Cerro Chirripó
Encyclopedia
Cerro Chirripó is the highest mountain
in Costa Rica
, with an altitude
of 3820 metres (12,533 ft). It is located in the Chirripó National Park
and is noted for its ecological wealth. The high peaks in this and La Amistad International Park
host important areas of Talamancan montane forest
and Costa Rican Páramo
with high endemism
and an extremely high biodiversity
. The peaks of these mountains, because of their height, constitute sky island
s for many species of plants and animals. Occasionally, snow falls on the peaks.
The great height of Cerro Chirripó relative to its surroundings is also evidenced by its particularly high topographic prominence
of 3727 m (12,228 ft), which makes it the 38th most prominent peak in the world.
From the summit it is possible on clear days to see all across the country from coast to coast, from the Pacific Ocean
to the Caribbean Sea
.
Two forest fires have devastated the biodiversity of the region. One in 1976 and the other in the 1990s.
Climbing Chirripó is possible by obtaining a permit from the National Park office in San Gerardo de Rivas. From the trailhead, the summit can be reached via a 19.5 kilometres (12.1 mi) hike.
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
in Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, with an altitude
Altitude
Altitude or height is defined based on the context in which it is used . As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context...
of 3820 metres (12,533 ft). It is located in the Chirripó National Park
Chirripó National Park
Chirripó National Park is located in the middle portion of the Talamanca Range of Costa Rica, approximately 30 km northeast from the city of San Isidro del General. It protects a number of important ecosystems on the Costa Rican Pacific slope and is notable for including the largest extension...
and is noted for its ecological wealth. The high peaks in this and La Amistad International Park
La Amistad International Park
The La Amistad International Park, or in Spanish , formerly the La Amistad National Park, is an Transboundary Protected Area in Latin America, management of which is shared between Costa Rica and Panama, following a recommendation by UNESCO after the park's inclusion in the World Heritage Site...
host important areas of Talamancan montane forest
Talamancan montane forests
The Talamancan montane forests ecoregion, in the tropical moist broadleaf forest biome, are in montane Costa Rica and Panama in Central America.-Setting:...
and Costa Rican Páramo
Costa Rican páramo
The Costa Rican páramo, also known as the Talamanca páramo, is a montane grassland and shrubland of Costa Rica and western Panama.-Setting:...
with high endemism
Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
and an extremely high biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
. The peaks of these mountains, because of their height, constitute sky island
Sky island
Sky islands are mountains that are isolated by surrounding lowlands of a dramatically different environment, a situation which, in combination with the altitudinal zonation of ecosystems, has significant implications for natural habitats. Endemism, vertical migration, and relict populations are...
s for many species of plants and animals. Occasionally, snow falls on the peaks.
The great height of Cerro Chirripó relative to its surroundings is also evidenced by its particularly high topographic prominence
Topographic prominence
In topography, prominence, also known as autonomous height, relative height, shoulder drop , or prime factor , categorizes the height of the mountain's or hill's summit by the elevation between it and the lowest contour line encircling it and no higher summit...
of 3727 m (12,228 ft), which makes it the 38th most prominent peak in the world.
From the summit it is possible on clear days to see all across the country from coast to coast, from the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
to the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
.
Two forest fires have devastated the biodiversity of the region. One in 1976 and the other in the 1990s.
Climbing Chirripó is possible by obtaining a permit from the National Park office in San Gerardo de Rivas. From the trailhead, the summit can be reached via a 19.5 kilometres (12.1 mi) hike.