ARECIBO

arecibo, a city and port on the north coast of porto rico, at the mouth of a small stream called the rio grande de arecibo, and contiguous to one of the most fertile regions of the island. pop. (1899) 8008; of the tributary district, about 30,000; (1910) 9612. it is connected with san juan, mayaguezand ponce by railway. it is a well-built and active commercial city, and has a large export trade in coffee and sugar. the harbour is an open roadstead, very dangerous to shipping in northerly winds, and the discharge and loading of cargoes is effected by means of lighters at considerable risk and expense. arecibo was founded in 1788.