El Yunque (Puerto Rico) facts for kids
- This article refers to the mountain. For information on the national forest, see El Yunque National Forest. For the mountain in Cuba, see El Yunque.
Quick facts for kids Pico El Yunque |
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View of El Yunque from the Yokahú Tower in Río Grande, Puerto Rico
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,080 m (3,540 ft) |
| Parent peak | El Toro |
| Naming | |
| Etymology | Yúcahu phonetic Spanish transliteration of Taíno possibly meaning 'white land' and/or El Yunque meaning 'the anvil' in Spanish due to the shape of the mountain range when seen from the south. |
| Geography | |
 Pico El Yunque
Location in Puerto Rico
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| Parent range | Sierra de Luquillo |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike |
Pico El Yunque or El Yunque Peak (Taíno: Yukiyu) is a mountain that is located fully within the boundaries of the El Yunque National Forest, part of the U.S. Forest Service, which is the only tropical rainforest under the U.S. Forest Service jurisdiction. It is located in the municipality of Río Grande. The peak itself, standing at 1,080 metres (3,540 feet) above sea level is not the highest in Puerto Rico or even the Sierra de Luquillo range where it is located. It is however the most famous peak due to its curious shape, its natural environment and history, and for its cultural importance to the Taino people. The peak is nearly always covered in thin mist and, due to its high humidity, a quick shower develops during some afternoons. The hike to the top from the Mina Falls is not challenging yet it takes almost 4 and a half hours.
This peak is located on the El Yunque massif which also contains other smaller peaks such as Mount Britton, Juan Diego Peak and the Roca del Yunque which is a rocky peak close to the summit of El Yunque. El Yunque massif itself is part of the Sierra de Luquillo. The highest point in the Sierra de Luquillo is El Toro (Spanish for the bull) located in the municipal boundary between Río Grande and Las Piedras, which lends its name to the El Toro Wilderness.
Contents
Neighboring Peaks
- Cerro de Punta (1,338 m 4,390 ft)
- Toro Negro (1,074 m 3533 ft)
- Pico Del Oeste (1,056m (3,446 ft)
- El Cacique (1,020m 3,346 ft)
- Mount Briton (937m 3,075 ft)
- La Mina de Pantalones (931m 3,055 ft)
Climate
Classified as having a tropical monsoon climate which is rare, and tends to see less variance in temperatures during the course of the year than a tropical savanna climate. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Am" (Tropical Monsoon Climate). Area receives over 100 inches of rainfall every year.
Images for kids
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Morning mist in El Yunque rainforest by El Yunque peak.
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El Yunque massif with Pico El Yunque, Roca El Yunque and Mount Britton.
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El Yunque view from Mount Britton Tower.
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El Yunque from the north.
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El Yunque from Yocahu Tower.
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Los Picachos (left) and El Yunque (right) covered in fog.
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El Yunque from the Northeast Ecological Corridor.
See also
In Spanish: Pico El Yunque para niños
