Sierra de Luquillo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sierra de Luquillo |
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | El Toro |
| Elevation | 3,526 ft (1,075 m) |
| Geography | |
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| Location | Puerto Rico |
| Parent range | Cordillera Central |
The Sierra de Luquillo is a group of mountains found in the northeast part of Puerto Rico. People also call them the Luquillo Mountains. These mountains are very steep and covered in thick forests. They reach heights of about 3,526 feet (1,075 meters). The tallest point is a peak called El Toro, and close behind it is Pico El Yunque.
Contents
What is the Geography of the Luquillo Mountains?
The mountains of the Sierra de Luquillo were formed by tectonic activity a long time ago, between 37 and 28 million years ago. This area is special because it sits where the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate meet. The main types of rocks you'll find here are pyroclastic rocks (formed from volcanic ash), quartzdiorite, and hornfels. You might also see some alluvium (river deposits), basalt, and mafic rocks.
Nine rivers start in these mountains. They flow down through rocky paths before reaching the flat coastal areas. Winds from the east, coming off the Atlantic Ocean, rise and cool as they pass over the mountains. This causes a lot of rain, with about 197 inches (5,000 mm) falling each year on the mountain ridges. The lower parts of the mountains get less rain, but the very tops are often covered in clouds.
The Sierra de Luquillo has several peaks connected by a ridge that looks like a horseshoe. Some of the important peaks, going from west to east, include El Toro, El Cacique, and El Yunque. These are connected by a ridge called Cuchilla el Duque to Pico del Oeste and Pico del Este.
What are the Tallest Peaks in Sierra de Luquillo?
The highest mountains in the Sierra de Luquillo are:
- El Toro - 3,526 feet (1,075 meters)
- El Yunque - 3,461 feet (1,054 meters)
- Pico del Este - 3,408 feet (1,038 meters)
- Pico del Oeste - 3,339 feet (1,017 meters)
- El Cacique - 3,326 feet (1,013 meters)
- Roca El Yunque - 3,270 feet (996 meters)
- Los Picachos - 3,041 feet (926 meters)
- Mount Britton - 3,011 feet (917 meters)
- Cerro La Mina - 2,919 feet (889 meters)
What Plants and Animals Live in the Luquillo Mountains?
The mountains are covered with rainforest, and much of it is part of the El Yunque National Forest. This forest is home to about 240 types of native trees. About 88 of these tree species are rare, and around 25 species are found nowhere else in the world! There are also about 150 types of ferns. Many epiphytes, which are plants that grow on other plants, live on the trees. This includes about 50 types of orchids.
Common trees in the Sierra de Luquillo include Cyathea arborea, Prestoea montana, Cecropia peltata, and different kinds of Ocotea. In the cloud forests on the highest peaks, you'll find Weinmannia pinnata, Brunellia comocladifolia, and Podocarpus coriaceus. These high-altitude forests are sometimes called "dwarf forests" or "elfin forests" because the trees are low and dense.
Scientists found that between 1936 and 1988, there were 46 landslides in the upper mountains after heavy rains. These landslides created open spaces where new tree seeds could grow and ferns like Dicranopteris pectitnata could spread. The forest recovers faster after natural events like a tropical cyclone than it does after human activities such as cutting down trees, making charcoal, or farming.
About 127 types of land animals with backbones have been found in the forest. Some of these are very rare, and some are endemic to Puerto Rico, meaning they live only there. The Puerto Rican amazon parrot is in great danger, with fewer than 100 left in the wild. The Puerto Rican broad-winged hawk and Puerto Rican sharp-shinned hawk are also very rare birds. Many other birds visit the island during their yearly migrations.
The Puerto Rican boa snake lives on the lower slopes of the mountains. About 14 types of lizards are found in the forest. Also, 13 types of small tree frogs called coquí live in the canopy (the top layer of trees) and are found only on the island.
See also
In Spanish: Sierra de Luquillo para niños
