El Yunque National Forest

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El Yunque National Forest
Puerto Rico El Yunque 1.jpg
El Yunque in the far background, as seen from the east
USA Puerto Rico location map.svg
Red pog.svg
LocationPuerto Rico
Nearest city Río Grande, PR
Coordinates 18°19′N65°47′W / 18.317°N 65.783°W / 18.317; -65.783
Area28,434 acres (115.07 km2) [1]
EstablishedJanuary 17, 1903;121 years ago (1903-01-17)
Governing body U.S. Forest Service
Website http://www.fs.usda.gov/elyunque/

El Yunque National Forest (Spanish : Bosque Nacional El Yunque), formerly known as the Caribbean National Forest (or Bosque Nacional del Caribe), [2] [3] is a forest located in northeastern Puerto Rico. While there are both temperate and tropical rainforests in other states and territories, it is the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Forest System and the United States Forest Service. [4] El Yunque National Forest is located on the slopes of the Sierra de Luquillo mountains, encompassing more than 28,000 acres (43.753 mi2 or 113.32 km2) of land, making it the largest block of public land in Puerto Rico.

Contents

The highest mountain peak in the forest rises 3,494 feet (1,065 m) above sea level. The second highest mountain within El Yunque forest is also named Pico El Yunque. Other peaks within the national forest are Pico del Este, Pico del Oeste, El Cacique and El Toro, which is the highest point in eastern Puerto Rico and the Sierra de Luquillo.

Ample rainfall (over 20 feet a year in some areas, or an average of 120 inches of water up to 240 inches of water a year) creates a jungle-like setting—lush foliage, crags, waterfalls, and rivers are a frequent sight. The forest has a number of trails from which the jungle-like territory's flora and fauna can be appreciated. El Yunque forest is also renowned for its unique Taíno petroglyphs. It is said that indigenous people believed that El Yunque was the throne of their chief god Yúcahu, so that it is the Caribbean equivalent to Mount Olympus in Greek mythology.

Naming and etymology

The three-pointed zemi is often said to represent Yokahu Three-pointed sculpture with carved face (zimi), Taino Culture, Puerto Rico, c. 1000-1494 AD, stone - Fitchburg Art Museum - DSC08790.JPG
The three-pointed zemi is often said to represent Yokahu

El Yunque is the name of the mountain peak, Pico El Yunque, the name of the forest and, colloquially on some occasions, the name for the entire Sierra de Luquillo range. El Yunque most likely comes from or relates to the Spanish word yunque, meaning anvil. This name references the relatively high and flat shape of the Sierra de Luquillo range when observed from the north (El Yunque Peak) or the south (El Toro). It is also said that the Spanish name might have also been influenced by the native names for the mountain: Yukén or Yuke possibly meaning "white land", and Luquillo or Yukiyu, another name for the spirit or deity Yokahu and also the name of a legendary cacique, Loquillo. [5] [6] It is not known whether the mountain gives its name to the range or vice versa.

History

View from the Three Peaks (Tres Picachos) in El Yunque Awesome view form the Three Peaks in El Yunque.jpg
View from the Three Peaks (Tres Picachos) in El Yunque

The area of the El Yunque National Forest has been notable since the pre-Columbian era. The forest today is home to several archaeological sites related to the indigenous Taínos, such as the Río Blanco petroglyphs, although no evidence of permanent settlement has been found in the area, which suggests that it was possibly avoided and most likely considered sacred. [7] [8]

Radar towers, such as this one in Pico del Este, installed by the US Navy during the Second World War. Radar towers atop a mountain at El Yunque rain forest - panoramio.jpg
Radar towers, such as this one in Pico del Este, installed by the US Navy during the Second World War.

The Spanish began the conquest the island of Borinquen in 1493, and gold was soon found in the Fajardo and Blanco Rivers in 1509, which sparked interest in gold mining in the area. By 1513 there were gold mines in both river areas and gold was soon found in other rivers of the mountain range such as the Sabana, Prieto, La Mina, Mameyes, Espíritu Santo and Canóvanas rivers. The period of gold mining in the area however ended in 1530 when miners and settlers started being attacked by rebelling Taínos, and the area would not be settled again until the 17th century. The area where El Portal Rainforest Visitor Center is located used to be the site of a coffee plantation named Hacienda Catalina. Coffee was introduced and cultivated in the slopes of El Yunque in the 1730s but the area remained relatively untouched until the 19th century when the lowland forests were exploited for timber and cut down for the development of agriculture, which attracted the attention of the Spanish Crown. The forest during this time was part of the Crown Lands of Puerto Rico and in 1853 the Spanish government sent foresters from the Inspección de Montes (the Spanish Forest Service) to survey the land. Due to the rapid population growth in the island and the poor farming practices of the impoverished European immigrants of the time, the forest region was formally set aside in 1876 by King Alfonso XII of Spain with the purpose of preserving the soil and water resources and regulating the timber industry the region. This makes El Yunque one of the oldest reserves in the Western Hemisphere, only four years younger than Yellowstone National Park. [7] The Spanish Crown ceded Puerto Rico to the United States in 1898. At the time, most of the original forests in Puerto Rico had been either cut or burned down, and the highlands of the Sierra de Luquillo contained the last remaining tracts of untouched forest in the island. President Theodore Roosevelt set aside the previous Crown Lands of El Yunque area, and the Luquillo Forest Reserve was established on 17 January 1903 by the United States General Land Office with 65,950 acres (266.9 km2). It became a National Forest in 1906 and renamed the Caribbean National Forest on 4 June 1935. [9] The forest was still used for timber during the First and Second World Wars, and several military installations such as radars and communications infrastructure were installed in the forest, particularly on the highest peaks, such as the early-warning radar site installed in Pico El Yunque to observe and protect against possible incursions by German aircraft and submarines. [7] [10] [5]

A view of the forest after Hurricane Maria, which hit on September 20, 2017 - the trees were left leafless. El Yunque National Forest (37793583751).jpg
A view of the forest after Hurricane Maria, which hit on September 20, 2017 - the trees were left leafless.

