Culebra NWR (Culebra)
The refuge has diverse habitats including sub-tropical dry forests, mangroves, brush, grasslands and 22 small islands. The small rocky cays serve as temporary home to 13 species of nesting seabirds. The larger cays consist of sub-tropical dry forest habitats. The largest refuge seabird colony is on Peninsula Flamenco where 60, 000 Sooty Terns nest. The Mt.
Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge (Boquer*n)
Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge The island of Desecheo is located 14 miles west of Puerto Rico and is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the north and the Caribbean Sea on the south. The refuge encompasses the entire rugged island. From 1940 to 1952 the island was used as a practice target for aerial bombardment by the US War Department and from 1952 to 1960 Desecheo was used as a survival training area for the U.S. Air Force.
Vieques National Wildlife Refuge (Vieques)
The refuge contains several ecologically distinct habitats including; beaches, coastal lagoons, mangrove wetlands, and upland forested areas. Some of excellent examples of sub-tropical dry forest in the Caribbean can be found on refuge lands. The marine environment surrounding the refuge contains coral reefs and sea grass beds.
Caribbean National Forest (Rio Grande)
The Caribbean National Forest, is located in the Sierra de Luquillo Mountains, approximately 25 miles northeast of the San Juan metro area. It encompasses over 28, 000 acres of land (I 1, 500 hectares), making it the largest block of public land in the Island of Puerto Rico. CNF, locally known as El Yunque, is one of the most popular recreation sites in Puerto Rico. Almost a million tourists, from Puerto Rico, the US mainland, and abroad experience this tropical rain forest environment each year.
Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge (Boquer*n)
Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge Cabo Rojo NWR, on the southwestern side of Puerto Rico, was established in 1974 when 587 of land were obtained from the Cental Intelligence Agency as an upland buffer for the Cabo Rojo Salt Flats (a potential Western Hemisphere Shorebird reserve) and its potential value as habitat for migratory birds. The 1249 acre Cabo Rojo Salt Flats, previously under private ownership were purchased and added to the refuge in1999 for a total of 1, 836 acres.
Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge (Boquer*n)
Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge The present lagoon is a remnant of what was once a large open expanse of water and one of the most important freshwater habitats for migratin waterfowl and aquatic birds in Puerto Rico. Due to agricultural practices, about 90 percent of the lagoon is covered with cattail. Intensive cattle grazing and sugar cane production have greatly altered the original landscape.
San Juan National Historic Site (San Juan)
An island on the periphery of the "New World" empire, Puerto Rico served as a Spanish fortress designed to protect Spain's American holdings. San Juan National Historic Site, includes forts, bastions, powder houses, wall and El Ca*uelo Fort, also called San Juan de la Cruz?defensive fortifications that once surrounded the old, colonial portion of San Juan, Puerto Rico. El Ca*uelo Fort is located at Isla de Cabras at the western end of the entrance to San Juan Bay.
Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (Aguirre)
The Jobos Bay Reserve is the second largest estuarine area in Puerto Rico. It encompasses a chain of 15 tear shape mangrove islets known as Cayos Caribe and the Mar Negro area in western Jobos Bay. The Cayos Caribe islets are fringed by coral reefs and seagrass beds, with small beach deposits and upland area. The Mar Negro area consists of mangrove forest and complex systems of lagoons and channels interspersed with salt and mud flats.