Cerro Provincia
Cerro Provincia is a mountain on the eastern side of Santiago, Chile. It is a popular climb due to its accessibility and low level of difficulty by mountaineering standards (an 'F' or 'easy' on the Alpine scale). The peak has an altitude of 2,750 metres (9,022 ft) and a climb requires an altitude gain of almost 2000 meters from the highest road-accessible point. There is a small dome-shaped refuge shelter at the summit. There are fairly well traveled paths that go to the summit and marker posts. The peak offers views of Santiago to the west, the Andes to the east, and Cerro El Plomo to the north.
| Cerro Provincia | |
|---|---|
 A view from the summit of Cerro Provincia in winter | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,750 m (9,020 ft) |
| Coordinates | 33°25′37″S 70°26′04″W |
| Geography | |
  Cerro Provincia | |
| Parent range | Principal Cordillera, Andes |
Climbing
The mountain is commonly climbed from Santiago in a single day. The shortest marked and most commonly used trail to the summit starts near Puente Ñilhue (the Ñilhue Bridge) in the valley on the north side that contains a stream feeding the Mapocho River. There are several camping sites on the lower part of the mountain, and there is a small refuge at the top.
The mountain is extremely hot, dry, and shadeless during the daytime in summer. However, nights at the summit can be near freezing even in the hottest days of the summer.
Flora and fauna
Flora and fauna on the mountain include cacti, small shrubs, short trees, lizards, occasional viscachas, and birds, including hawks and condors. There are also feral horses, donkeys and cows. The horses can occasionally be seen grazing at the summit.
See also
- Cerro de Ramón
External links
- Entry in the Andes Handbook (in Spanish)
- Andes Terrae entry (in Spanish)
- A summit log by Rodrigo Sandoval (in Spanish)