The Caribbean National Forest was designated an Insular Wildlife Refuge by the US Department of Agriculture in 1946, and reforestation efforts were also established between 1934 and 1948 to revitalize the parts of the forest that had been formerly lost due to human activity. The Luquillo Experimental Forest was established in 1956 to promote scientific research and expand conservation efforts for the critically endangered Puerto Rican parrot and the recently discovered yet endangered elfin woods warbler. Most of the recreational infrastructure was developed in the 1980s and the field offices were moved to their current location in 1981. [7] The National Science Foundation established El Verde Field Station in 1988 under an agreement with the US Forest Service as a primary site for the Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research (Luquillo-LTER, now managed by the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras) with the goal of supporting scientific research of tropical ecosystems due to the occurrence of five out of six of Holdridge's life zones and forest types. [11] The forest was heavily damaged by Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and Hurricane Georges in 1998, and it is estimated that only 23 individual parrots remained in the wild afterwards. Between 2000 and 2002, 35 captive parrots were released into the wild as part of a program to save the critically endangered bird. An executive order signed by President George W. Bush on 2 April 2007 changed the name of the Caribbean National Forest to El Yunque National Forest, better reflecting the cultural and historical feelings of the Puerto Rican people. [12] Hurricanes Irma and Maria caused deforestation, landslides and heavy damage to the forest and its infrastructure in 2017, drastically reducing the Puerto Rican parrot population once again. [8] As of 2020 the population has begun to recover and the captive population's reproduction rates has also doubled under the supervision of the Fish and Wildlife Service. The Portal Rainforest Visitor Center reopened at the end of 2021, after being reconstructed following Hurricane Maria. El Yunque National Forest today extends over 28,000 acres through the municipalities of Río Grande, Luquillo, Naguabo, Ceiba, Fajardo, Canóvanas and Las Piedras.

Climate

View from the top of Pico El Yunque with exceptional visibility View direction Dos Picachos from El Pico in El Yunque National Forest.JPG
View from the top of Pico El Yunque with exceptional visibility

Because Puerto Rico is located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, it has a tropical climate, more specifically a tropical rainforest climate, with higher elevations over 3,000 feet bordering on a subtropical highland climate. There is no distinct wet or dry season in El Yunque; it rains year-round. The temperature and length of daylight remain fairly constant throughout the year. The average temperature in the summer is 80 °F (26 °C) high and 68 °F (20 °C) low and in the winter 72 °F (22 °C) high and 58 °F (15 °C) low, Temperatures can drop below 50 °F (10 °C) on clear nights during the winter, but never below freezing. All of these factors provide a year-round growing season.

Ecology and conservation

La Mina River and trail in El Yunque - leads to La Mina roaring waterfall and connects to the Big Trees Trail. The La Mina river and trail in El Yunque.jpg
La Mina River and trail in El Yunque - leads to La Mina roaring waterfall and connects to the Big Trees Trail.

Its ecosystem is specifically surveyed by the Management Team of Ecosystems (Equipo de Manejos de Ecosistemas), which is led by Pedro Rios. [13] Due to its location in the northeastern part of Puerto Rico, the incoming trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean bash into the mountains, leading to an excess of rainfall registered at about 240 inches (6.1 m) per year. [13] This process is called orographic lift and accounts for the intense rainfall and constant cloud presence in this mountainous region. This constant cloud cover and persistent winds produced by the adiabatic process of air particles rushing up through the mountainside has affected the morphology of El Yunque, but the most effect has been on the bosque enano or dwarf forest. [14]

The forest is home to over 200 species of trees and plants, 16 of which are endemic to the forest. [15] The critically endangered Puerto Rican amazon (Amazona vittata), with an estimated wild population of 58–80 individuals in the wild, occurred exclusively in this forest until 19 November 2006, when another wild population was released by the Department of Natural Resources in the municipality of Utuado's Río Abajo State Forest. [16]

El Yunque National Forest contains one designated wilderness area, El Toro Wilderness, which is the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Wilderness Preservation System. [17]

Baño de Oro Natural Area

Baño de Oro Natural Area
Rain Forest of El Yunque, Puerto Rico.jpg
Location Río Grande, Puerto Rico
Established1949
Designated1980

The Baño de Oro Natural Area is an 1,840-acre Research Natural Area and National Natural Landmark located within El Yunque National Forest. The Research Natural Area was established by the United States Department of Agriculture's Forest Service in 1949 with the goal of preserving a forest area situated between 800 ft. and 3,365 ft. in elevation encompassing two life zones, a rare Pterocarpus swamp, and four major forest types that are free of human disturbance for the purpose of scientific study, education and future conservation efforts. Baño de Oro is listed as a National Natural Landmark since 1980. [18] [19]

Flora

El Yunque is composed of four different forest vegetation areas: Tabonuco Forest, Palo Colorado Forest, Sierra Palm Forest, and the Dwarf Forest. El Yunque forest supports a vast array of animal and plant life that varies depending on the altitude range in the rainforest.

