Cerro El Pital facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cerro El Pital |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,730 m (8,960 ft) |
| Prominence | 1,530 m (5,020 ft) |
| Listing | Country high point Ultra |
| Naming | |
| Language of name | Spanish |
| Geography | |
 Cerro El Pital
Location in El Salvador
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| Location | Chalatenango, El Salvador − Honduras border |
| Parent range | Sierra Madre |
Cerro El Pital is a tall mountain in Central America. It sits right on the border between El Salvador and Honduras. This amazing peak is about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from the town of La Palma.
Standing at 2,730 meters (8,957 feet) above sea level, Cerro El Pital is the highest point in El Salvador. It is also the third highest mountain in Honduras. This makes it a very special place for both countries.
Discovering Cerro El Pital
Cerro El Pital is located in the middle of a special type of forest. This is called a cloud forest. Cloud forests are cool and misty, with lots of clouds passing through them. The average temperature here is around 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit).
A Home for Rare Animals and Plants
This mountain is one of the most popular places to visit in El Salvador. It has a huge variety of plants and animals. Many of these species are very rare and hard to find anywhere else. Some are even endangered, meaning they are at risk of disappearing forever.
The cloud forest is a perfect home for these unique creatures. You might even spot a quetzal here. Quetzals are beautiful, colorful birds that are quite rare. Protecting this area helps keep these special plants and animals safe.
Weather on the Mountain
Cerro El Pital is known as the coldest place in El Salvador. From November to February, the weather can get quite chilly. Temperatures during these months usually range between -6 degrees Celsius (21 degrees Fahrenheit) and 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit). The coldest temperature ever recorded was in January 1956.
During the rest of the year, from March to October, it is a bit warmer. Temperatures then usually stay between 5 degrees Celsius (41 degrees Fahrenheit) and 17 degrees Celsius (63 degrees Fahrenheit).
On April 13, 2004, something unusual happened on the mountain. A big storm brought a lot of hail, covering much of the mountain in white. This was a very rare event for the area. It caused a lot of excitement among the people living nearby.
