The northern plains of Puerto Rico are winding bays, vibrant mangrove forests, high grasslands, and low hills. The northeastern trade winds bring lingering rains, nourishing the fertile land. The terrain is low and well-drained, suitable for cultivation. Taino villages are nestled here, cultivating many small plots of land, growing cassava, cotton, tobacco, corn, peppers, and passion fruit.
Heading south from the northern plains for forty or fifty leagues, you will reach the Central Mountain Range (Cordillera Central), or as the Taino say, the "Ridge of the Earth Mother." The sea breeze halts before the mountains, and the moisture condenses into fog. The terrain rises sharply, elevating directly from sea level to over 800 meters.
