Las Cuevas Del Camuey Are One Of My Favorite Places In Puerto Rico, Take Some Time To Read The History Behind This Magnificent Part Of My Beautiful Island...
History
Camuy founded in 1807 by Petronila Matos, and formerly part of Arecibo is located in the northwestern coastal region of Puerto Rico, less than 5 minutes west of Hatillo on PR 2 and PR 119. The name Camuy is known to be derived from the Taíno language, although a number of legends give differing explanations for the origin of the name. One such legend claims the name comes from the Taíno word for "sun", another claims derivation from canuy, Taíno for "beautiful scenery", and still another states that Camuy was the name of the Taíno chief Yumac with the letters inverted. The "sun" legend is reflected in the coat of arms for the municipality.
In its beginnings Camuy was integrated into the Party of San Antonio de la Tuna. The "parties" were great extensions of land that divided Puerto Rico. This region today is known as Isabela, Puerto Rico. At the time the party covered the area between Aguadilla and Arecibo, what is known today as the municipalities of Camuy, Hatillo, Quebradillas, Isabela, Utuado, and San Sebastián.
The population of Camuy was 35,244 at the 2000 census, and it has land area of 120.24 km2 (46 sq mi). The municipality is a popular suburb, although it is growing economically more slowly than neighboring Hatillo.
[edit] Flag
The flag is green like the coat of arms. A white undulating band runs horizontally across and is interrupted in the middle by the figure of the Camuy sun, in this case represented by the colors yellow and black.
[edit] Coat of arms
The silver-waving stripe symbolizes the Camuy River (interrupted in the center because the river goes underground for part of its trajectory). The three tower crown distinguishes Camuy as a municipality.
[edit] Barrios (Districts/Wards)[1]
Abra Honda
Camuy Arriba
Camuy Pueblo
Cibao
Ciénagas
Membrillo
Piedra Gorda
Puente
Puertos
Quebrada
Santiago
Yeguada
Zanja
[edit] Geography
Camuy belongs to the zone designated as the plateau of the northwest where the terrain is level and known as the Valley of Quebradillas. Towards the interior of the municipality, the topography becomes very irregular near Cibao. This strip of land, a zone of wooded hills and depressions, divides Camuy completely into two strips, north and south. The northern strip is known as Lomas de los Puertos.
The Camuy River forms part of the hydrographic system with a length of 24 miles, which at one point becomes a narrow canyon that forms one of the most beautiful cave systems in the world: the Rio Camuy Caverns, first explored in 1958. The Camuy River along with the Caverns are the 3rd largest and longest underground system in the world and the river is one of the few remaining active underground rivers in the Americas, stretching for miles.
The Cibao River is also part of the system.
Camuy founded in 1807 by Petronila Matos, and formerly part of Arecibo is located in the northwestern coastal region of Puerto Rico, less than 5 minutes west of Hatillo on PR 2 and PR 119. The name Camuy is known to be derived from the Taíno language, although a number of legends give differing explanations for the origin of the name. One such legend claims the name comes from the Taíno word for "sun", another claims derivation from canuy, Taíno for "beautiful scenery", and still another states that Camuy was the name of the Taíno chief Yumac with the letters inverted. The "sun" legend is reflected in the coat of arms for the municipality.
In its beginnings Camuy was integrated into the Party of San Antonio de la Tuna. The "parties" were great extensions of land that divided Puerto Rico. This region today is known as Isabela, Puerto Rico. At the time the party covered the area between Aguadilla and Arecibo, what is known today as the municipalities of Camuy, Hatillo, Quebradillas, Isabela, Utuado, and San Sebastián.
The population of Camuy was 35,244 at the 2000 census, and it has land area of 120.24 km2 (46 sq mi). The municipality is a popular suburb, although it is growing economically more slowly than neighboring Hatillo.
[edit] Flag
The flag is green like the coat of arms. A white undulating band runs horizontally across and is interrupted in the middle by the figure of the Camuy sun, in this case represented by the colors yellow and black.
[edit] Coat of arms
The silver-waving stripe symbolizes the Camuy River (interrupted in the center because the river goes underground for part of its trajectory). The three tower crown distinguishes Camuy as a municipality.
[edit] Barrios (Districts/Wards)[1]
Abra Honda
Camuy Arriba
Camuy Pueblo
Cibao
Ciénagas
Membrillo
Piedra Gorda
Puente
Puertos
Quebrada
Santiago
Yeguada
Zanja
[edit] Geography
Camuy belongs to the zone designated as the plateau of the northwest where the terrain is level and known as the Valley of Quebradillas. Towards the interior of the municipality, the topography becomes very irregular near Cibao. This strip of land, a zone of wooded hills and depressions, divides Camuy completely into two strips, north and south. The northern strip is known as Lomas de los Puertos.
The Camuy River forms part of the hydrographic system with a length of 24 miles, which at one point becomes a narrow canyon that forms one of the most beautiful cave systems in the world: the Rio Camuy Caverns, first explored in 1958. The Camuy River along with the Caverns are the 3rd largest and longest underground system in the world and the river is one of the few remaining active underground rivers in the Americas, stretching for miles.
The Cibao River is also part of the system.