Skyline of the Sierra palm tree forest in El Yunque National Forest from a trail. The El Yunque Rain Forest.jpg
Skyline of the Sierra palm tree forest in El Yunque National Forest from a trail.

Sierra palm tree forest

The seeds of the Sierra palm Seeds of the sierra palm.jpg
The seeds of the Sierra palm

This forest area is located at 1,970 feet (600 m) above sea level and is dominated by the Sierra palm tree ( Prestoea montana ). This palm tree can be found throughout the national forest but the shallowness of the soil makes it the dominant tree at this height of the forest.

Palo colorado forest

This forest area is found above 2,500 feet (600–900 m) above sea level and is dominated by the palo colorado ( Cyrilla racemiflora ). The most distinctive features of this tree are its red crooked bark which gives it its Spanish name. These trees are not endemic to the island but they are native to the region. This forest area is a partial old growth forest and some of the palo colorado trees are estimated to be up to 1,000 years old. Due to the shallowness of its bark, the trunks of these trees are commonly used as nesting sites by endangered Puerto Rican parrots ( Amazona vittata ).

Other trees found in the palo colorado forest area caimitillo ( Micropholis garcinifolia ), green caimitillo ( Micropholis garciniaefolia ), yarumo ( Cecropia peltata ), Caribbean azafran ( Hedyosmum arborencens ) and the Sierra palm tree ( Prestoea montana ).

Tabonuco forest

The tabonuco tree ( Dacryodes excelsa ) from which this forest area got its name occurs from 660 to 2800 feet (200 to 900 meters) in the mountains of Puerto Rico as well as other islands that make up the Antilles. The laurel magnolia ( Magnolia splendens ), an endangered magnolia tree that is endemic to eastern Puerto Rico, can be found in this forest area as well. This forest is very diverse in trees, having over 170 species such as bulletwood ( Manilkara bidentata ), West Indian giant fern ( Cyathea arborea ), yarumo ( Cecropia peltata ), macho yarumo ( Didymopanax morototoni ), granadillo ( Buchenavia capitata ) and guaraguao tree ( Guarea guidona ). [20]

Dwarf forest (cloud forest)

The dwarf forest ecosystem is located at around 3,000 feet (910 m) and composes the smallest sub-region in El Yunque forest. The forest is characterized by the variation of vegetation that is only found in Puerto Rico. The vegetation shows stunted growth in which the diameter of the trunk is widened and the number of leaves on the branches is lower than expected. [14] Other specific factors that affect the growth of this sub-region are the high level of acidity and poor water runoff from the soil.

Although many species have adapted to these harsh environments, five species are frequent in the dwarf forest: Ocotea spathulata , Tabebuia rigida , Calyptranthes krugii , Eugenia borinquensis and Calycogonium squamulosum . The other abundant type of plants in the dwarf forest are epiphytes. The great amount of competition in the canopy does not allow lower-level plants to develop and prosper. [21] The characteristic of having a widened tree trunk is ideal for epiphytes that require a host to live. Therefore, a substantial number of epiphytic plants have cemented their existence in the flora of El Yunque forest, specifically in the dwarf forest due to the moisture, precipitation and protection from the sun.

Fauna

Puerto Rican parrots at the aviary in El Yunque Amazona vitatta -Iguaca Aviary, Puerto Rico-8a.jpg
Puerto Rican parrots at the aviary in El Yunque

The national forest is home to numerous species of animals, many of which are endemic to Puerto Rico. In addition to the critically endangered Puerto Rican parrot, other endangered species found in the forest are the Puerto Rican broad-winged hawk ( Buteo platypterus brunnescens ), the Puerto Rican sharp-shinned hawk ( Accipiter striatus venator ), the Elfin woods warbler ( Setophaga angelae ) and the Puerto Rican boa ( Epicratus inornatus ). The white-necked crow ( Corvus leucognaphalus ), which used to be found in the region, has been completely extirpated from the island and is now only found in Hispaniola.

Other animals found within the forest boundaries are the Puerto Rican oriole (Icterus portoricensis), the peregrine falcon ( Falco peregrinus ), red fruit bat ( Stenoderma rufus ), the Puerto Rican giant anole ( Anolis cuvieri ) and the Puerto Rican twig anole ( Anolis occultus ). The endangered American eel (Anguilla rostrata), the fat sleeper fish ( Dormitator maculatus ), the bigmouth sleeper fish ( Gobiomorus dormitor ), big claw river shrimp ( Macrobrachium carcinus ) and the bocú shrimp ( Macrobrachium crenulatum ) are found in the rivers and creeks that originate and flow from El Yunque. [22]

Puerto Rican Amazon

The Puerto Rican parrot or Puerto Rican Amazon is a little parrot that measures 11.0–11.8 in (28–30 cm). The bird is a predominantly green parrot with a red forehead and white rings around the eyes. The species is the only remaining native parrot in Puerto Rico. The total estimated population as of 2012 was 58–80 individuals in the wild and over 300 individuals in captivity. [23]

Coqui

A coqui Common Coqui.jpg
A coquí

Approximately 16 species of common coqui, members of the diverse neotropical frog genus Eleutherodactylus , are known in Puerto Rico. Of these 16, 13 have been found in El Yunque National Forest. [24] This small frog earned its Puerto Rican common name due to the call of the most common coquí species in Puerto Rico, Eleutherodactylus coqui , which begins as the sun sets and ends in early dawn. This has made it an animal of great endearment to Puerto Ricans and in contemporary times the coqui has become a symbol of Puerto Ricans.

