Las Bocas Canyon
Las Bocas Canyon (Spanish: Cañón Las Bocas) is a steep gorge formed by the Frío River (Río Frío) and numerous other creeks, primarily the Hondo River (Río Hondo) and the Grande Creek (Quebrada Grande) located in the Cordillera Central of Puerto Rico, between the municipalities of Barranquitas and Comerío.[1] The canyon is notable for its untouched forests and the large population of kapok (Ceiba pentandra).[2] The canyon, along with San Cristóbal Canyon, its larger southern neighbor, form part of the La Plata River basin.[3]
Protection
The canyon is protected as Las Bocas Canyon Protected Natural Area and Nature Reserve (Área Natural Protegida y Reserva Natural Cañón Las Bocas), a 1,170.98-acre (1,205.68 cuerdas) tract of land created through the Las Bocas Canyon Natural Reserve Committee (Comité Pro Reserva Natural Cañón Las Bocas) across the Quebradillas and Quebrada Grande barrios of Barranquitas and the Río Hondo and Palomas barrios of Comerío.[4] Las Bocas is currently threatened geologically by nearby uncontrolled urban and hydrological developments, particularly due to its proximity to Comerío Pueblo, and ecologically by the use of pesticides in the agriculture of nearby Barranquitas.[2] Organizations such as Sierra Club often offer guided hiking tours into the canyon.[5][6]
Flora and fauna
The canyon is famous for its ceibas or kapoks, one of which is La Ceiba Acostada,
See also
References
- ^ "Cañón Las Bocas". Discover Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-08-22.
- ^ a b c "Cañon Las Bocas-Barranquitas-Puerto Rico". www.prfrogui.com. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
- ^ a b c Rojas, Pamy (2021-09-21). "Cañón Las Bocas, a hidden wonder". Pamy Rojas (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-08-22.
- ^ "Cañón Las Bocas". barranquitaspr.net. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
- ^ "Cañón Las Bocas: La Ceiba Acostada – Sierra Club – quehagoconlonenes". Retrieved 2023-08-22.
- ^ "Home". canonlasbocas (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-08-22.
- ^ Admin. "Cañón Las Bocas, Nueva Vereda a La Ceiba Acostada". MiAgendaPR.com (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2023-08-22.