Sierra Cristal National Park

Sierra Cristal National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Sierra Cristal) is a national park in Cuba. It is located in the municipalities of Mayarí and Sagua de Tánamo in southern Holguín Province. It was the first National Park created in Cuba in 1930,[2] and covers an area of 185.37 km² (71.57 sq mi).[1]

Sierra Cristal National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Sierra de Cristal
Location of Sierra Cristal National Park in Cuba
Location	Holguín Province, Cuba
Nearest city	Mayarí
Coordinates	20°32′31″N 75°28′34″W
Area	185.37 km^2 (71.57 sq mi) [1]
Established	1930[2]

Overview

It is located in the heights of Sierra Cristal (Cristal Mountains), one of the highest mountain range in Cuba (second only to Sierra Maestra). Cristal Peak (Pico Cristal) reaches an elevation of 1,300 m (4,300 ft).

Conservation

The ranges are dominated by pine forests. Cuban pine (Pinus cubensis) can reach heights of 30 m (98 ft) in this area. The endangered Cuban solenodon (Solenodon cubanus) can be found in Sierra Cristal.

A research center established in 1988 in Pinares de Mayarí monitors the ecology of the region.[3]

See also

• Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa

References

1. National Protected Areas System of Cuba. "Protected Areas". Archived from the original on 2007-08-10. Retrieved 2007-10-10.
2. National Protected Areas System of Cuba. "Antecedentes del Sistema Nacional de Areas Protegidas". Archived from the original on 2007-05-20. Retrieved 2007-10-10.
3. Radio Habana. "Sierra Cristal: el primer parque nacional cubano" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2007-10-04. Retrieved 2007-10-10.