Although the coquí is an amphibian, it possesses some features that are unusual in frogs. These differences are seen mainly in its morphology, reproduction, and developmental stages. In terms of morphology, the coquí does not have webbing between its toes because it is a tree dweller in moist environments. Another significant difference is that it does not have a definite larval stage and the eggs laid by the female are terrestrial instead of aquatic. [24] This means that a miniature frog-let, rather than a tadpole, arises from the incubation period.

Other species of coqui found in the forest are the grass coqui ( Eleutherodactylus brittoni ), Eneida's coqui ( Eleutherodactylus eneidae ), the cricket coqui ( Eleutherodactylus gryllus ), Hedrick's coqui (Eleutherodactylus hedricki), the web-footed coqui (Eleutherodactylus karlschmidti), the locust coqui (Eleutherodactylus locustus), the upland or forest coqui ( Eleutherodactylus portoricensis ), the bronze or Richmond's coqui (Eleutherodactylus richmondi), the dwarf coqui (Eleutherodactylus unicolor) and the melodious or wrinkled coqui (Eleutherodactylus wightmanae).

Arthropods

Per a study published October 2018, by Bradford C. Lister and Andres Garcia, arthropod biomass in the Luquillo rainforest data taken during the 1970s compared to 30 years later has fallen 10 to 60 times. The study revealed synchronous declines in the lizards, frogs, and birds that eat arthropods. The study indicated that climate warming is the driving force behind the collapse of the forest's food web. Over the past 30 years, forest temperatures have risen 2.0 °C. [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33]

Recreation

Yokahu Tower Yokahu Tower, El Yunque National Forest.jpg
Yokahu Tower

In addition to being an important ecological forest reserve, El Yunque National Forest is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Puerto Rico,[ citation needed ] both for locals and visitors, and it offers numerous recreational opportunities such as picnicking, birdwatching, and biking in designated areas. Camping is allowed in designated areas (depending on the size of the group) and there are also cabins available for rent. Additionally, the forest is known for its vista points and observation towers: Yokahu Tower and Mount Britton Tower. [34]

Hiking Trails

A map of hiking trails and landmarks along PR-191 in El Yunque National Forest El Yunque Trails Map.png
A map of hiking trails and landmarks along PR-191 in El Yunque National Forest

Hiking is probably the most popular activity in El Yunque National Forest. [35] The forest offers several trails with varying difficulties. [36] The 35.9 mile (57.8 km) long Puerto Rican Northeast Trail also connects to and traverses through El Yunque. [37]

Pico El Yunque

Pico El Yunque Trail (or just El Yunque Trail) is the main hiking trail (or at least the most popular)[ citation needed ] of the forest and it extends for about 5.4 miles that lead to the summit of El Yunque, the second highest point of the Sierra de Luquillo. Although considered moderate in difficulty, some of its side trails are considered to be more challenging; the trail itself has an elevation gain of 1,748 feet. The trailhead is located close to the end of PR-191 and La Mina Falls, next to the Palo Colorado Information Center, in an area of the national forest often referred to as the La Mina Recreational Area. The trail crosses all four biomes of the national forest. It is open year-round and dogs are also allowed on this trail but must be kept on a leash at all times. [38] [39]

Mount Britton Tower

Mt. Britton Tower Trail is a small 1.6-mile trail that starts off at El Yunque Trail and crosses a Sierra palm forest on the way to the top of Mount Britton, the 8th tallest peak in the forest. The summit is part of the cloud forest and it hosts a small lookout tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937 that on clear days offers views of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. [40] The trail has an elevation gain of approximately 650 feet and although it is rated as moderate to difficult. [41]

Los Picachos

The very short but steep trail starts off Pico El Yunque Trail and it extends for little more than 0.2 miles to the top, where a stone masonry platform offers a 360 panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and the eastern coast of Puerto Rico. The vegetation along this trail belongs to that of the rare dwarf forest ecosystem which features "dwarf trees" such as the miniature tree Clusia clusioides , and equally small species of animals such as the dwarf anole ( Anolis occultus ) and the endangered elfin woods warbler (Setophaga angelae). This ecological zone is also known as the elfin woodlands. [42] Although very short, the trail difficulty is classified as moderate to difficult. [43]

Caimitillo

This is a short and easy 0.4-mile trail that begins close to the Sierra Palm Visitor Center on PR-191. The trail crosses a rainy forest primarily inhabited by tree ferns ( Cyathea arborea and Alsophila dryopteroides ) and Sierra palm trees. The trail leads to the Caimitillo picnic area. Dogs are also allowed on this trail but must be kept on a leash at all times. [44]

Angelito

The Angelito Trail is an easy short 0.7-mile-long trail that crosses the tabonuco forest zone leads to the Las Damas Pool, also known as Charco Angelito, a series of natural pools along the Mameyes River. Although the trail is easy visitors must be cautious of the weather since the area is prone to flash flooding. The trail and area were heavily damaged during Hurricane Maria in 2017 but it has recently reopened. Dogs are allowed on the trail but must be kept on a leash. The trailhead is located on PR-988. This trail is the only one in the forest to be located in the municipality of Luquillo. [45]

