic and about the same size as West Virginia.
This is 51,100 sq. km (19,653 sq mi) of land, 50,660 sq. km (19,559 sq mi) of water. Costa Rica is slightly larger than Denmark.

The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish.
The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish. Many Costa Ricans are bilingual, as most of them work in tourism or customer service. English and French are offered for study from elementary school.

The capital of Costa Rica is San José
It was one of the first cities in the world to have electricity.

The current population of Costa Rica is about 5 million
There are also many foreigners who do not live here permanently.

Government of Costa Rica – Democratic Party
Costa Rica abolished its army in 1948 after the civil war. Since then, they have not had an army, so all the money goes to health care and education.

The current president since April 2018 is Carlos Alvarado
He won the presidential election on 1 April 2018. Costa Rica will elect the next president in 2022. Presidents in Costa Rica cannot run twice in a row.

Roman Catholicism and Christianity are the predominant religions

The official currency of Costa Rica is the Colón.

Costa Rica UTC-6
Costa Rica does not participate in daylight saving time. The sun rises around 6am and sets around 6pm every day.

Country Code Costa Rica +506
This is a country code, Costa Rica has no area codes.

Costa Rican nicknames are “Tiko” and “Tika”
The nickname is said to come from the fact that Costa Ricans tend to use “ito” or “ita” (meaning small) at the end of adjectives. For example, perrito (small dog), cosita (name of a cute pet), poquitito (small piece), gordito (a little fat).

Costa Rica has seven provinces
Costa Rica has seven provinces. These are San José, Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago, Guanacaste, Puntarenas and Lemon. There are 81 cantons and 473 districts in these seven provinces.

Latitude and longitude of Costa Rica – from 8 to 12 N, from 82 to 86 W
It is very close to the equator, so hot tropical weather is here all year round. However, Costa Rica has about 26 microclimates, so you can find cool weather (around 60°F or 16°C) in the highlands and mountains. You can learn more about the weather in Costa Rica here.

Costa Rica has a universal health care system
The country has an excellent health care system providing universal government services. There are also private medical facilities.

The average monthly salary is about 800 US dollars per month
In Costa Rica, salaries are paid once a month.

Costa Rica occupies about 5% of the world’s biodiversity
And makes up .25% of the earth’s mass in the world!

25% of the country’s territory is protected
Costa Rica has 26 national parks, 10 biological reserves, 61 reserves, 31 protected areas.

Costa Rica has 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Natural sites are Cocos Island, Guanacaste Conservatory Square and La Amistad International Park. Cultural object – Diki stone spheres.

Highest point – Cerro Chirripo at 3,810 m (12,500 ft)
Mount Chirripo is also a national park and many people go to the top.

The highest active volcano Irazu
Irazu volcano is active. Also in Costa Rica there are other active volcanoes: Arenal, Poas and Turrialba.

Lake Arenal is the largest lake in Costa Rica, and it is artificial
Actually, there are not many lakes in Costa Rica.

The main crops in Costa Rica are bananas, coffee, sugarcane, rice, pineapples and beef
Although the amount of coffee exported is not as large as in other countries, Costa Rica produces some of the highest quality coffees in the world.

Technology services are very strong in Costa Rica
Many international companies such as Amazon, Dell and others have their customer service headquarters in Costa Rica. Many Costa Ricans who live in the city work in the customer service industry. Companies choose Costa Rica because Costa Ricans are said to speak good English (with a slight accent) and their salaries are much lower than in the US/Canada.

In Costa Rica, you can sell alcohol from the age of 18.
18 is also the age when they can get a driver’s license.

Gambling and prostitution are legal in Costa Rica
This is one of the reasons why Costa Rica is so popular and why many Americans started traveling there decades ago. Many gambling companies have also opened their branches here.

Costa Rica became the first country in the Americas to ban recreational hunting in 2012
Only indigenous communities have legal hunting permits.

The country is a leader in renewable energy and used only renewable energy for more than 300 days in 2017.
The Costa Rican government wants to be one of the first countries to ban single-use plastics.

