Ages 9 to 14 years. The island of Puerto Rico or "rich port" has long been known as a centre of trade and commerce in the Caribbean. It is also a small island with great physical and social diversity. This book is full of beautifully photographed images of the island's mountain ranges, forests, and desert. Clearly written text will explain Puerto Rico's special status as a Commonwealth. Topics include: how the island of Puerto Rico was formed; the Caribbean National Forest -- the island's largest nature reserve and the only rainforest in the U.S. National Forest system; the phosphorescent bays where billions of microscopic marine creatures, called dinoflagellates, flash and glow with circles and shooting shafts of blue light when the water they live in is disturbed; coral reefs; the arrival of Puerto Ricans in America; the city of San Juan; the old fortifications of El Morro and San Cristobal.