EL YUNQUE HISTORY  &  FACTS

  • El Yunque was named after an indian spirit yuquiye wich means 'spirits of the   clouds'.  It was established in 1903 and became a National Forest in 1906.  It is the oldest Forest Reserve in the Western Hemisphere.
  • It is home to 240 species and 26 of them live nowhere else.
  • 75% of Puerto Rico virgin forests are found in El Yunque. 
  • It's scientific name is Amazona Vitatta.   
  • There are 50 bird species and 240 native trees living in El Yunque.
  • The temperature ranges from 50 to 90 degrees.
  • The word Yunque means white lands. It comes from the aboriginal taino word 'Yuke'.  
  • It rains about 240 inches of water per year in El Yunque.
  • More than 100 billion gallons of water go through the rain forest in a year.