La Coca

Coca Falls Yunque waterfall.jpg
Coca Falls

This trail is a 1.8 miles one-way trail that is considered to be very challenging, not necessarily for its steepness but for the denseness of the forest foliage it crosses. The trail crosses numerous small steams, waterfalls and a tabonuco tree forest and leads to the lush Mameyes Wild & Scenic River area. This is one of the rainiest parts of the national forest which means the trail is often muddy and slippery so appropriate hiking shoes are necessary. Due to the dense forest in the area, most disappearances in the forest occur along this trail so it is important not to walk off the trail under any circumstance. The trailhead is located on PR-191. [46]

La Mina

Hike to La Mina Falls Hike to La Mina Falls in El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico.jpg
Hike to La Mina Falls

La Mina Trail is a moderate to difficult 0.7-mile-long mile that starts on PR-191 close to the Palo Colorado Information Center. This is another popular hiking trail as it leads to La Mina Falls, one of the most picturesque waterfalls of the national forest. The trail also follows the course of La Mina River, also included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and offers opportunities for swimming in the pool located by La Mina Falls. The trail is closed as of 2021 due to the damage caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017. [47]

Big Tree

This is a paved mile-long self-guided interpretative trail that offers hikers the opportunity to come close to some of the largest trees in the national forest, the tabonuco tree (Dacryodes excelsa). Although paved the trail is considered moderate as it is steep in some sections. It ends in La Mina Falls close to a picnic area. The trail is closed as of 2021 due to the damage caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017. [48]

Río Sabana

This trail is one of the few to be located in the municipality of Naguabo, in the southern portion of the national forest. The trailhead is located on the southern section of PR-191 and it hosts bathrooms and a picnic area. The trail was originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and remained close for many decades but it was finally reopened in 2011 as part of the Sabana Recreation Area. This trail is considered difficult as it crosses dense forest and remote steep areas; it extends 2.2 miles and it connects to the El Toro and Tradewinds Trails in El Toro National Wilderness. [49]

El Toro, Tradewinds

El Toro Wilderness Trail is one of the most remote and challenging trails in El Yunque National Forest. It extends for 2.9 miles on its paved section where it connects to the Río Sabana and the Tradewinds trails. When including the unpaved section (also known as the Tradewinds Trail), the trail extends for almost 5 miles and it leads to El Toro, which at 3,526 feet (1,075 m) is the highest point in both the national forest and eastern Puerto Rico. The trail crosses all four forest biomes through the municipalities of Canóvanas, Río Grande, Las Piedras (at El Toro's summit) and Naguabo, fully within El Toro National Wilderness. This part of the national forest is the best ecologically preserved and it is home to numerous endemic and endangered species such as the Puerto Rican parrot, the Puerto Rican boa, the elfin woods warbler, the red fruit bat, and at least five species of coquis. The trailhead is located on PR-186 in a section of the road known as the El Toro Scenic Byway, in Cubuy, Canóvanas. [50] [51]

Swimming

Kids at play at El Yunque rainforest in 2007 Kids at play at El Yunque rainforest in Puerto Rico in 2007.jpg
Kids at play at El Yunque rainforest in 2007

El Yunque National Forest offers many opportunities for swimming in natural pools often found at the base of waterfalls, such as that of La Mina Falls and the Juan Diego area off PR-191. Some areas available for swimming are the Quebrada Grande Recreation Area and the Espíritu Santo Observation Point off PR-186, the Sabana Recreation Area off the southern section of PR-191 in Naguabo, and the Angelito and Puente Roto Recreation Areas off PR-988 in Luquillo. Most of these areas are prone to flash flooding and as such they are often closed according to weather conditions. [52]

Baño Grande and Baño de Oro are two former swimming pools and recreational areas popular between the 1930s and 1960s. [53] These manmade pools were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the New Deal era by damming creeks belonging to the La Mina River watershed. They were closed due to a series of drownings and other safety issues. Although swimming is no longer possible at these pools, they are preserved as historic sites and have been listed in the National Register of Historic Places due to their historic and architectural value since 2017 and 2020, respectively. [54] [55] Baño de Oro now serves as a watershed garden and Baño Grande is now a popular scenic spot. [56]

El Portal Rainforest Center

El Portal Rainforest Center, central space.jpg
El Portal Rainforest Center
El Portal Rainforest Center of El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico.jpg
El Portal Rainforest Center of El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico

Opened in 1996, the El Portal Rainforest Center was designed by Segundo Cardona, FAIA of Sierra Cardona Ferrer Architects to give visitors an introduction to what the rainforest looks like. Built on a 28,434-acre tropical forest, the Portal was built as a model headquarters for ecotourism and economic development and training, the center was built to educate those concerned about the wellbeing of the Caribbean National Forest and preserve the unique tropical forest heritage and environment. [57] It is located within the national forest in the municipality of Río Grande.

A walkway set at 60 feet (18 m) above the ground allows for a view of the tops of trees, and another walkway winds along tree bases. Exhibits at the center focus on the plants and animals of the rainforest, the importance of rainforests around the world, and threats to rainforests and efforts to conserve them. [58]

The entry experience begins atop an elevated walkway that unites the facility with the surrounding forest and provides views to the mountain peaks, ocean and reforested terrain. The Center contains 9,000 square feet of exhibits, an enclosed theater, conference center classrooms and laboratories, as well as administrative offices. To preserve natural conditions, care was taken to use existing openings for roads, parking areas and buildings while the arrival sequence and parking lots were designed with contours to save existing trees. [59] [60]

The Portal has survived several major hurricanes including Hurricane Georges. On September 21, 2017, Hurricane Maria on caused major damages to the center and renovations are underway as of 2020. [61] El Portal Rainforest Center reopened to visitors in January 2022. [62]

