1938 Map of Parguera

About this map

Sierra Bermeja dominates the northern skyline of this coastal survey, where the rugged hills of Lajas meet the Caribbean Sea. The shoreline is a complex network of mangrove-fringed points and cays, ranging from Pta Pitahaya in the west to the deeply indented Bahia Montalva (Puerto Nuevo) in the east. At this time, the fishing village of Parguera is a small collection of structures near the water, supported by the inland Escuela Ramon Baldorioty de Castro and the salt-harvesting operations at Salinas El Papayo. The map reveals a pre-industrial coastal economy where movement was dictated by the Carretera No 39 and small tracks leading to landholdings like Cabezon Rancho. Off the coast, numerous islands such as Isla Maguey and Isla Guayacan protected the shallows, while the peaks of Cerro Vertero provided vital landmarks for navigation along the southern coast of Puerto Rico.