Introduction to the Sites
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of the Virgin Islands. It is about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) southeast of Miami, Florida. Puerto Rico is a self governing unincorporated territory of the United States.
Geographic Coordinates: Latitude: 18 15 N Longitude: 66 30 W 9,104 sq km (3,515 sq mi)
The maximum length from east to west (from Punta Puerca to Punta Higuero) of 180 km (110 mi) and with a maximum width from north to south (from Isabella to Punta Colón) of 65 km (40 mi).
El Yunque National Forest
El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rain forest in the U.S. National Forest System. It differs significantly from all the other United States National Forests because of its year-round tropical climate and incredible biodiversity.
The Luquillo Mountains which rise to 3,533 ft. above sea level are mostly comprised of this forested land. Rainfall in the area can reach over 200 inches (508 centimeters) at higher elevations. The forest has an average temperature of 73° F (21° C), with indistinct seasonal changes, a perfect climate for tropical vegetation. The rain forest is noted for its biodiversity and has thousands of native plants including 150 fern species, 240 tree species (88 of these are endemic or rare and 23 are exclusively found in this forest). El Yunque National Forest has hundreds of small animals indigenous to the area, many of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
Source http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/caribbean/about/index.shtml
Source Kamran Saraf, Miami, Florida, USA
Rio Mameyes
Map and stream gauges Here
The area of the Río Mameyes, from the Forest boundary ½ mile west of the Road 988 bridge (Puente Roto) to its headwaters in the Baño de Oro Research National Area. Total length is 4.5 miles.
The portion of the Mameyes, from its headwaters to the confluence with the Río de la Mina, is remote and isolated. The stream course is a mass of jumbled boulders, and numerous small waterfalls and pools. Below the confluence with the La Mina, the Río Mameyes enters a narrow, very scenic, gorge of about one mile in length. Along the gorge run the Carrillo (#9) and La Coca (#8) trails.
The Mameyes Watershed covers 6.88 square miles within the Forest, or 10.4% of the Forest. The average discharge at Station 0655 is 58.6 cubic ft./sec. Water quality is optimum within the study area of the upper segment, since the entire corridor is located in the Baño de Oro natural area, and no development exists. Water quality is good within the study area of the lower segment, affected to some degree by recreation use on the Río de la Mina (a tributary of the Mameyes), and the heavy use near Puente Roto.
The Río Mameyes provides habitat for the Puerto Rican Parrot and the Puerto Rican Boa, both endangered species. The endangered Broad-winged and Sharp-shinned Hawks, and the threatened Peregrine Falcon, are also known to occasionally use the area. No species of sensitive coquís are known to occur in the Río Mameyes, but the numerous waterfalls associated with this system could potentially support populations of the Web-footed Coquí. Suitable habitat also exists for the sensitive Red Fruit Bat.
No endangered plant species are known to occur along the Mameyes. Three sensitive plant species: Niño de Cota (Laplacea portoricensis), Saintedwood (Ternstroemia heptasepala), and Schwaneck’s Logwood (Xylosma schwaneckeanum), are known to occur in the area. The unique Pterocarpus (Pterocarpus officinalis) Forest occurs within the river corridor. Stands of this buttress-rooted tree are uncommon not only on the island but throughout the Caribbean.
The Mameyes River is the only river in the Island that runs un-interrupted from its origin to the sea. Therefore the Mameyes system enjoys the highest natural aquatic diversity and species richness of any Forest watershed; supporting all 5 species of native fish, all 9 species of freshwater shrimp, and its only freshwater crab. Because of its pristine and primitive condition it serves as a baseline for research comparison with all other rivers.
Source http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/caribbean/natural-resources/wild_scenic_rivers_wilderness.shtml
Rio blanco Map and stream gauges Here
