PORTO RICO* 



By Robert T. Hill, 

 United Stales Geological Survey 



CONFIGURATION AND GEOLOGY 



Porto Rico is the most eastern and the smallest of the Great 

 Antilles, being 500 square miles less in area than Jamaica. It 

 is 95 miles long, 35 miles wide, and has an area of 3,668 square 

 miles. t The coast-line is about 360 miles in length. Its area is 

 300 square miles greater than that of Delaware, Rhode Island, 

 ami the District of Columbia combined, and 300 square miles 

 less than that of Connecticut. At the same time, it is the most 

 productive in proportion to area, the most densely settled, and 

 the most established in its customs and institutions. It is also 

 notable among the West Indian group for the reason that its 

 preponderant population is of the white race, and that it pro- 

 duces foodstuffs almost sufficient to supply its inhabitants as 

 well as some of the neighboring islands. 



MOUNTAIN SCENERY NEAR LARES 



* Published by permission of the Chief of the Division of Forestry of the Depart- 

 iii' in "i Agriculture and the Director of the Geological survey, under whose auspices 

 the researches upon which this article is based were made. 



t The area of the island '-mm nut be stated exactly. Some authorities give slightly dif- 

 ferent figures from the above. 



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