Cerro de Punta
Encyclopedia
Cerro de Punta or just Cerro Punta is the highest peak
in Puerto Rico
, raising to 1338 metres (4,390 ft) above sea level. It is located in the municipality of Ponce
.
is located in the Cordillera Central
, on the border between the municipalities of Jayuya
and Ponce. The access road to the point closest to the highest elevation is from the municipality of Jayuya. It is part of the Toro Negro Forest Reserve
, and it has been described as "an alpine runt." It is located on the western end of the Toro Negro State Park. The mountain is just north of east-to-westbound Route 143.
It is located at coordinates 18.172458 and -66.591839W. The nearest populated place to Cerro de Punta is Urbanization Vega Linda, located 3.3 miles away.
but simply the highest point in the Cordillera Central
. Cordillera Central is the central mountain range that divides the island by running in an east-west fashion.
s. The mountain is covered by palm trees. Various plants, including some endangered species are found here. The endangered fern
Elaphoglossum serpens
is found only on this mountain and nowhere else in the world.
.
, has a trail that leads to the top of the mountain. Hacienda Gripiñas was a coffee plantation, but has been turned into a country inn. It actually still grows some coffee. The inn operates under a contract with the Government of Puerto Rico. The trails, however, are not well marked and often suffer damage from storms. While people can hike their way to the top of the mountain, there is a paved road that leads to the very summit. The Toro Negro Forest Reserve has 12 miles of hiking trails some of which lead to the top of Cerro de Punta.
Summit (topography)
In topography, a summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. Mathematically, a summit is a local maximum in elevation...
in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, raising to 1338 metres (4,390 ft) above sea level. It is located in the municipality of Ponce
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
.
Location
The mountainMountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
is located in the Cordillera Central
Cordillera Central, Puerto Rico
The Cordillera Central, or La Cordillera Central , is the main mountain range in Puerto Rico. Generally speaking, the range crosses the island from west to east with an average elevation of 915m and divides the territory's northern and southern coastal plains.La Cordillera Central runs east to...
, on the border between the municipalities of Jayuya
Jayuya, Puerto Rico
Jayuya is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the mountainous center region of the island, north of Ponce; east of Utuado; and west of Ciales. Jayuya is spread over 18 wards and Jayuya Pueblo...
and Ponce. The access road to the point closest to the highest elevation is from the municipality of Jayuya. It is part of the Toro Negro Forest Reserve
Toro Negro State Forest
Toro Negro State Forest is one of the 16 state forests in Puerto Rico. The forest is located in the central region of the island. The forest covers 6,945 cuerdas of mountains, with heights that include Cerro de Punta, the highest peak in the island...
, and it has been described as "an alpine runt." It is located on the western end of the Toro Negro State Park. The mountain is just north of east-to-westbound Route 143.
It is located at coordinates 18.172458 and -66.591839W. The nearest populated place to Cerro de Punta is Urbanization Vega Linda, located 3.3 miles away.
Geology
Unlike many Caribbean mountains, Cerro de Punta is not a volcanoVolcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
but simply the highest point in the Cordillera Central
Cordillera Central, Puerto Rico
The Cordillera Central, or La Cordillera Central , is the main mountain range in Puerto Rico. Generally speaking, the range crosses the island from west to east with an average elevation of 915m and divides the territory's northern and southern coastal plains.La Cordillera Central runs east to...
. Cordillera Central is the central mountain range that divides the island by running in an east-west fashion.
Best view
The view from atop Cerro de Punta is said to be "the best view in all of Puerto Rico". On a clear day, it is possible to see virtually the entire island, including as far as San Juan, which is over 75 miles away. There are a number of radio and television transmission and re-transmission towers just off the top of the mountain. There is an observation platform at the top of the mountain.Wildlife and flora
The mountain is home to an abundant amount wildlife, lush vegetation, flowering shrubs and trees, and numerous waterfallWaterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
s. The mountain is covered by palm trees. Various plants, including some endangered species are found here. The endangered fern
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
Elaphoglossum serpens
Elaphoglossum serpens
Elaphoglossum serpens is a rare species of fern that grows only on Cerro de Punta, the highest mountain in Puerto Rico. The fern grows at one location, where there are 22 known specimens. It was federally listed as an endangered species of the United States in 1993.The fern was described in 1947...
is found only on this mountain and nowhere else in the world.
Nearby roads
The area consists of many steep mountains. The nearest road is PR-143, which is a winding two-lane mountain road that must be travelled very slowly as it is not possible to see traffic coming the opposite direction for any significant length. Off Route 143 is the road that actually leads to the mountain's top. Route 143 can be accessed via the better-traveled Route 10. Route 143 is part of the Ruta PanorámicaRuta Panorámica
The Ruta Panorámica , officially the Ruta Panorámica Luis Muñoz Marin , is a network of some 40 secondary highways which traverse the island of Puerto Rico from west to east along its Cordillera Central . Most of the route consists of three roads, PR-105, PR-143, and PR-182...
.
Hiking and access trail
A nearby inn called Hacienda GripiñasHacienda Gripiñas
Hacienda Gripiñas is a lodging located in the town of Jayuya, Puerto Rico.In 1863, Don Eusebio Pérez del Castillo established the Gripiñas hacienda in the sector of Gripiñas, barrio of Yeguitas, Jayuya. Gripiñas dedicated itself to the plantation of coffee and contributed to the growth of this...
, has a trail that leads to the top of the mountain. Hacienda Gripiñas was a coffee plantation, but has been turned into a country inn. It actually still grows some coffee. The inn operates under a contract with the Government of Puerto Rico. The trails, however, are not well marked and often suffer damage from storms. While people can hike their way to the top of the mountain, there is a paved road that leads to the very summit. The Toro Negro Forest Reserve has 12 miles of hiking trails some of which lead to the top of Cerro de Punta.