Cerro Catedral (Uruguay) facts for kids

For the mountain in Argentina, see Cerro Catedral.

Quick facts for kids Cerro Catedral
The summit of Cerro Catedral, near a dirt road (Ruta 109).
Highest point
Elevation	513.66 m (1,685.2 ft)
Prominence	373 m (1,224 ft)
Listing	Country high point
Naming
English translation	Cathedral Hill
Language of name	Spanish
Pronunciation	Spanish: [ˈsero kateˈðɾal]
Geography
Cerro Catedral Location in Uruguay
Location	Aiguá, Maldonado Department, Uruguay
Parent range	Sierra Carapé (part of Cuchilla Grande)
Geology
Age of rock	Precambrian
Mountain type	Hill (granite, gneiss)
Climbing
First ascent	Unknown
Easiest route	Hike

Cerro Catedral (which means "Cathedral Hill" in Spanish) is the highest point in Uruguay. It is also sometimes called Cerro Cordillera. This hill reaches a height of 513.66 meters (about 1,685 feet) above sea level.

You can find Cerro Catedral in the northern part of the Maldonado Department. It is located in a hill range called Sierra Carapé, which is part of a larger range known as Cuchilla Grande. The hill gets its name from the interesting shapes of the rocks at its top, which look a bit like a cathedral.

History of Cerro Catedral

For a long time, people thought that another hill, Cerro de las Ánimas, was the highest point in Uruguay. Cerro de las Ánimas is about 501 meters (1,644 feet) tall.

However, in 1973, a group of scientists from the Servicio Geográfico Militar (which means "Military Geographic Service") measured Cerro Catedral again. They discovered that Cerro Catedral was actually taller than Cerro de las Ánimas. This made Cerro Catedral the official highest point in the country.

Geography of Cerro Catedral

Where is Cerro Catedral?

A geodetic mark showing the summit

Cerro Catedral is part of the Sierra Carapé mountain range. This range formed a very long time ago, during the Precambrian era. It stretches across the Maldonado Department from west to east. The Sierra Carapé range also forms a natural border between the Lavalleja Department and the Maldonado Department.

The hill is found in an area called Las Cañas. Near Cerro Catedral, two streams begin: the José Ignacio Stream, which flows south, and the Coronilla Stream, which flows northwest into Aiguá.

What is Cerro Catedral made of?

The rocks that make up Cerro Catedral are mainly granite and gneiss. Granite is a very hard, common type of rock. Gneiss is another type of rock that forms when other rocks are changed by heat and pressure.

Plants on Cerro Catedral

At the very top of Cerro Catedral, there isn't much plant life because of the rocky conditions. You might see a few small shrubs like Myrtus ugni growing between the rocks.

Below 400 meters (about 1,312 feet), you'll find more plants. Tough grasses grow here, along with plants that can survive in dry conditions. You can also spot shrubs like Baccharis articulata and marcela (Achyrocline satureioides).

Weather at Cerro Catedral

The climate around Cerro Catedral is an Oceanic climate. This means it has mild to warm summers and cool winters. It often gets frosts in winter.

Strong winds are very common in this area. Rain falls fairly evenly throughout the year. It is very rare for it to snow at Cerro Catedral.

See also

• Cerro Pan de Azúcar
• Geography of Uruguay