/Puerto_Rico

The United States Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is considering a 1998 referendum on whether to become the 51st state, become an independent nation, or retain current status as a U.S. Commonwealth.

Currently, the island's 3.7 million residents are American citizens but do not pay federal taxes and cannot vote in general presidential elections. The Spanish-speaking island was colonized by Spain after its 15th century "discovery" by Christopher Columbus. The island became a U.S. possession in 1898 after the Spanish-American War.

San Juan, the capital, is steeped in history. Restoration of Old San Juan has created one of the most enchanting places anywhere in the Caribbean. The city was founded in 1521 by the island's first governor, Juan Ponce de Leon, the Spanish explorer who sought the fabled Fountain of Youth and found Florida instead.

Head for Puerto Rico if you seek world-class resort hotels, Grade A gourmet and gourmand gastronomy, a lush rain forest, wonderful beaches and baroque Moorish-Spanish architecture. As in Havana, the harbour is dominated by an ancient fort called El Morro, rising 140 feet above the Atlantic Ocean.

For the nature lover, Puerto Rico offers El Yunque, only tropical rain forest in the U.S. National Park system. This 28,000 acre national forest has 240 different species of tropical trees, flowers and plants. There are many trails and waterfalls and also the 3,523-foot Pico El Toro--Bull Peak in English.

There is all of the above, plus shopping, dining, night life, sports and beachcombing par excellence.

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