View source for Cerro de Punta

{{Short description|Highest peak in Puerto Rico}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Cerro de Punta
| photo = Cerro de Punta as seen from Museo de Arte de Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico (DSC03460).jpg
| photo_caption = Cerro de Punta from [[Museo de Arte de Ponce]], [[Ponce, Puerto Rico]]
| elevation_ft = 4389
| elevation_ref = <ref name=usgs_2005/>
| prominence_ft = 4389
| prominence_ref = <ref>{{Cite web |title=World Ribus – Caribbean Area
|url=https://worldribus.org/caribbean-area/|access-date=2024-12-25 |website=World Ribus}}</ref>
| range = [[Cordillera Central, Puerto Rico|Cordillera Central]]
| listing = {{unbulleted list|Ribu
|[[List of the most isolated major summits of North America|North America isolated peaks]] 43rd}}
| location = [[Ponce, Puerto Rico]] and [[Jayuya, Puerto Rico]]
| map = USA Puerto Rico
| map_caption = Location in Puerto Rico
| label_position = 
| coordinates = {{Coord|18|10|21|N|66|35|31|W|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref = <ref name=gnis>{{cite gnis|id=1609905|name=Cerro de Punta|access-date=25 January 2015}}</ref>
| topo = 
| type = 
| age = 
| first_ascent = 
| easiest_route = [[PR-143]]
}}

'''Cerro de Punta''' or '''Cerro Punta''' is the highest [[Summit (topography)|peak]] in [[Puerto Rico]], rising to {{convert|1338|m|ft|0|sp=us}} above sea level.<ref group=note>As of February, 1981, the [[US Geological Survey]] reports the height as 1,328 meters. (See: [http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=132:2:2323593977312198:fsp_sort_8_desc::RP&fsp_region_id=1298637874546067865 ''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: [http://facultad.bayamon.inter.edu/bisham/conservation/picosaltos/index.html ''Las cumbres más altas de Puerto Rico.''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128115647/http://facultad.bayamon.inter.edu/bisham/conservation/picosaltos/index.html |date=2015-01-28 }} Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico en Bayamon. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y Matematicas. Retrieved 22 August 2013.)</ref> The [[mountain]] is part of the [[Cordillera Central (Puerto Rico)|Cordillera Central]] and is located on the  [[City limits|town boundary]] between the [[Municipalities of Puerto Rico|municipalities]] of [[Ponce, Puerto Rico|Ponce]] and [[Jayuya, Puerto Rico|Jayuya]] in the central region of the [[Geography of Puerto Rico|main island]] of Puerto Rico.<ref>[http://www.gis.otg.gobierno.pr/webcensus/ 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.''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812171159/http://www.gis.otg.gobierno.pr/webcensus/ |date=2010-08-12 }} Retrieved March 21, 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.trails.com/topo.aspx?panerror=true&z=19&e=759173.152588761&n=1993318.14420084&s=50&size=s&style=drgsr Ponce Topographic Map. Map Styles: Map and Shaded. Trails.com. From: United States Geological Survey. Topo Map. Projection: NAD83/WGS84.] Retrieved February 22, 2010.</ref><ref>[http://puertorico.hometownlocator.com/features/physical,class,summit,amp;scfips,72113.cfm ''Puerto Rico Physical Features: Summits.''] PR Home Town Locator. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 7 June 2011.</ref><ref name=usgs_2005/><ref>[http://www.usgs.gov/state/state.asp?State=PR ''Science In Your Backyard: Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico State Facts.''] U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved March 21, 2010. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100405035503/http://www.usgs.gov/state/state.asp?State=PR Archived.]</ref>

==Location==
The [[mountain]] is part of the [[Cordillera Central, Puerto Rico|Cordillera Central]] and is located on the border between the municipalities of Ponce and Jayuya.<ref name="EPR Spanish">{{cite web | last=EPRL | first=Publicado por Grupo Editorial | title=Municipio de Ponce - Municipios | website=EnciclopediaPR | date=9 June 2016 | url=https://enciclopediapr.org/encyclopedia/municipio-de-ponce/ | language=es | access-date=22 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="EPR English">{{cite web | last=EPRL | first=Grupo Editorial | title=Ponce Municipality - Municipalities | website=EnciclopediaPR | date=9 June 2016 | url=https://enciclopediapr.org/en/encyclopedia/ponce-municipality/ | access-date=22 August 2019 | archive-date=9 February 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209180114/https://enciclopediapr.org/en/encyclopedia/ponce-municipality/ | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>Nueva Geografia de Puerto Rico: fisica, economica y social. Rafael Pico. 1975.</ref><ref name=gnis/> The access road to the point closest to the highest elevation is from [[PR-143]] on the borders of the municipalities of Ponce and Jayuya.<ref>[http://www.gis.otg.gobierno.pr/webcensus/ 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.''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812171159/http://www.gis.otg.gobierno.pr/webcensus/ |date=2010-08-12 }} Retrieved March 21, 2010.</ref> It is part of the [[Toro Negro State Forest|Toro Negro Forest Reserve]], and it has been described as "an alpine runt."<ref name=guide2cv/> It is located on the western end of the Toro Negro State Park. The mountain is just north of east-to-westbound [[PR-143|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&nbsp;km) away.