Miscellaneous

El Yunque National Forest has been incorrectly called the only rainforest in the United States National Forest Service, [note 1] but it is actually the only tropical rainforest. [63] There are others that are temperate rainforests including some in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. [64]

In 2002, the U.S. Congress designated areas bounded by the Río Mameyes, Río de la Mina, and Río Icacos in the Caribbean National Forest as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. [65]

Contrary to the popular assumption, El Yunque Peak is not the highest mountain in either the Sierra de Luquillo or Puerto Rico. The highest mountain of the Sierra de Luquillo is El Toro, also located in the national forest, while the highest mountain in Puerto Rico is Cerro de Punta in the Cordillera Central on the border between Jayuya and Ponce. [66]

El Yunque is also the object of Puerto Rican folklore and pop culture. Along with the coqui and the Puerto Rican parrot, El Yunque is considered a symbol of Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans. Along with the former two, it was chosen to be Puerto Rico's entry in the America the Beautiful Quarters program. Puerto Rico's only National Park Service site, San Juan National Historic Site had already been featured on the District of Columbia and United States Territories Quarters in 2009.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ See, for example, Puerto Rico - Nature and Scientific Wonders. Smithsonian Institution. 6 November 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2013; Frommer's Puerto Rico. Frommer's Introduction to El Yunque. Retrieved 15 August 2013;Puerto Rico Chapter Marks Milestones, Looks Ahead. Sierra Club. Retrieved 15 August 2013;Hiking in Puerto Rico. Archived 2014-04-07 at the Wayback Machine Matthew Gilbertson and Amanda Morris. 25 March 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2013.

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The geography of Puerto Rico consists of an archipelago located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Hispaniola, west of the Virgin Islands, and north of Venezuela. The main island of Puerto Rico is the smallest and easternmost of the Greater Antilles. With an area of 8,897 square kilometres (3,435 sq mi), it is the third largest island in the United States and the 82nd largest island in the world. Various smaller islands and cays, including Vieques, Culebra, Mona, Desecheo, and Caja de Muertos comprise the remainder of the archipelago with only Culebra and Vieques being inhabited year-round. Mona is uninhabited through large parts of the year except for employees of the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Yunque (Puerto Rico)</span> Mountain in Puerto Rico

Pico El Yunque or El Yunque Peak 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Río Grande, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

Río Grande is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located on the eastern edge of the Northern Coastal Valley, north of Las Piedras, Naguabo and Ceiba; east of Loíza and Canóvanas and west of Luquillo. Río Grande is spread over eight barrios and Río Grande Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area. A big portion of El Yunque National Forest, including El Yunque's peak, is located within the municipality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puerto Rican amazon</span> Parrot endemic to the archipelago of Puerto Rico

The Puerto Rican amazon, also known as the Puerto Rican parrot or iguaca, is the only extant parrot endemic to the archipelago of Puerto Rico, and belongs to the Neotropical genus Amazona. Measuring 28–30 cm (11.0–11.8 in), the bird is a predominantly green parrot with a red forehead and white rings around the eyes. Its closest relatives are believed to be the Cuban amazon and the Hispaniolan amazon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cordillera Central (Puerto Rico)</span> Mountain range in Puerto Rico

Cordillera Central, is the main mountain range in Puerto Rico. The range crosses the island from west to east and divides it into its northern and southern coastal plains. The Cordillera Central runs eastward from the municipality of Maricao in the west to Aibonito in the central eastern region, and on to the Caribbean in the southeast through the Sierra de Cayey.

Coquí is a common name for several species of small frogs in the genus Eleutherodactylus native to Puerto Rico. They are onomatopoeically named for the very loud mating call which the males of two species, the common coqui and the upland coqui, make at night. The coquí is one of the most common frogs in Puerto Rico, with more than 16 different species found within its territory, including 13 in El Yunque National Forest. Other species of this genus can be found in the rest of the Caribbean and elsewhere in the Neotropics, in Central and South America. The coquí is an unofficial national symbol of Puerto Rico; there is a Puerto Rican expression that goes, "Soy de aquí, como el coquí", which translates to "I'm from here, like the coquí."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Toro Wilderness</span> National Wilderness Preservation System in Puerto Rico

El Toro Wilderness is a 10,254-acre (41.5 km2) federally designated National Wilderness Preservation System unit located within El Yunque National Forest on the Sierra de Luquillo in eastern Puerto Rico. El Toro, named after the highest peak in the forest at 3,524 feet (1,074 m), is the only tropical wilderness in the United States National Forest System. It was created in 2005 by the Caribbean National Forest Act of 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toro Negro State Forest</span> State forest in Puerto Rico

Toro Negro State Forest is one of the 21 forests that make up the public forests system in Puerto Rico. It is also Puerto Rico's highest cloud forest. It is in the Cordillera Central region of the island and covers 8,204 cuerdas, of mountains. Toro Negro's mountains have heights reaching up to 4,400 feet (1,300 m) and include Cerro de Punta, Cerro Jayuya and Cerro Rosa, the three highest peaks in the island. Nested among these mountains is Lake Guineo, the island's highest lake. The forest has 18 kilometers (11 mi) of trails, an observation tower, two natural swimming pools (Spanish:"charcos"), camping and picnic areas, nine rivers, and numerous creeks and waterfalls. The forest spans areas within the municipalities of Ponce, Jayuya, Orocovis, Ciales, and Juana Díaz, and consists of seven non-contiguous tracts of land. The largest contiguous segment of the forest is located in the municipalities of Ponce and Jayuya. Some 40% of the area of Toro Negro State Forest is located in Ponce's Barrio Anón.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puerto Rican moist forests</span> Ecoregion in Puerto Rico

The Puerto Rican moist forests are a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in Puerto Rico. They cover an area of 7,544 km2 (2,913 sq mi).

