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Essay on San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan (Puerto Rico) is the capital of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, on the Atlantic Ocean, in the northeastern part of the commonwealth. It is the largest city and principal seaport, as well as the main manufacturing, financial, cultural, and tourist center of Puerto Rico. Since World War II, San Juan's economy has grown rapidly. Major manufactures include chemicals, pharmaceuticals, rum and other beverages, fertilizer, machine tools, electronic equipment, plastic goods, textiles, clothing, and food products. San Juan has excellent transportation facilities. A network of highways connects the city to the rest of the island, and a busy airport nearby Isla Verde and San Juan's modern port facilities provide connections to international points.
The historical heart of the city, referred to as Old San Juan, lies on a small island connected to the mainland by bridges and a causeway. Narrow, crooked streets and a number of buildings dating from the 16th and 17th centuries characterize it. The oldest part remains partly enclosed by massive walls and contains several notable forts, such as El Morro (begun 1539) and San Cristóbal (17th century), both part of San Juan National Historic Site, and La Fortaleza (begun 1533), which now serves as the governor's mansion. Also on the island is the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista (begun 1520s), a Gothic structure that contains the tomb of the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León. On the mainland just east of Old San Juan is the section known as Condado Beach. High-rise luxury hotels and condominiums prevail in this area, which is the main focus of tourist activity in the city.
To the south are two separate business districts, Santurce and Hato Rey, both encompassing tall office buildings. Farther south is the residential area of Río Piedras, which contains the main campus of the University of Puerto Rico, founded in 1903. Also in the San Juan area are the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico.....
