| Cerro de Punta | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Cerro de Punta fromMuseo de Arte de Ponce,Ponce, Puerto Rico | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,389 ft (1,338 m)[1] |
| Prominence | 4,389 ft (1,338 m)[2] |
| Listing |
|
| Coordinates | 18°10′21″N66°35′31″W / 18.17250°N 66.59194°W /18.17250; -66.59194[3] |
| Geography | |
  Cerro de Punta Location in Puerto Rico | |
| Location | Ponce, Puerto Rico andJayuya, Puerto Rico |
| Parent range | Cordillera Central |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | PR-143 |
Cerro de Punta orCerro Punta (Spanish for 'point hill' or 'hill point', respectively) is the highestpeak inPuerto Rico, rising to 1,338 meters (4,390 ft) above sea level.[note 1] Themountain is part of theCordillera Central and is located on themunicipal boundary betweenPonce andJayuya in the central region of themain island of Puerto Rico.[4][5][6][1][7]
Themountain is part of theCordillera Central and is located on the border between the municipalities of Ponce and Jayuya.[8][9][10][3] The access road to the point closest to the highest elevation is fromPR-143 on the borders of those municipalities.[11] It is located within the boundaries of theToro Negro State Forest and Nature Reserve, and it has been described as "an alpine runt."[12] The mountain is just north of east-to-westboundRoute 143. It is located at coordinates 18.172458 and -66.591839W. The nearest populated place to Cerro de Punta isUrbanización Vega Linda, located 3.3 miles (5.3 km) away.
Unlike manyCaribbean mountains, Cerro de Punta is not avolcano but simply the highest point in theCordillera Central. Cordillera Central is the central mountain range that divides the island by running in an east–west fashion.[13]
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 asSan Juan, which is over 75 miles (120 km) away.[13] There are a number of radio and television transmission and re-transmission towers just off the top of the mountain.[14] There is an observation platform at the top of the mountain.[15]
The mountain is home to an abundant amount of wildlife, lush vegetation, flowering shrubs and trees, and numerouswaterfalls.[16] The mountain is covered bySierra palm trees.[14] Various plants, including some endangered species are found here,[17] such as the endangeredfernElaphoglossum serpens which is found only on this mountain and nowhere else in the world,[18] and Cook's holly (Ilex cookii) orplanta de te, which is only found here and in neighboringMount Jayuya.[19]
The area consists of many steep mountains. The nearest road isPR-143, which is a winding two-lane mountain road that must be travelled very slowly as it is not possible to see traffic coming from 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-traveledRoute 10.[14] Route 143 is part of theRuta Panorámica.[20]
A nearby inn calledHacienda Gripiñas, 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. In 2010 it still grew some coffee.[21] The inn operates under a contract with the Government of Puerto Rico.[21] The trails, however, are not well marked and often suffer damage from storms.[21] While people can hike their way to the top of the mountain, there is a paved road that leads to the very summit.[12] TheToro Negro State Forest has 12 miles (19 km) of hiking trails some of which lead to the top of Cerro de Punta.[12]
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