Pico Turquino
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| Pico Turquino | |
|---|---|
  Pico Turquino
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| Elevation | 1,974 m (6,476 ft) |
| Location |  Cuba |
| Range | Sierra Maestra |
| Coordinates | |
| Translation | Turqoise Peak (Spanish) |
Pico Turquino is the highest point in Cuba. It is located in the southeast part of the island, in the Sierra Maestra mountain range in Santiago de Cuba Province. During the late 1950s, Fidel Castro and members of his 26th of July Movement used the area as a base during the Cuban Revolution.
The name is believe to be a corruption of turqoise (Spanish: turquí) peak, named so for the blue hues taken by the heights in certain views.[1] It was first mentioned (under the name "Tarquino") on a map drawn by Gerardo Kramer in the late 1700s.
A bust of José Martí, sculpted by Jilma Madera, was placed on the peak to celebrate his centenary.
Turquino National Park is established on a 229.38 km² (88.56 sq mi) area around the peak.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Cuban Foreign Ministry. Pico Turquino, la montaña azul o el monte de los turcos (Spanish). Retrieved on 2007-10-18.
- ^ National Protected Areas System of Cuba (2005). Protected Areas. Retrieved on 2007-10-10.
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