Alejandro de Humboldt National Park
Archaeology » Heritage sites» Alejandro de Humboldt National Park
Location
Guantánamo

Country
Cuba

Year of Research
2001

Culture
  • Parque Nacional Alejandro de Humboldt is a national park in the Cuban provinces of Holguín and Guantánamo.

  • It is named after the German scientist Alexander von Humboldt who visited the island in 1800 and 1801.

  • The park was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 for of its size, altitude range, complex lithology, landform diversity, and wealth of endemic flora and fauna.

  • The rivers that flow off the peaks of the park are some of the largest in the insular Caribbean.

  • The park is said to be the most humid place in Cuba and this causes a high biological diversity.

  • The park has an area of 711.4 km² (274.7 sq mi), of which 68.89 km² (26.6 sq mi) land area and 2.25 km² (0.9 sq mi) marine area. Elevation ranges from sea level to 1,168 m (3,832 ft) on El Toldo Peak.

  • 16 of Cuba\'s 28 endemic plant species are protected in the park including such fauna as Dracaena cubensis and Podocarpus ekman.

  • Fauna present in the park includes various species of parrots, lizards, hummingbirds, the endangered Cuban Solenodon (endemic), Hutia and snails.