CubaPLUS Magazine

Cerro Cabras: The Karst Capital in Cuba

By: Amanda Bedia Fotos Raudel del Llano Hernández
Oct 27, 2023
Cerro Cabras: The Karst Capital in Cuba

Differently named Cerro Cabras or Cerro de las Cabras, this elevation located at 408 meters above sea level in the municipality of Pinar del Río in the province of the same name, rewards those who reach their not so steep summit with a beautiful 360 degree view all around, fascinating for everyone.

The inhabitants of that beautiful region at the western end of Cuba like to refer to it as the Capital of the Cuban Karst, speaking of the abundance of that mineral component in its soil. Pinar del Río already has two cave systems in its area, largest of the national archipelago: Palmarito, and the princess of the espeluncas, the Great Cavern of Santo Tomás. If that were not enough, the Cabras Hill is a very relevant hill. The fact that it can be seen from the highest points of the city capital of Pinar del Río,has turned it into a symbol for the locals, who also appreciate its wild charms.

Many young people in the area at all times have made their debut as eager hikers making the “climb” of their hill, relatively easy due to its height. Long ago it was believed to be the highest hill in the region, but later it was determined that such an attribute is held by the popular Guajaibón bread, another emblem of Pinar del Río. It cannot be denied that scientific research also has a very special interest in the beautiful Cerro de las Cabras, since the geology provides evidence that in their ecosystem, there is the most of the nation, which is why they are the subject of studies, just like inside its powerful espeluncas system.

A path made by nature with rocks of metamorphic origin serves to reach the base of Cerro de las Cabras, among which you can admire the rare terrigenous slate schists, with a silica component in its matter. The great solid rocky area that is Cerro Cabras is also called Alturas Pizarrosas del Sur, of the Sierra de los Órganos, part of the Guaniguanico Mountain Range.

The vegetation surrounding this kind of rocky hill has components of the typical savannah, mountain and, as usual in that region of Cuba of some pine trees, that marks the style, in addition to the toponymy of those places.

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