==Geology==
Unlike many [[Caribbean]] mountains, Cerro de Punta is not a [[volcano]] but simply the highest point in the [[Cordillera Central, Puerto Rico|Cordillera Central]]. Cordillera Central is the central mountain range that divides the island by running in an east–west fashion.<ref name=puertorico/>

==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, Puerto Rico|San Juan]], which is over 75 miles (120&nbsp;km) away.<ref name=puertorico/>  There are a number of radio and television transmission and re-transmission towers just off the top of the mountain.<ref name="bkcave.com">[http://www.bkcave.com/PR/1-10/Punta.htm Brandon Stephens, Marion Smith, and Alan Cressler. ''Cerro de Punta.'' Published by Brian Killingbeck. ©2005.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530075954/http://www.bkcave.com/PR/1-10/Punta.htm |date=2013-05-30 }}</ref>  There is an observation platform at the top of the mountain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.planetware.com/cordillera-mountains/black-bull-forest-reserve-cerro-de-punta-pr-pr-cerro.htm|title=Planetware: Your Unlimited Travel Guide to the World.|access-date=15 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012144103/http://www.planetware.com/cordillera-mountains/black-bull-forest-reserve-cerro-de-punta-pr-pr-cerro.htm|archive-date=12 October 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Wildlife and flora==
The mountain is home to an abundant amount of wildlife, lush vegetation, flowering shrubs and trees, and numerous [[waterfall]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.puertorico.com/blog/cerro-la-punta-the-high-point-of-puerto-rico |title=The Puerto Rico Channel. ''Cerro de Punta:the High Point of Puerto Rico.'' |access-date=21 July 2010 |archive-date=31 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331212936/http://www.puertorico.com/blog/cerro-la-punta-the-high-point-of-puerto-rico/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>  The mountain is covered by [[Prestoea montana|Sierra palm]] trees.<ref name="bkcave.com"/> Various plants, including some endangered species are found here,<ref>[https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ELSE2 Maxon & Morton ex Maxon. U.S. Department of Agriculture. ''Elaphoglossum serpens At Cerro de Punta, Jayuya.'' ]</ref> such as the endangered [[fern]] ''[[Elaphoglossum serpens]]'' which is found only on this mountain and nowhere else in the world,<ref name=rec>USFWS. [http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/950117.pdf Recovery Plan for Puerto Rican Endangered Ferns (7 spp.).] January 1995.</ref> and Cook's holly (''[[Ilex cookii]]'') or ''planta de te'', which is only found here and in neighboring [[Monte Jayuya|Mount Jayuya]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Group)|first=Sara Oldfield (Co-Chair IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist|date=2018-08-20|title=IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Ilex cookii|url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/en|journal=IUCN Red List of Threatened Species}}</ref>

==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 [[PR-10|Route 10]].<ref name="bkcave.com" /> Route 143 is part of the [[Ruta Panorámica]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cerro-de-punta|title=Cerro de Punta|website=Atlas Obscura|access-date=15 June 2019}}</ref>
<gallery mode="packed" heights="170px">
For your safety, driving in Puerto Rico sign.jpg|Driving in mountain roads tips
View of roadway that leads up to Cerro de Punta.jpg|View of roadway from Cerro de Punta
</gallery>

