Puerto Rico October 1989. The island of Puerto Rico, lying east-west, is
slightly more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) long, and the average north-south
width is about 35 miles (56 kilometers). More than three-fourths of Puerto
Rico's land area consists of mountains and hills. The main chain of mountains
running lengthwise is called the Cordillera Central in the west and the
Sierra de Cayey in the east. Average land elevations are about 3000 feet
(900 meters) above sea level, with the highest peak, Cerro de Punta at 4389
feet (1338 meters), located near the center of the photograph. The remainder
of the island consists of lowlands and coastal plains. The two major cities
of San Juan (estimated population 500 000) and Ponce (estimated population
200 000) are visible in the photograph. San Juan, the capital, is a port
city on the north side of the island toward the eastern end, and Ponce is
the major port city on the south side near the middle of the island. Note
the sediment runoff from Puerto Rico that is occurring one month after the
passage of Hurricane Hugo. The turbid plumes are from freshwater runoff,
especially along the northern coast.
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