Cerro Maravilla
Communications towers at Cerro Maravilla
Highest point
Elevation3,953 ft (1,205 m)[1]
Coordinates18°09′11″N 66°33′15″W / 18.15306°N 66.55417°W / 18.15306; -66.55417
Geography
Parent rangeCordillera Central
Climbing
Easiest routePR-143 (km 21.9) at PR-577
Barrio Anón
Ponce, Puerto Rico

Cerro Maravilla is Puerto Rico's fourth highest peak[2] at 1,205 meters (3,953 ft). It is located on the northern edge Barrio Anón in Ponce,[3][4] close to the border with the municipality Jayuya,[5] and is part of the Cordillera Central (Central Mountain Range). It is known as El Cerro de los Mártires ("Mountain of the Martyrs") and characterized as the most infamous peak in Puerto Rico, due to the 1978 Cerro Maravilla murders which took place here.[6]

Location and access

The peak is located at the end of the 0.5 km-long Puerto Rico Highway 577, which is accessible via Puerto Rico Highway 143, traveling either westbound or eastbound. PR-143 is a secondary two-way, two-lane mountainous road that is relatively well traveled. The peak's coordinates are: 18°09′11″N 66°33′15″W / 18.15306°N 66.55417°W / 18.15306; -66.55417.

The height of the mountain makes for some interesting sights. For example, on clear days both the northern and southern coasts of the island can be appreciated simultaneously. In the winter season, the air is crisp and the temperature at night will usually fluctuate between the 40s and 60s degrees Fahrenheit. The chirping of the familiar "coquis" is prominent after nightfall.

Cerro Maravilla incident

The peak might be best known for being the place where two Puerto Rico independence activists were slain on 25 July 1978 in a police ambush (see Cerro Maravilla murders.) This controversy has since turned the mountain into a meeting point for supporters of the independence of the Puerto Rican Commonwealth to gather annually to remember the murdered activists and condemn the current colonial status.

Climate

Cerro Maravilla has a subtropical highland climate (Cfb) under the Köppen climate classification. The surrounding area over 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) is one of the few places in the island to have a true temperate climate. Although the temperature remains mild year round, night temperatures in winter may reach the mid 40s at times.

Climate data for Cerro Maravilla, Puerto Rico (1981-2010 normals, extremes 1969-2012)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 85
(29)		 87
(31)		 81
(27)		 82
(28)		 85
(29)		 90
(32)		 87
(31)		 85
(29)		 88
(31)		 85
(29)		 88
(31)		 83
(28)		 90
(32)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 65.5
(18.6)		 65.8
(18.8)		 66.6
(19.2)		 67.2
(19.6)		 68.0
(20.0)		 70.4
(21.3)		 71.6
(22.0)		 71.4
(21.9)		 71.1
(21.7)		 70.6
(21.4)		 68.7
(20.4)		 66.0
(18.9)		 68.6
(20.3)
Daily mean °F (°C) 60.8
(16.0)		 60.7
(15.9)		 61.5
(16.4)		 62.5
(16.9)		 63.9
(17.7)		 66.2
(19.0)		 67.0
(19.4)		 66.9
(19.4)		 66.5
(19.2)		 66.2
(19.0)		 64.0
(17.8)		 61.8
(16.6)		 64.0
(17.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 56.0
(13.3)		 55.7
(13.2)		 56.4
(13.6)		 57.9
(14.4)		 59.8
(15.4)		 62.0
(16.7)		 62.3
(16.8)		 62.4
(16.9)		 61.8
(16.6)		 61.7
(16.5)		 59.3
(15.2)		 57.6
(14.2)		 59.4
(15.2)
Record low °F (°C) 43
(6)		 40
(4)		 43
(6)		 41
(5)		 45
(7)		 51
(11)		 52
(11)		 52
(11)		 52
(11)		 52
(11)		 51
(11)		 40
(4)		 40
(4)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.81
(97)		 3.64
(92)		 5.12
(130)		 8.57
(218)		 12.14
(308)		 7.06
(179)		 6.09
(155)		 10.39
(264)		 13.68
(347)		 15.66
(398)		 9.03
(229)		 4.13
(105)		 99.32
(2,522)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 11.8 11.2 11.7 14.1 16.4 11.8 11.4 15.2 17.6 20.0 15.0 12.0 168.2
Source: NOAA[7][8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Elevations and Distances in the United States". U.S. Geological Survey. 29 April 2005. Archived from the original on 1 June 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2006.
  2. ↑ Puerto Rico's Forest Reserves and Wildlife Sanctuaries: Mountain Forests. El Yunque.com It is Puerto Rico's 4th highest peak. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
  3. ↑ Historia de Nuestros Barrios: Barrio Anón, Ponce. Archived 2011-07-10 at the Wayback Machine Rafael Torrech San Inocencio. El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 18 October 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  4. ↑ Topographic Map of Barrio Anon, Ponce, PR. US Geological Survey. Lat/Long: 18.1523°N 66.5549°W. Elevation: 3,891 feet (1,186 meters). Drg Name: r18066b5. Drg Source Scale: 1:20,000. Projection: NAD83/WGS84. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  5. ↑ US Geological Survey
  6. ↑ Cerro Maravillas. Stephen Keeling. The Rough Guide to Puerto Rico. Page 337. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  7. ↑ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1981-2010". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  8. ↑ "xmACIS2". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
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