==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.<ref name="The Puerto Rico Channel">{{cite web | url = http://www.puertorico.com/blog/cerro-la-punta-the-high-point-of-puerto-rico | title = Cerro de Punta: the High Point of Puerto Rico | publisher = The Puerto Rico Channel | date = 2010 | access-date = 25 January 2015 | archive-date = 31 March 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150331212936/http://www.puertorico.com/blog/cerro-la-punta-the-high-point-of-puerto-rico/ | url-status = dead }}</ref> The inn operates under a contract with the Government of Puerto Rico.<ref name="The Puerto Rico Channel"/> The trails, however, are not well marked and often suffer damage from storms.<ref name="The Puerto Rico Channel"/> While people can hike their way to the top of the mountain, there is a paved road that leads to the very summit.<ref name="guide2cv" />  The [[Toro Negro State Forest]] has 12 miles (19&nbsp;km) of hiking trails some of which lead to the top of Cerro de Punta.<ref name="guide2cv" />
{{clear}}

{{climate chart|'''Cerro Puntas''' (Climate - [[Subtropical highland climate|Sub-Tropical Highland (''Cfb'')]])
|40.9|66.3|3.37
|41.4|67.5|2.72
|47.1|67.8|2.81
|55.7|69.3|6.05
|60.9|72.5|12.23
|62.4|75.3|7.83
|62.3|75.6|11.23
|62.4|77.9|13.2
|62.4|75.3|10.1
|60.6|75.8|9.9
|56.3|70.3|12.5
|45.5|65.2|7.72
|float=right
|clear=none
|units=imperial
|source=<ref name=noaa/>
|accessdate = 18 April 2011
}}

==Gallery==
<gallery mode=packed heights="120px">
View from Cerro de Punta, highest point in Puerto Rico.jpg|View from Cerro de Punta, highest point in Puerto Rico
Paved road for climbing up to Cerro de Punta, Puerto Rico.jpg|Paved road for climbing up to Cerro de Punta
Cerro de Punta plateau.jpg|Antennas at Cerro de Punta
Cerro de Punta, highest point in Puerto Rico.jpg|Lookout area at Cerro de Punta's summit
Cerro de Punta as seen from Mercedita Airport, Ponce, Puerto Rico (DSC02952).jpg|Cerro de Punta as seen from [[Mercedita Airport]], Ponce, Puerto Rico
Cerro de Punta as seen from the Caja de Muertos, Ponce, Puerto Rico (DSC03691).jpg|Cerro de Punta as seen from [[Caja de Muertos]], Ponce, Puerto Rico
Cerro Punta Puerto Rico.JPG|Cerro de Punta as viewed from [[Ruta Panorámica]]
</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==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=guide2cv>
{{cite web | url = http://www.guidetocaribbeanvacations.com/puerto_rico/cerrodepunta1.htm
 | title = Cerro de Punta Climb, Puerto Rico, Part 1 | author = O'Keefe, M. Timothy
 | work = Guide To Caribbean Vacations | access-date = 25 January 2015}}</ref>
<ref name=noaa>
{{cite web | url = http://www.srh.noaa.gov/sju/?n=climo_adjuntas
 | title = San Juan, PR Climate Data | trans-title = Adjuntas Normals
 | publisher = National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office | access-date = 18 April 2011}}</ref>
<ref name=puertorico>{{cite web
 | url = http://www.puertorico.com/blog/cerro-la-punta-the-high-point-of-puerto-rico
 | title = Cerro de Punta: the High Point of Puerto Rico
 | publisher = The Puerto Rico Channel
 | access-date = 25 January 2015
 | archive-date = 31 March 2015
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150331212936/http://www.puertorico.com/blog/cerro-la-punta-the-high-point-of-puerto-rico/
 | url-status = dead
 }}</ref>
<ref name=usgs_2005>{{cite web
 | url = http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb//pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html
 | title = Elevations and Distances in the United States
 | publisher = U.S. Geological Survey
 | date = 29 April 2005
 | access-date = 9 November 2006
 | archive-date = 9 November 2013
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131109183109/http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb//pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html
 | url-status = dead
 }}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Cerro de Punta}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20161019102849/http://www.panoramio.com/photo/892592 Cerro de punta photos from Panoramio]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100404181701/http://www.jayuya.puertorico.pr/turismo.htm#ElCerroPuntas Official website from the municipality of Jayuya] {{in lang|es}}
* [http://www.guidetocaribbeanvacations.com/puerto_rico/cerrodepunta1.htm ''Cerro de Punta Climb, Puerto Rico.'' (A climber's Dairy)]

{{Ponce, Puerto Rico}}
{{U.S. State Highest Points}}
{{Highest points of North America}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cerro de Punta}}

[[Category:Mountains in Ponce, Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Ponce, Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Barrio Anón]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Ponce, Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Jayuya, Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Highest points]]
[[Category:Geography of Puerto Rico]]