8 A GAZETTEER OF PORTO RICO. [bull. 183. 
to west of about 100 miles and a breadth of about 35 miles. Its coast 
line is simple, with few good harbors, that of San Juan, the capital, 
on the north coast, being the best. The island is traversed through its 
length by a range of hills, which, starting at the northwest corner, 
swings in a broad curve southeast, then east, and finally northeast to 
the northeast corner. This range forms the main watershed of the 
island, and throughout most of its extent lies south of the middle of 
the island, giving longer courses, gentler slopes, and greater drainage 
basins to the northward-flowing streams, those flowing south having 
steep descents and short courses. These hills range in height from 
2,000 feet in the gaps to 3,800 feet on the highest summits, the most ele- 
vated point in the island being El Yunque, at the northeast extremity 
of the range. These hills have considerable breadth, and within them 
the streams have cut deep valleys, giving to most of the island a steep, 
hilly surface. The coasts are in most parts bordered by broad extents 
of low, level lands. 
None of the streams are navigable except for a mile or two near 
their mouths, where the} 7 are, in effect, estuaries. 
Most of the area of Porto Rico has for centuries been divided into 
farms, and more than one-fifth of the island is under cultivation; 
hence the forested areas are few and small and of little importance. 
Timber is very scarce and most of that used in building is imported. 
Lying within the Tropics, Porto Rico is within the region of the 
northeast trade winds. The annual temperature at San Juan, on the 
north coast, ranges from 78° to 82°. The range of monthly tempera- 
ture is from 75° in January to 82° in August, while the maximum 
temperature on record is 99° and the minimum is 57°, indicating a 
very uniform climate. On the hills of the interior the temperature is, 
of course, lower. The annual rainfall at San Juan is 60 inches, and 
on the northeast coast is greater, reaching 100 inches, while in the 
southern part of the island it is much less, so much so that in some 
localities irrigation is necessary for the cultivation of crops. 
Porto Rico is divided, for governmental purposes, into 7 depart- 
ments and 69 municipal districts or terminos municipales. These in 
turn are subdivided into barrios. 
Discovered by Columbus in 1493 and visited frequently in succeed- 
ing years, the island was not colonized by the Spaniards until 1509, when 
San Juan, at first called Caprera and later Puerto Rico, was founded 
and possession was taken of the entire island. In 1597 it was captured 
by the English, who, however, soon withdrew, and from that time 
until possession was taken by this country in 1898 Spain has held the 
island, although several attempts have been made upon it by the 
forces of various countries. During all this period Porto Rico has 
been free from internal dissensions, such as have repeatedly wasted 
the neighboring island of Cuba. 
