Cordillera Central, Dominican Republic

Cordillera Central
Highest point
PeakPico Duarte
Elevation3,098 m (10,164 ft)[1]
Prominence3,098 m (10,164 ft)[1]
Geography
Cordillera Central is located in the Dominican Republic
Cordillera Central
Cordillera Central
Dominican Republic

The Cordillera Central is the highest mountain range in the Dominican Republic and in all of the Caribbean, running through the center of the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles.[2] It is connected to the Massif du Nord mountain range in Haiti.

Geography

The Cordillera Central is home to the highest peaks in the Caribbean: Pico Duarte (3,098 m or 10,164 ft) (the highest point in the Caribbean),[3] La Pelona (3,094 m or 10,150 ft) and La Rucilla (3,049 m or 10,003 ft). Connected to the smaller Massif du Nord in Haiti, it gradually bends southwards and finishes near the town of San Cristóbal on the Caribbean coastal plains. Because of its altitude, cool temperature, and scenic vistas, the Cordillera Central is also known as the "Dominican Alps".

Parks

José Armando Bermúdez National Park (Parque Nacional Armando Bermúdez) is located in the range, protecting a diversity of flora and fauna species. The pale magnolia tree (Magnolia pallescens), an endangered species endemic to the Dominican Republic, grows in the park.

Other ranges

In the southwest corner of the country, south of the Cordillera Central, there are two, largely dry and rocky ranges. The more northerly of the two is the Sierra de Neiba, while in the south the Sierra de Bahoruco is a continuation of the Massif de la Selle in Haiti.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Maizlish, Aaron (2003). "Central America and Caribbean Ultra Prominence Page". Peaklist.org. Retrieved 2012-04-06.
  2. ^ Bencosme, Fe Liza (13 November 2004). Adventure Guide to the Dominican Republic. Hunter Publishing, Inc. p. 17. ISBN 978-1-58843-402-9.
  3. ^ Latta, Steven; Rimmer, Christopher; Keith, Allan; James Wiley; Herbert A. Raffaele; Kent McFarland; Eladio Fernandez (23 April 2010). Birds of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Princeton University Press. p. 15. ISBN 1-4008-3410-4.
  4. ^ Bulletin. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1948. p. 89.

18°45′N 70°30′W / 18.750°N 70.500°W / 18.750; -70.500

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