Cerro de Punta or Cerro Punta (Spanish for 'point hill' or 'hill point', respectively) is the highest peak in Puerto Rico, rising to above sea level.As of February, 1981, the US Geological Survey reports the height as 1,328 meters. (See: Geographic Names Information System: Feature Query Results. United States Geological Survey. 13-FEB-1981. Retrieved 22 August 2013.) However, Gousha (1995) and Metrodata (1998) report the height as 1,338 meters. (See: Las cumbres más altas de Puerto Rico. Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico en Bayamon. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y Matematicas. Retrieved 22 August 2013.) The mountain is part of the Cordillera Central and is located on the municipal boundary between Ponce and Jayuya in the central region of the main island of Puerto Rico.Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Office of Management and Budgeting. Government Information and Technology Area. Geographic Information Systems Unit. General Purpose Population Data, Census 2000. Retrieved March 21, 2010.Ponce Topographic Map. Map Styles: Map and Shaded. Trails.com. From: United States Geological Survey. Topo Map. Projection: NAD83/WGS84. Retrieved February 22, 2010.Puerto Rico Physical Features: Summits. PR Home Town Locator. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 7 June 2011.Science In Your Backyard: Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico State Facts. U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved March 21, 2010. Archived.

Location The mountain is part of the Cordillera Central and is located on the border between the municipalities of Ponce and Jayuya.Nueva Geografia de Puerto Rico: fisica, economica y social. Rafael Pico. 1975. The access road to the point closest to the highest elevation is from PR-143 on the borders of those municipalities.Government of Puerto Rico. General Purpose Population Data, Census 2000. Unidad de Sistemas de Información Geográfica, Área de Tecnología de Información Gubernamental, Oficina de Gerencia y Presupuesto. Retrieved March 21, 2010. It is located within the boundaries of the Toro Negro State Forest and Nature Reserve, and it has been described as "an alpine runt." 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 Urbanización Vega Linda, located 3.3 miles (5.3 km) away.

Geology Unlike many Caribbean mountains, Cerro de Punta is not a volcano 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.

Panoramic 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 (120 km) away. There are a number of radio and television transmission and re-transmission towers just off the top of the mountain.Brandon Stephens, Marion Smith, and Alan Cressler. Cerro de Punta. Published by Brian Killingbeck. ©2005. There is an observation platform at the top of the mountain.

Wildlife and flora The mountain is home to an abundant amount of wildlife, lush vegetation, flowering shrubs and trees, and numerous waterfalls. The mountain is covered by Sierra palm trees. Various plants, including some endangered species are found here,Maxon & Morton ex Maxon. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Elaphoglossum serpens At Cerro de Punta, Jayuya. such as the endangered fern Elaphoglossum serpens which is found only on this mountain and nowhere else in the world,USFWS. Recovery Plan for Puerto Rican Endangered Ferns (7 spp.). January 1995. and Cook's holly (Ilex cookii) or planta de te, which is only found here and in neighboring Mount Jayuya.

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 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-traveled Route 10. Route 143 is part of the Ruta Panorámica.

Hiking and access trail A nearby inn called Hacienda 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. 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 State Forest has 12 miles (19 km) of hiking trails some of which lead to the top of Cerro de Punta.

Gallery

See also List of mountain peaks of the Caribbean List of mountain peaks of the United States List of U.S. states by elevation

Notes

References

External links

Cerro de punta photos from Panoramio Official website from the municipality of Jayuya Cerro de Punta Climb, Puerto Rico. (A climber's Dairy)