Caguas – A City Surrounded by Natural Beauty
When Caguas was first founded in 1775, it was called San Sebastián del Piñal de Caguax after Caguax, a local Indian chief. Today, Caguas is referred to by a number of names, which includes La Ciudad Del Turabo (Turabo city), El Corazón de boriquén (Boriquén's heart) and La Ciudad Criolla (Criole city). Caguas has a population of about 140, 500 people.
Caguas is situated in the central mountainous region of Puerto Rico. The city takes up an area of 115 square kilometers or 58.6 square miles. There are a number of cities located near Caguas. South of Caguas you can find Trujillo Alto and San Juan; west of the city is Cayey, Aguas Buenas and Cidra; and east of the city is San Lorenzo and Gurabo.
The city of Caguas is sustained through a number of economic activities, including tobacco processing, the production of plastic and glass products, diamond cutting, the manufacturing of leather goods, clothes, bedding, and the production of electronic equipment. Caguas is broken into eleven districts called Bairoa, San Salvador, Turabo, Beatriz, Cañaboncito, Río Cañas, Borinquen, Cañabón, Tomás de Castro, Pueblo and San Antonio.
There are several rivers that run through Caguas. These rivers include Turabo, Bairoa, Cañabonsito, Cagüitas, Grande de Loíza and Cañas. These rivers contribute to the 0.40 square miles of water found in Caguas.
Caguas has many sights and attractions located within its borders for visitors to explore. Carite Forest Reserve is known as a great birding area with fifty different species of birds inhabiting the forests. The Carite Forest Reserve takes up an area of 6,000 acres and has several mountains in its vicinity. The highest mountain is Cerro La Santa, which stands at 3,000 feet, provides a spectacular view of the Caribbean Sea and Ponce – the second largest city in Puerto Rico.
Sotomayor del Toro Reserve is only 63 acres in size, but it includes an important strip of virgin tropical forests. The forest is home to a number of animal and bird species and has several streams that run down and feed the Turabo River. The reserve is found next to the Carite State Foest and is situated on the sharp slopes of Cerro La Santa. Carraizo Lake is the largest lake on the island and is worth visiting. The Historical Museum of Caguas and the Abelardo Diaz Alfaro Pink House are two buildings in Caguas that are full of history about the city. Caguas is a lovely to visit when you are next in Puerto Rico.