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Powerful Hurricane Fiona recently hit Puerto Rico and the eastern Dominican Republic

September 23, 2022 September 26, 2022 / 🧐 Interesting Facts / From
Gleb Perov

/ Wind, Rain, earthquake, downpour, Flood 🌊, Speed, hurricane, cyclone, storm

The current season of tropical storms in the Atlantic has been fairly calm despite all forecasts. There were no hurricanes in the region until the end of the summer. However, nature slowly decided to correct the situation. Tropical Storm Fiona formed last week and caused damage to many populated areas. The force of the elements was felt by the inhabitants of Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, as well as small neighboring islands. Unfortunately, information about new destruction and human casualties continues to appear. Hurricane Fiona, which has received the fourth category of power, should soon reach Bermuda.

1. Tropical storm causes.

Why did such a powerful hurricane appear? As you know, different types of precipitation occur on Earth, which differ in form, place of origin, strength and possible consequences. One of the most dangerous natural phenomena is considered a tropical storm. His actions are often truly destructive. Tropical hurricanes appear in tropical latitudes due to the peculiarities of atmospheric air movement. Receiving the energy of condensation, they are accompanied by strong winds and torrential downpours with thunderstorms. And heading for the coast, a tropical storm often brings huge waves and flooding. The consequences of such an element directly depend on the level of its energy. According to the well-known Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale, five categories of tropical cyclones are distinguished. This classification allows you to determine the extent of the elements, as well as assess the possible consequences for the inhabitants of the coast. For example, to fall into the latter category, the maximum wind speed must exceed 252 kilometers per hour. Hurricane Fiona has been upgraded to Category 4. Employees of the US Hurricane Watch Center found that the wind during the storm reached speeds of up to 210 kilometers per hour.

2. Which populated areas were affected?

On Sunday, September 18, powerful Hurricane Fiona hit the people of Puerto Rico. Local authorities immediately declared a state of emergency in the country. The gusts of wind were so strong that their speed sometimes exceeded 80 kilometers per hour. Then the Dominican Republic was hit by Hurricane Fiona. The main threat was carried by strong gusts of wind and a huge amount of precipitation. They in turn lead to flooding and landslides. The speed of wind gusts here exceeded 140 kilometers per hour. More than eight hundred residents of high-risk regions were urgently evacuated to safe areas. Mostly from rural communities that are located near mountain gorges and rivers. The largest amount of precipitation fell in the east of the Dominican Republic. The population was strictly advised not to leave their homes and in no case go to the beaches. A couple of days later, Hurricane Fiona reached the Turks and Caicos Islands. Fortunately, the tropical storm has weakened slightly, calming down to Category 3. The leadership urged residents of this British Overseas Territory to adhere to the curfew and leave regions that are prone to flooding. Meteorological officials warned that the sea level could rise by one and a half meters.

Hurricane Fiona has already left the territory of the Dominican Republic and returned home to the Atlantic Ocean. Further, his route is directed to the north. The tropical storm is expected to gradually gain strength and reach the coast of the Bahamas soon. Residents of Bermuda should be extremely careful, because by this time the hurricane can regain the fourth category of power. There is a possibility that “Fiona” will subsequently approach even the eastern region of Nova Scotia. True, the storm will still calm down and turn into a post-tropical one. Residents of the Canadian provinces should seriously prepare for the impending disaster. Local emergency services advise trimming tree branches near houses, securing items outdoors, preparing a “panic bag” and charging mobile phones. Shelters, as well as social centers will be ready to receive all those in need.

3. Aftermath of Hurricane Fiona.

Puerto Rico was hit the hardest by the storm. More than one million inhabitants of the free state were left without electricity. It was noted that the solution of the problem could drag on for weeks. On the first day, service workers managed to return power to only eighty-three thousand people. The Dominican Republic experienced a similar situation, but on a smaller scale. The hurricane de-energized the homes of eleven and a half thousand local residents. Half of the regions of the Dominican Republic have introduced a red alert level. Fortunately, the Turks and Caicos Islands were spared major damage. More than a hundred people were evacuated to special shelters, but there were no serious injuries or casualties.

Authorities in affected countries say it is too early to fully assess the devastating effects of the storm. However, the governor of Puerto Rico managed to call the damage catastrophic. And national meteorological service officials note that the level of flooding has exceeded “historic levels”. The elements still have not calmed down, the evacuation and rescue of people do not stop. Indeed, according to forecasts, even after the end of the tropical storm, heavy rain will continue for a long time.

4. Hurricane Fiona victims.

The first victim of Hurricane Fiona was a 68-year-old resident of the Dominican province of Maria Trinidad Sanchez.