Cerro Pan de Azúcar
Encyclopedia
Cerro Pan de Azúcar is a hill and the third highest point of Uruguay
, with an altitude of 423 metres (1,387.8 ft).
, in the municipality of Piriápolis
, in a range of hills named Cuchilla Grande
.
At the eastern feet of the hill and partly on its side, is the Reserva de Flora y Fauna del Pan de Azúcar, a nature reserve
and zoo. On its summit, there is a cross made of cement, with a height of 35 metres (114.8 feet), visible from a wide distance. The cross is visitable inside with a spiral staircase
leading to the horizontal part of the cross, which offers view of the area through small openings.
, had bought a big streach of land including the Cerro Pan de Azúcar and streaching all the way to the beach. The hill was rich in granite and by his decision one of its slopes became a quarry
which provided solid granite rocks for the construction of the seaside resort, and which gave work to more than 500 workers.
In 1933 the famous sculptor Juan Zorrilla de San Martín
together with father Engels Walters constructed a 35 meter cross on its top. In 1980 a nature consevation and breeding center for animals threatened by extincion was founded on its east side.
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, with an altitude of 423 metres (1,387.8 ft).
Location and features
It is located southwest of Maldonado DepartmentMaldonado Department
The Maldonado Department , with an area of and 140,192 inhabitants, is located to the southeast of Uruguay. Its capital is Maldonado.-Geography and climate:...
, in the municipality of Piriápolis
Piriápolis
Piriápolis is a city in the Maldonado Department of Uruguay. It is located on the coast of Río de la Plata, on Route 10 and its intersection with Route 37. It is about east of the national capital, Montevideo . Piriápolis is an important summer resort in the country, predating the larger and more...
, in a range of hills named Cuchilla Grande
Cuchilla Grande
Cuchilla Grande is a hill range that crosses the west part of Uruguay from north to south. It extends from the south part of Cerro Largo Department, through the departments of Treinta y Tres and Lavalleja and ends in Maldonado Department where it forms its highest peaks.-Noted features:In the...
.
At the eastern feet of the hill and partly on its side, is the Reserva de Flora y Fauna del Pan de Azúcar, a nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
and zoo. On its summit, there is a cross made of cement, with a height of 35 metres (114.8 feet), visible from a wide distance. The cross is visitable inside with a spiral staircase
Spiral staircase
Spiral staircase may refer to:* A type of stairway characterized by its spiral shape* The Spiral Staircase , a 1946 American psychological thriller film* The Spiral Staircase , a 1975 British film, a remake of the 1946 film...
leading to the horizontal part of the cross, which offers view of the area through small openings.
History
In 1890 Don Francisco Piria, founder of the resort of PiriápolisPiriápolis
Piriápolis is a city in the Maldonado Department of Uruguay. It is located on the coast of Río de la Plata, on Route 10 and its intersection with Route 37. It is about east of the national capital, Montevideo . Piriápolis is an important summer resort in the country, predating the larger and more...
, had bought a big streach of land including the Cerro Pan de Azúcar and streaching all the way to the beach. The hill was rich in granite and by his decision one of its slopes became a quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
which provided solid granite rocks for the construction of the seaside resort, and which gave work to more than 500 workers.
In 1933 the famous sculptor Juan Zorrilla de San Martín
Juan Zorrilla de San Martín
Juan Zorrilla de San Martín was a Uruguayan epic poet - he is referred as "National Poet of Uruguay" -and political figure . He is featured on the 20-peso note.-Well-known poems:...
together with father Engels Walters constructed a 35 meter cross on its top. In 1980 a nature consevation and breeding center for animals threatened by extincion was founded on its east side.
Images
See also
- Cerro CatedralCerro Catedral (Uruguay)Cerro Catedral , also known as Cerro Cordillera, is a peak and the highest point of Uruguay, with an altitude of . It is located north of Maldonado Department, in the municipality of Aiguá, in a hill range named Sierra Carapé, which constitutes part of a larger range named Cuchilla Grande...
- Cerro de las ÁnimasCerro de las ÁnimasCerro de las Ánimas is a peak and the second highest point of Uruguay, with an altitude of 501 metres .-Location and features:...
- Geography of UruguayGeography of UruguayUruguay is a country in Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil. It is located in the Southern Hemisphere on the Atlantic seaboard of South America between 53 and 58 west longitude and 30 and 35 south latitude...