Cerro Maravilla

This article is about the mountain in Puerto Rico. For the killings that occurred on the mountain in 1978, see Cerro Maravilla murders.

Cerro Maravilla
Cerro Maravilla Barrio Anón Ponce, Puerto Rico
Highest point
Elevation	3,953 ft (1,205 m) [1]
Coordinates	18°09′11″N 66°33′15″W / 18.15306°N 66.55417°WCoordinates: 18°09′11″N 66°33′15″W / 18.15306°N 66.55417°W
Geography
Location	Barrio Anón Ponce, Puerto Rico
Parent range	Cordillera Central
Climbing
Easiest route	PR-143 (km 21.9) at PR-577 Barrio Anón Ponce, Puerto Rico

Cerro Maravilla is Puerto Rico's fourth highest peak^[2] at 1,205 meters (3,953 ft). It is located on the northern edge Barrio Anón in Ponce,^[3][4] close to the border with the municipality Jayuya,^[5] and is part of the Cordillera Central (Central Mountain Range). It is known as El Cerro de los Mártires ("Mountain of the Martyrs") and characterized as the most infamous peak in Puerto Rico, due to the 1978 Cerro Maravilla murders which took place here.^[6]

Location and access

PR-143 Westbound approaching PR-577 which leads to Cerro Maravilla, in Barrio Anon, Ponce

The peak is located at the end of the 0.5 km-long Puerto Rico Highway 577, which is accessible via Puerto Rico Highway 143, traveling either westbound or eastbound. PR-143 is a secondary two-way, two-lane mountainous road that is relatively well traveled. The peak's coordinates are: 18°9′8.34″N 66°33′17.63″W / 18.1523167°N 66.5548972°W.

The height of the mountain makes for some interesting sights. For example, on clear days both the northern and southern coasts of the island can be appreciated simultaneously. In the winter season, the air is crisp and the temperature at night will usually fluctuate between the 40s and 60s degrees Fahrenheit. The chirping of the familiar "coquies" is prominent after nightfall.

Cerro Maravilla incident

The peak might be best known for being the place where two Puerto Rico independence activists were slain on July 25, 1978 in a police ambush (see Cerro Maravilla murders.) This controversy has since turned the mountain into a meeting point for supporters of the independence of the Puerto Rican Commonwealth to gather annually to remember the murdered activists and condemn the current colonial status.

Climate

The following table charts the climate at Cerro Marravilla throughout the year.

Climate data for Cerro Maravilla (1981-2010)
(Climate - [Cfb] Subtropical Highland)

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	85 (29)	87 (31)	90 (32)	82 (28)	94 (34)	90 (32)	87 (31)	94 (34)	98 (37)	85 (29)	88 (31)	92 (33)	98 (37)
Average high °F (°C)	61.6 (16.4)	64.8 (18.2)	66.6 (19.2)	67.2 (19.6)	68.0 (20)	70.4 (21.3)	75.6 (24.2)	75.4 (24.1)	75.1 (23.9)	70.6 (21.4)	68.7 (20.4)	66.0 (18.9)	65.6 (18.7)
Average low °F (°C)	49.0 (9.4)	47.7 (8.7)	55.4 (13)	57.9 (14.4)	59.8 (15.4)	62.0 (16.7)	64.3 (17.9)	65.4 (18.6)	61.8 (16.6)	61.7 (16.5)	59.3 (15.2)	52.6 (11.4)	57.4 (14.1)
Record low °F (°C)	30 (−1)	34 (1)	32 (0)	41 (5)	41 (5)	45 (7)	50 (10)	50 (10)	42 (6)	42 (6)	41 (5)	39 (4)	40 (4)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	3.81 (96.8)	3.64 (92.5)	5.12 (130)	8.57 (217.7)	12.14 (308.4)	7.06 (179.3)	6.09 (154.7)	10.39 (263.9)	13.68 (347.5)	15.66 (397.8)	9.03 (229.4)	4.13 (104.9)	99.32 (2,522.7)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	0.004 (0.01)	0 (0.00)	0 (0.00)	0 (0.00)	0 (0.00)	0 (0.00)	0 (0.00)	0 (0.00)	0 (0.00)	0 (0.00)	0 (0.00)	0 (0.00)	0 (0.00)
Average rainy days	15	5	3	11	25	19	21	25	25	23	26	21	219
Average snowy days	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Average relative humidity (%)	75	55	52	69	80	65	70	77	77	78	82	75	71.3
Source #1: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [7]
Source #2: Southeast Regional Climate Center [8]

See also

• Cerro Maravilla incident

References

1. "Elevations and Distances in the United States". U.S Geological Survey. 29 April 2005. Retrieved November 9, 2006.
2. Puerto Rico's Forest Reserves and Wildlife Sanctuaries: Mountain Forests. El Yunque.com It is Puerto Rico's 4th highest peak. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
3. Historia de Nuestros Barrios: Barrio Anón, Ponce. Rafael Torrech San Inocencio. El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 18 October 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
4. Topographic Map of Barrio Anon, Ponce, PR. US Geological Survey. Lat/Long: 18.1523°N 66.5549°W. Elevation: 3,891 feet (1,186 meters). Drg Name: r18066b5. Drg Source Scale: 1:20,000. Projection: NAD83/WGS84. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
5. US Geological Survey
6. Cerro Maravillas. Stephen Keeling. The Rough Guide to Puerto Rico. Page 337. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
7. "DATOS CONTENIDOS EN LA BASE DE DATOS CLIMATOLOGICA". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
8. "http://www.sercc.com/cgi-bin/sercc/cliMAIN.pl?pr2336". Southeast Regional Climate Center. Retrieved 8 February 2012. External link in |title= (help)