El Cerro del Aripo, at , is the highest point in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is part of the Aripo Massif and is located in the Northern Range on the island of Trinidad, northeast of the town of Arima. El Cerro del Aripo lies on the border of the St. George and St.Andrew Counties in the biodiverse Northern Range. Unlike many of Trinidad's mountain peaks, El Cerro del Aripo has a flat summit from which no views are available. Its climate is subtropical. Due to constant fog and cloud cover, temperature may decrease significantly at night compared to the lowlands, and the orographic influence of the Northern Range produces rainfall in the region that is the highest in the country, possibly exceeding 3500 mm per year. These climate factors of high rainfall, humidity (as fog and cloud), relatively lower temperatures and high winds permit the persistence of

Elfin woodland Dwarf forest, elfin forest, or pygmy forest is an uncommon ecosystem featuring miniature trees, inhabited by small species of fauna such as rodents and lizards. They are usually located at high elevations, under conditions of sufficient air humi ...

and

cloud forest A cloud forest, also called a water forest, primas forest, or tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF), is a generally tropical or subtropical, evergreen, montane, moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud c ...

at the summit, and tropical montane forest on the slopes and upper valleys below. El Cerro del Aripo is home to the golden treefrog, only found in the highest peaks in Trinidad and the Paria Peninsula, Venezuela . The constant cloud/fog cover and lower temperatures associated with the region's high elevation and that support

Cloud Forest A cloud forest, also called a water forest, primas forest, or tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF), is a generally tropical or subtropical, evergreen, montane, moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud c ...

Elfin Woodland Dwarf forest, elfin forest, or pygmy forest is an uncommon ecosystem featuring miniature trees, inhabited by small species of fauna such as rodents and lizards. They are usually located at high elevations, under conditions of sufficient air humi ...

are also factors important to the survival of the elusive frog. It inhabits a type of water-collecting epiphytic bromeliad found at these elevations. Also restricted to the relatively cooler and wetter tropical cloud and montane forests of Cerro del Aripo and other higher reaches of the Northern Range is the endemic so-called Luminous Lizard ''Riama shrevei''. The mountain lies above the

Heights of Aripo Village Heights of Aripo Village is located in the Northern Range of the island of Trinidad. It is presumed this village, which lies in known Amerindian territory of the Nepuyo people, was at one point inhabited by first peoples. The work provided by later ...

and Aripo and Guanapo river valleys. Springs that emanate from the Aripo Massif form the headwaters of the

Caroni River The name Caroni may refer to: *Caroní River, one of the biggest rivers of the Orinoco basin in Venezuela *Caroni River (Trinidad and Tobago), a major river on the island of Trinidad and Tobago *Caroni Swamp, a major wetland on the west coast of th ...

's largest tributaries. The Guanapo river valley features interesting rock gorges associated with these fast flowing streams. The southern slopes and valleys below the Aripo Massif host a number of caves including the

Aripo Cave Aripo Cave (Aripo Main Cave) is a cave in the Northern Range, in Trinidad and Tobago. This is the longest accessible cave in Trinidad and Tobago, with 862 m length and 160 m depth. It is one of several caves created by recrystallised limestone. ...

. The

is home to a large oilbird colony, and features stunning stalactite and stalagmite formations. El Cerro del Aripo is accessible for hikers, and is located near the world-famous Asa Wright Nature Centre. The centre is a bird-watching hotspot and is one of the most biodiverse areas in the West Indies and over 400 species of birds can be viewed from there.

References

*Dominique De-Light, Polly Thomas: ''The Rough Guide to Trinidad and Tobago''. Rough Guides 2001, , p. 167

External links

''Mount Aripo''
at the Encyclopædia Britannica Mountains of Trinidad and Tobago Highest points of countries Trinidad (island) {{-

See also

References

External links