<i>Prestoea acuminata <span style="font-style:normal;">var.</span> montana</i> Species of palm

Prestoea acuminata var. montana is a perennial palm in the family Arecaceae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luquillo Experimental Forest</span> Protected area of tropical rainforest in northeastern Puerto Rico

The Luquillo Experimental Forest is a protected area of tropical rainforest in northeastern Puerto Rico. The experimental forest is located in the Sierra de Luquillo some 50 km (30 mi) east of San Juan, the capital of the island. It is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is used for research into silviculture, forest regeneration, and other purposes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sierra de Luquillo</span> Mountain range in Puerto Rico

The Sierra de Luquillo is a mountain range located in the northeastern part of Puerto Rico. Also known as the Luquillo Mountains, these are steep-sided, densely-forested mountains rising to elevations of around 1,075 m (3,527 ft), the highest point being the summit of El Toro, closely followed by that of Pico El Yunque.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pico del Este (Sierra de Luquillo)</span> Mountain peak in Puerto Rico

Pico del Este is a mountain peak in the southern portion of the Sierra de Luquillo, located on the boundary between the municipalities of Ceiba and Naguabo in eastern Puerto Rico. A radar complex built by the US Navy can be found in the summit of the mountain. Known as the Old Navy Radar, these facilities remain decommissioned and abandoned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Toro (Sierra de Luquillo)</span> Mountain in Puerto Rico

El Toro is 3,526 feet high and is the highest peak in the Sierra de Luquillo mountains in eastern Puerto Rico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carite State Forest</span> Forest in southeastern Puerto Rico

Carite State Forest is a state forest and nature reserve located in the Sierra de Cayey mountain range in southeastern Puerto Rico. The forest extends over approximately 2,600 hectares and is located in the municipalities of Caguas, Cayey, Guayama, Patillas and San Lorenzo. The forest is located along the Ruta Panorámica, which offers access to the forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guilarte State Forest</span> State forest in Puerto Rico

Guilarte State Forest is one of the 20 forests that make up the public forests system in Puerto Rico. The forest is located in the eastern half of the Central Mountain Range or Cordillera Central. The main geographical feature of the forest reserve is Monte Guilarte, which is Puerto Rico's 7th highest mountain at 3,950 feet above sea level. While Monte Guilarte is located in the municipality of Adjuntas, the forest's borders also include parts of Guayanilla, Peñuelas and Yauco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Tres Picachos State Forest</span> Forest in Puerto Rico

Los Tres Picachos State Forest is one of the 20 forests that make up the public forest system of Puerto Rico. The forest is located in the Central Mountain Range or Cordillera Central, along the Los Tres Picachos mountain ridge, one of the island's highest mountains, named after the distinctive three peaks of the highest mountain in the forest. The state forest is located in the municipalities of Jayuya and Ciales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Picachos</span> Mountain peak of El Yunque in Puerto Rico

Los Picachos is a mountain peak of El Yunque massif located immediately to the southeast of El Yunque's main peak in the Sierra de Luquillo. The peak consists of a high ridge made up of several smaller peaks and it is one of the highest peaks of El Yunque National Forest that can be reached by a hiking trail. It is located at 3,041 feet above the sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank H. Wadsworth</span> American forester and conservationist (1915–2022)

Frank Howard Wadsworth was an American forester, conservationist and researcher. He made important scientific contributions to forestry, through his work in Puerto Rico where he lived from 1942 until his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baño de Oro</span> United States historic place

The Baño de Oro Historic Site is a historic recreation center and swimming pool located in the Baño de Oro area of El Yunque National Forest in Río Grande, Puerto Rico. The site of Baño de Oro gets its name from the Baño de Oro Creek, which itself is named after the former Spanish gold panning sites in the area. The wider Baño de Oro Natural Area where the historic site is found was named a National Natural Landmark in 1980 and it is the only contiguous area in Puerto Rico that contains a subtropical wet forest, a rainforest, a dwarf forest, and a Pterocarpus forest.

