Portal:Puerto Rico/Did you know entries/32

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Young girl eating a "piragua" in Puerto Rico
  • ... that the zip code 00601 is the lowest assigned to any geographic place in the United States or its territories and belongs to Adjuntas, Puerto Rico?[1]
  • ... that Puerto Rico's Tren Urbano is the Caribbean's first rapid transit system
  • ... that the Plaza Las Américas mall in San Juan is the most profitable mall per square foot in the world?[2]
  • ... that the biggest J. C. Penney in the world is located in Plaza Las Américas mall in Puerto Rico?[2]
  • ... that the world's first known Walk-A-Thon took place in Puerto Rico in 1953, and that it was organized by Puerto Rican comedian Ramón "Diplo" Rivero? "Diplo" walked 80 miles from the capital city of San Juan, crossing Puerto Rico up and down the treacherous mountain roads of Cayey, known as "La Piquiña", to Ponce, on the other side of the island, to raise money for the Liga Puertorriqueña Contra el Cáncer (the Puerto Rican League Against Cancer).[3]
  • ... that the Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center is the oldest Antillean Indian ceremonial and sports complex yet uncovered in Puerto Rico? Within its boundaries is also the largest indigenous cemetery yet discovered – consisting of 186 human skeletons, most from the Igneri and the rest from the pre-Taino cultures.[4] Based on the orientation of the ceremonial plazas, this is also believed to be the oldest astronomical observatory in the Antilles.[5]
  • ... that the Bomba is a music, rhythm and dance that was brought by West African slaves to the island of Puerto Rico.[6] and that the Plena was brought to Ponce by blacks who immigrated north from the English-speaking islands south of Puerto Rico?
  • ... that J. C. Penney's, Home Depot's, Kmart's, Sears' and Macy's highest sales per square foot are all in Puerto Rico?[7]
  • ... that the word Piragua (pi·ra·güa) in most Spanish-speaking countries means pirogue, a small, flat-bottomed boat?[8] However, that in Puerto Rico the word piragua refers to a frozen treat made of shaved ice and covered with fruit flavored syrup? The piragua is pointy and shaped like a pyramid. The word piragua is derived from the combination of the Spanish words "pirámide" (pyramid) and "agua" (water).[9] In Latin America, frozen treats similar to the piragua are known by many different names.[10]
  • ... that the holder of the current Guinness Record for the World's Smallest Jet, the Bede BD-5J Microjet is a native of Puerto Rico?[11]
  1. ^ "Valley of the Sleeping Giant". National Geographic.
  2. ^ a b Plaza Las Americas[dead link]
  3. ^ Walkathon Guide, a blog about organizing walkathons
  4. ^ Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center. Let's Go to Ponce: Insider's Guide to South Puerto Rico. Oldest Antillean ceremonial and sports complex. Also largest indigenous cemetery yet discovered. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
  5. ^ Knowing Our Roots: Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center (Esbozo histórico). By Archeologist Luis Á. Rodríguez Gracia. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
  6. ^ Music of Puerto Rico[dead link], Retrieved July 20, 2007
  7. ^ International Council of Shopping Centers. Shopping Centers Today. December 2005.[dead link] Accessed 22 February 2011.
  8. ^ [1] Setting sail, Retrieved June 19, 2008
  9. ^ "Luisito and the Piragua", Page 12, Author: Toro, Leonor, Publisher: New Haven Migratory Children's Program, Hamden-New Haven Cooperative Education Center; ERIC #: ED209026; Retrieved July 14, 2008
  10. ^ Puerto Rico Herald
  11. ^ Guinness Book of World Records - World's Smallest Jet