Blue Mountains (Jamaica)
Encyclopedia
The Blue Mountains form the longest mountain range in Jamaica
. They include the island's highest point, Blue Mountain Peak
, at 2256 m (7402 ft). From the summit, accessible via a walking track, both the North and South coasts of the island can be seen. On a clear day, the outline of the island Cuba
, 210 km (130.5 mi) away, can also be seen.
As one of the longest continuous mountain ranges in the Caribbean
, the Blue Mountains dominate the eastern third of Jamaica
, while bordering the eastern parishes of Portland
, St. Thomas
, St. Mary
and St. Andrew
to the south. Part of the Blue Mountains is contained in the Blue Mountain John Crow Mountain National Park established in 1992, which is maintained by the Jamaican government.
The Blue Mountains are home to the world's second largest butterfly and the largest in the Americas, the Homerus swallowtail (Papilio homerus
). The Jamaican Coney
(Geocapromys brownii), a type of rodent
, and the Jamaican boa (Epicrates subflavus) are also found there. More than 200 species of birds live in the Blue Mountains, most of which are exclusively neotropical.
were able to escape to the Blue Mountains and live independently. Today the famous Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee
is cultivated between 2000 and 5000 feet above sea level, while higher slopes are preserved as forest. Hagley Gap
and Mavis Bank are farming communities located on Blue Mountain with Hagley Gap being closest to Blue Mountain Peak
. Both towns rely upon the area's rich, fertile soils for growing Blue Mountain Coffee.
Geography of Jamaica
Jamaica lies south of Cuba and west of Haiti. At its greatest extent, Jamaica is , and it varies between . With an area of , Jamaica is the largest island of the Commonwealth Caribbean and the third largest of the Greater Antilles, after Cuba and Hispaniola. Along the south coast of Jamaica, a...
. They include the island's highest point, Blue Mountain Peak
Blue Mountain Peak
Blue Mountain Peak is the highest mountain in Jamaica at 2,256 metres . It is the home of Blue Mountain coffee and their famous tours. Blue Mountain Peak is the second highest peak in the Caribbean after Pico Duarte of the Dominican Republic...
, at 2256 m (7402 ft). From the summit, accessible via a walking track, both the North and South coasts of the island can be seen. On a clear day, the outline of the island Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, 210 km (130.5 mi) away, can also be seen.
Geography
The Blue Mountains rise to these elevations from the coastal plain in the space of about sixteen kilometers, thus producing one of the steepest general gradients in the world. The Blue Mountains form a cooling relief from the sweltering heat of Kingston below. These summits rise and fall along for 24 miles long and 14 miles at its widest point, where the temperature decreases from around 27°C (80°F) at sea level to 5°C (40°F) at Blue Mountain Peak, just 16 km (9.9 mi) inland.As one of the longest continuous mountain ranges in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, the Blue Mountains dominate the eastern third of Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, while bordering the eastern parishes of Portland
Portland Parish, Jamaica
Portland, with its capital town Port Antonio, is a parish located on Jamaica's northeast coast. It is situated to the north of St Thomas, and the east of St Mary in Surrey county. It is one of the rural areas of Jamaica and is known for its great beaches....
, St. Thomas
Saint Thomas Parish, Jamaica
Saint Thomas is a suburban parish that is situated at the south eastern end of Jamaica, in the county of Surrey. It is the birth place of The right Honorable Paul Bogle, one of Jamaica's seven National Heroes...
, St. Mary
Saint Mary Parish, Jamaica
Saint Mary is a parish located in the northeast section of Jamaica. With a population of 115,000 it is one of Jamaica's smallest parishes, located in the county of Middlesex. Its chief town and capital is Port Maria, located on the coast. It is also the birthplace of established dancehall reggae...
and St. Andrew
Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica
Saint Andrew is a parish, situated in the southeast of Jamaica in the county of Surrey. It lies north, west and east of Kingston, and stretches into the Blue Mountains and at the 2001 census had the highest population of all the parishes in Jamaica. The Right Excellent George William Gordon Saint...
to the south. Part of the Blue Mountains is contained in the Blue Mountain John Crow Mountain National Park established in 1992, which is maintained by the Jamaican government.
Flora and fauna
The island's average rainfall, which is much greater in the mountain areas facing the north and east, is 1,960 millimetres (77.2 in) per year. Where the higher elevations of the Blue Mountains catch the rain from the moisture-laden winds, rainfall exceeds 5,080 millimetres (200 in) per year with some areas have totals of over 7,620 millimetres (300 in). This climatic diversity has enabled the high rainfall that feeds the lush vegetation, which includes towering trees and over 500 species of flowering plants, of which half are found nowhere else on earth.The Blue Mountains are home to the world's second largest butterfly and the largest in the Americas, the Homerus swallowtail (Papilio homerus
Papilio homerus
The Homerus swallowtail or Jamaican giant swallowtail, Papilio homerus, is the largest swallowtail butterfly in the Western Hemisphere and the largest species in the genus Papilio with an average wingspan of about...
). The Jamaican Coney
Jamaican coney
The Jamaican Coney is a terrestrial land mammal found in the rocky, forested areas of Jamaica. It is also known as the Jamaican Hutia and is endemic to the Island....
(Geocapromys brownii), a type of rodent
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
, and the Jamaican boa (Epicrates subflavus) are also found there. More than 200 species of birds live in the Blue Mountains, most of which are exclusively neotropical.
Jamaican coffee
In past years, when Jamaica's economy was dominated by plantation slavery, some slaves MaroonsMaroon (people)
Maroons were runaway slaves in the West Indies, Central America, South America, and North America, who formed independent settlements together...
were able to escape to the Blue Mountains and live independently. Today the famous Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee
Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee
Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee or Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee is a classification of coffee grown in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. The best lots of Blue Mountain coffee are noted for their mild flavour and lack of bitterness...
is cultivated between 2000 and 5000 feet above sea level, while higher slopes are preserved as forest. Hagley Gap
Hagley Gap
Hagley Gap is a settlement in Saint Thomas parish in southeastern Jamaica. This small rural community is located from Kingston near the top of the Blue Mountains in Jamaica...
and Mavis Bank are farming communities located on Blue Mountain with Hagley Gap being closest to Blue Mountain Peak
Blue Mountain Peak
Blue Mountain Peak is the highest mountain in Jamaica at 2,256 metres . It is the home of Blue Mountain coffee and their famous tours. Blue Mountain Peak is the second highest peak in the Caribbean after Pico Duarte of the Dominican Republic...
. Both towns rely upon the area's rich, fertile soils for growing Blue Mountain Coffee.