Cerro Pan de Azúcar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cerro Pan de Azúcar |
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The hill viewed from a road
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 423 m (1,388 ft) |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Sugar Loaf Hill |
| Language of name | from Spanish |
| Pronunciation | Spanish: [ˈsero ˈpan de aˈsukaɾ] |
| Geography | |
 Cerro Pan de Azúcar
Location in Uruguay
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| Location | Piriápolis, Maldonado Department, Uruguay |
| Parent range | Cuchilla Grande |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Precambrian |
| Mountain type | Hill (granite, gneiss) |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike |
Cerro Pan de Azúcar, which means Sugar Loaf Hill, is one of the tallest hills in Uruguay. It stands 423 meters (about 1,388 feet) high. This makes it one of the top 10 highest points in the country.
Contents
Where is Cerro Pan de Azúcar?
This famous hill is located in the southwest part of the Maldonado Department in Uruguay. You can find it near the town of Piriápolis. It is part of a group of hills called the Cuchilla Grande range.
What Can You See on the Hill?
At the base of the hill, there is a special place called the Reserva de Flora y Fauna del Pan de Azúcar. This is a nature reserve and a zoo. It helps protect plants and animals, especially those that are rare or endangered.
On the very top of Cerro Pan de Azúcar, there is a huge cross made of cement. This cross is 35 meters (about 115 feet) tall. You can see it from far away! You can even go inside the cross. A spiral staircase takes you up to the horizontal part. From there, small openings let you look out and enjoy amazing views of the area.
History of the Hill
Cerro Pan de Azúcar has an interesting history.
Building Piriápolis
In 1890, a man named Don Francisco Piria bought a large area of land. This land included Cerro Pan de Azúcar and stretched all the way to the beach. Piria was the person who founded the seaside town of Piriápolis.
The hill was full of strong rock called granite. Piria decided to use one side of the hill as a quarry. A quarry is a place where rocks are dug out of the ground. This quarry provided granite rocks to build many parts of Piriápolis. More than 500 workers found jobs here, helping to build the new town.
The Cross and Nature Reserve
Years later, in 1933, a famous sculptor named José Luis Zorrilla de San Martín worked with Father Engels Walters. Together, they built the tall, 35-meter cross that stands on the hill's summit today.
Much later, in 1980, the nature reserve and animal breeding center was started on the east side of the hill. This center works to protect animals that are in danger of disappearing.
Images for kids
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Cerro Pan de Azúcar seen from the Nature Reserve.
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The Nature Reserve seen from the hill.
See also
- Cerro Catedral
- Cerro de las Ánimas
- Geography of Uruguay