References

  1. ↑ "Land Areas of the National Forest System" (PDF). U.S. Forest Service. January 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  2. ↑ "History & Culture". U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
  3. ↑ "Executive Order 7059-A of June 4, 1935 Changing the Name of the Luquillo National Forest".
  4. ↑ PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from El Yunque National Forest. United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  5. 1 2 "El Yunque: Its History". El Yunque Inns. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  6. ↑ "El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico". welcome.topuertorico.org. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  7. 1 2 3 4 United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. "History & Culture". fs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2011-12-11.
  8. 1 2 "El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico". welcome.topuertorico.org. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  9. ↑ Davis, Richard C. (2009-09-29). "National Forests of the United States" (PDF). The Forest History Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-28.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. ↑ United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. "The U.S. Military and El Yunque National Forest". fs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2020-11-28.
  11. ↑ "El Verde Field Station". evfs.ites.upr.edu. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  12. ↑ "Executive Order: Renaming a National Forest in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico". Business Wire. 2007-04-02. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  13. 1 2 "About the Forest". U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved 2011-06-11.[ permanent dead link ]
  14. 1 2 Weaver, Peter L. (2008). "Dwarf Forest Recovery After Disturbance in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico". Caribbean Journal of Science. 44 (2): 150–163. doi:10.18475/cjos.v44i2.a4. S2CID   130838921.
  15. ↑ "Endemic plants". USDA. Archived from the original on 2021-04-23.
  16. ↑ "Puerto Rican Amazon | World Parrot Trust". www.parrots.org. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  17. ↑ United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. "El Toro Wilderness".
  18. ↑ "Baño de Oro Natural Area". El Yunque National Forest. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
  19. ↑ "Baño de Oro". El Yunque National Forest. April 3, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Dacryodes excelsa Vahl".
  21. ↑ Mohlenbrock, Robert H. (October 1991). "Epiphytes of El Yunque, Puerto Rico". Natural History: 76.
  22. ↑ "Fauna - Threatened, Endangered, and Species of Conservation Concern". United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. Archived from the original on 2021-05-22. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  23. ↑ "Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office".
  24. 1 2 Burrowes, Patricia A.; Ana V. Longo (June 2010). "Persistence with Chytridiomycosis Does Not Assure Survival of Direct-developing Frogs". EcoHealth: 185–195.
  25. ↑ Garcia, Andres; Lister, Bradford C. (30 October 2018). "Climate-driven declines in arthropod abundance restructure a rainforest food web". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 115 (44): E10397–E10406. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1722477115 . PMC   6217376 . PMID   30322922.
  26. ↑ "Two degrees decimated Puerto Rico's insect populations". phys.
  27. ↑ "Huge Arthropod Declines Documented in Puerto Rican Rainforest". The Scientist Magazine®.
  28. ↑ "Here's what's devastating Puerto Rico's insect populations—and the animals that eat them". Popular Science. 18 March 2019.
  29. ↑ "'Hyper-alarming' study reveals dramatic decline of insect population". The Independent. 16 October 2018.
  30. ↑ Graham, Flora (16 October 2018). "Daily briefing: Insect populations are crashing even in lush, protected tropical rainforests". Nature. doi:10.1038/d41586-018-07082-w. S2CID   134455129 – via www.nature.com.
  31. ↑ Resnick, Brian (17 October 2018). "Why scientists are so worried by the huge, sudden loss of insects". Vox.
  32. ↑ Schlanger, Zoë (16 October 2018). "Humanity is obliterating millions of years of animal evolution". Quartz.
  33. ↑ ‘Hyperalarming’ study shows massive insect loss
  34. ↑ United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. "Camping & Cabins". fs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-08-23.
  35. ↑ United States Department of Agriculture, US Forest Service. "Day Hiking". fs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-08-23.
  36. ↑ "Walking Trails in El Yunque Rainforest | Discovering Puerto Rico". 2007-04-15. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  37. ↑ "Puerto Rico's first backpacking trail traverses El Yunque rainforest". Travel. 2023-02-09. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  38. ↑ United States Department of Agriculture. "El Yunque Trail". US Forest Service. Archived from the original on 2015-02-04.
  39. ↑ "El Yunque Trail". AllTrails. Archived from the original on Jan 1, 2023.
  40. ↑ United States Department of Agriculture. "Mt. Britton Trail and Tower". US Forest Service. Archived from the original on 2015-02-04.
  41. ↑ "Mount Britton Tower Trail". AllTrails.
  42. ↑ Ecoscenario: El Yunque Caribbean National Forest. "El Yunque Caribbean National Forest" (PDF). Central Dauphin School District. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-10-28.
  43. ↑ United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. "Los Picachos". fs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2021-10-30.
  44. ↑ United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. "Caimitillo Trail". usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2015-02-04.
  45. ↑ United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. "Angelito Trail". fs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2020-10-22.
  46. ↑ United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. "La Coca Trail". fs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2021-10-30.
  47. ↑ United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. "La Mina Trail". fs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2015-02-04.
  48. ↑ United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. "Big Tree Trail". fs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2015-02-04.
  49. ↑ United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. "Río Sabana Trail". fs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2021-10-30.
  50. ↑ United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. "El Toro Wilderness Trail". fs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2015-02-04.
  51. ↑ AllTrails. "El Toro Trail". alltrails.com.
  52. ↑ United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. "Swimming". fs.usda.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-10-14.
  53. ↑ United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. "El Yunque's Historic Properties / Propiedades históricas de El Yunque".
  54. ↑ United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service. "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, Baño Grande" (PDF).
  55. ↑ United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service. "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, Baño de Oro" (PDF).
  56. ↑ United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, El Yunque National Forest. "Baño Grande".
  57. ↑ "Nuevos tiempos, nuevas ideas y nuevos momentos". Ocean Drive. 21 December 2010. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  58. ↑ "Explore El Portal Tropical Forest Center in El Yunque Forest". PuertoRico.com. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
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  60. ↑ Cardona, Segundo; Hermida, Teresa, eds. (2008). Segundo Cardona. Guaynabo: DASE. ISBN   978-0-615-15402-2.
  61. ↑ "El Portal Visitors Center". El Yunque National Forest. 2020-04-03. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
  62. ↑ "Portal de El Yunque reabre tras cinco años cerrado". Primera Hora (in Spanish). 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
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  64. ↑ "America's Rainforests". Prince William Network. USDA Forest Service. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  65. ↑ Caribbean National Forest Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 2002. H. R. 3954. One Hundred Seventh (107th) Congress of the United States of America. SECOND SESSION (2nd Session). (PUBLIC LAW 107–365. DEC. 19, 2002. 116 STAT. 3027) 23 January 2002. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
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