Green Mountain facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Green Mountain, Ascension Island
Entrance to Green Mountain (2011)
Highest point
Elevation	859 m (2,818 ft)
Prominence	859 m (2,818 ft)
Geography
Location	Ascension Island, South Atlantic Ocean
Geology
Age of rock	Holocene
Mountain type	Stratovolcano
Last eruption	Unknown
Climbing
Easiest route	aircraft, then road, then hike

Green Mountain is the highest point on Ascension Island. It is also known as "The Peak." This mountain is famous because it is believed to be one of the few large, man-made forests on Earth.

History and Plant Life

A long time ago, in the early 1800s, famous people like Charles Darwin visited Ascension Island. They said the island was mostly bare rock with very few plants. Some of these plants were endemic, meaning they grew only on Ascension Island and nowhere else in the world.

Scientists think there were only about 25 to 30 types of native plants on the island. Ten of these were endemic. This small number of plants was because the island is quite young, only about one million years old. It is also very far from any large landmass, over 1,500 kilometers away.

In 1843, a British plant collector named Joseph Dalton Hooker visited the island. He suggested a plan to plant many trees and other plants. His idea was to try and increase rainfall. This would make life better for the soldiers stationed there. Hooker believed that having a farm manager was key to making his plan work.

Planting Success

After Hooker's visit, many new plants were brought to Ascension Island. From one point of view, his plan was a huge success. An official report from 1865 said that Green Mountain now had thick forests with 40 different kinds of trees. It also had many shrubs. Because of all this new plant life, the island's water supply became excellent.

By the early 1900s, many fruits like bananas and guavas were growing wild. It is unlikely that more plants actually made it rain more. However, the extra plants probably helped to catch more mist and fog. This "occult deposition" added to the water supply.

A Unique Ecosystem

The new forest that grew on Green Mountain is called a cloud forest. It is a mix of plants from many different places. These plants came from woodlands, grasslands, and shrublands. The ecosystem that formed is very interesting because it is almost entirely man-made. This happened because different types of plants from various climates interacted with each other.

However, this new ecosystem also caused problems. The plants brought in by the British threatened some of the few native Ascension Island species. Because of this, Green Mountain is now a national park. In this park, special efforts are made to protect the endemic plant species.

Geography and How to Visit

Green Mountain is located within the national park area. You can get there by taking the main road from Georgetown. However, cars cannot go all the way to the top of the mountain.

There is a walking path that leads up to some old buildings and a water collection area that is no longer used. The path continues to a viewing station. Here, you will also find a "Dew Pond." This is a pond formed by water collecting on top of the mountain.

The area is looked after for visitors. A clear path is kept through the thick plants. The very top of the mountain is marked by an old anchor chain. This chain is just above the Dew Pond.

Images for kids

• 

  The Old Water Catchment Area, which was once the main supply of water for the island.

• 

  View from atop Green Mountain, showing Ascension island and the settlement of Two Boats in centre.

• 

  House on the mountain.

See also

In Spanish: Green Mountain (Ascensión) para niños