Maricao State Forest

Maricao State Forest (Spanish: Bosque Estatal de Maricao) is a state forest located in the eastern Cordillera Central mountains of Puerto Rico. It is commonly known as Monte del Estado due to the fact that it was one of the first forest reserves in Puerto Rico to be designated a state forest in its official name.[3] With an area of 10,803 acres (43.72 km2), the Maricao State Forest is the largest of the 20 forestry units of the Puerto Rico state forest system.[2]

Maricao State Forest
Spanish: Bosque Estatal de Maricao
Water stream at El Monte del Estado
Map
Map showing the location of Maricao State Forest
Map showing the location of Maricao State Forest
Geography
LocationMaricao, Sabana Grande, San Germán
Coordinates18°07′22″N 66°58′29″W[1]
Elevation1,417 feet (432 m)[1]
Area10,803 acres (43.72 km2)[2]
Administration
Established1919[2]
Governing bodyPuerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources

History

The Maricao State Forest was created after a proclamation on December 22, 1919, by then Governor of Puerto Rico Arthur Yager.[2]

Geography

The forest location makes its environment unique in Puerto Rico for its humid climate, its serpentinite soils and its high rate of animal and plant endemicity.[2] The forest is located on the western region of the Cordillera Central of Puerto Rico and encompasses 10,803 acres (43.72 km2) of land in a high rainfall area through the municipalities of San Germán, Sabana Grande and Maricao.

Climate

In summer the climate is warm and humid. Thunderstorms are common, along with temperature around 85 °F with heat index in the upper 90s during the daytime. In summer, nighttime is usually cool with low temperature in the mid- to lower 60s. In winter, it is very dry, the forest with mild temperature in daytime and cold in nighttime. Occasional days drop to 40 °F with mid-30s wind chill.

Geology

Almost 100% of the soils of the Maricao forest are derivates of serpentinite, a metamorphic rock that produces red and argillaceous soil whenever it crumbles down. More than 80% of the forest ground is low in depth and close to the bedrock. These soils are acidic with high contents of iron and aluminum oxides.[2]

Biology and ecology

Flora

There are 1,164 species of plants in the forest. Of the 128 species of endemic plants of Puerto Rico, 23 are in the Maricao State Forest. There are plantations of mahogany, eucalyptus, Honduras pine, and others.[2]

Fauna

There are 136 species of birds recorded in the park, 23 of which are endemic. Some examples are the Puerto Rican sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus venator), which is an endangered subspecies, and the Puerto Rican emerald (Chlorostilbon maugaeus).[2]

Recreation
"Casa de Piedra" ruins, Monte del Estado

Due to its location along the Luis Muñoz Marín Scenic Route (better known as the Ruta Panorámica), the Maricao State Forest offers some iconic panoramic views of the Cordillera Central and the southwestern coast of Puerto Rico.[4] In clear days it is possible to observe the city of Mayagüez and even Mona Island from the Santa Ana Observation Tower (better known as Torre de Piedra).[2] The forest has hiking trails and is featured in Caribbean guides[4] as an important destination for birdwatching.[5][6] Hiking trails are accessible from route PR-120, from the Monte del Estado Ecological Park (Parque Ecológico Monte del Estado) and the Monte del Estado Vacation Center (Centro Vacacional Monte del Estado),[7] both of which also provide limited camping and lodging to visitors.[8][9]

In addition to the Torre de Piedra, other historic attractions within the state forest include the Stone House (Casa de Piedra), the ruins of a former architectural gem built during President Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps works during the 1930s,[10] and the Maricao Fish Hatchery, built in 1937 for research purposes[11] and now listed under the National Register of Historic Places as one of the New Deal Era Constructions in the Forest Reserves of Puerto Rico (1933-1942).[12]

Curet Falls (Salto Curet) is an impressive waterfall located along the Lajas River in the northeastern section of the forest reserve.[13] Other waterfalls found in the forest area include El Pilón and La Iglesia waterfalls.[14]

See also

References
  1. "Bosque Estatal de Maricao". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. "12 Jun El Bosque Estatal de Maricao". Departmento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  3. "Maricao, Puerto Rico". welcome.topuertorico.org. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  4. DK Travel (20 September 2016). DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Caribbean. DK Publishing. pp. 214–. ISBN 978-1-4654-5979-4.
  5. Fodor's Travel Publications, Inc. (2008). Fodor's Puerto Rico. Fodor's Travel Publications. pp. 247–. ISBN 978-1-4000-0731-8.
  6. "Bosque Estatal de Maricao | Maricao, Puerto Rico Attractions". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  7. "Parque Ecológico Monte del Estado". Discover Puerto Rico. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  8. "Parque Ecológico Monte del Estado". Conoce a Puerto Rico. 2016-05-09. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  9. "Centro Vacacional Monte del Estado". Conoce a Puerto Rico. 2016-05-11. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  10. "Casa De Piedra". Discover Puerto Rico. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  11. "Vivero de Peces de Maricao". Discover Puerto Rico. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  12. United States Department of the lnterior, National Park Service. "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form for Vivero de Peces de Maricao" (PDF).
  13. "Salto Curet | Maricao, Puerto Rico Attractions". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  14. "Trek to Salto Curet in Maricao". www.puertoricodaytrips.com. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
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