Jamanota
Jamanota | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Elevation | 188 m (617 ft) |
Prominence | 188 m (617 ft) |
Coordinates | 12°29′14″N 69°56′25″W / 12.48722°N 69.94028°W |
Naming | |
Language of name | Arawak |
Geography | |
Location | Arikok National Park |
Geology | |
Mountain type | hill |
Type of rock | Basalt and Diabase (Dolerite) |
Climbing | |
Access | Jamanota trail |
Jamanota is a hill situated within Aruba's Arikok National Park, reaching a height of 188 metres (617 ft) and holding the distinction of being the highest point on the island. Jamanota is a word from the Arawak language and can be explained somewhat as follows: JA or YA is spirit; MA is great or great spirit; NO is a suffix denoting a plural; TA is source. So about, Source of Great Spirits.[1]
This region is known for its rugged and dry landscape, as well as its diverse wildlife, such as the Aruba Parakeet, Aruba Island Rattlesnake, and freely-roaming goats that graze upon the undulating hills of the region. At Jamanota's summit, one can experience a panoramic view that encompasses Frenchman's Pass along the southern coastline, which holds historical significance as indigenous people once defended the island against the French invaders.[2][3]
Geology
Aruba features three distinct landscapes, each characterized by unique geological formations. In the northwestern part of the island one can find the flat composite batholith landscapes, which includes notable features such as
Moving towards the northeastern region, the oldest formation on the island is known as the Aruba Lava Formation (ALF). This area is characterized by a landscape of undulating hills that encompasses landmarks such as Jamanota and Arikok. Arikok hill has an elevation of 185 metres (607 ft) high. These landscapes are surrounded by a third type of terrain, the limestone formation, which consists of a flat terrace.[4]
These hills are situated in the diabasic portion and are composed of a distinct type of rock called Diabase-Schist-Tuff, as noted in earlier geological research.[5] However, more recent studies have reclassified as the ALF. Description for both classification are presented.
Diabase-Schist-Tuff
On the other hand,
Lastly,
Aruba Lava Formation
The Aruba Lava Formation (ALF) has a thickness of 3 km (1.9 mi) and covers an area of approximately 20 km2 (7.7 sq mi). It is primarily composed of basalt (41%) and dolerite (24%),[10] volcaniclastic conglomerate (a type of rock made up of fragments of volcanic rock), sandstone (this is a type of rock made up of sand-sized grains that have been compacted and cemented together), tuff, pelagic chert (a sedimentary rock that forms from remains of microscopic organisms called plankton that lived in the open ocean), cherty limestone (made up of calcium carbonate, the same substance found in seashells, and chert, a hard, dense, sedimentary rock).
The basalts present as both pillow lavas and sheet flows.[11] Pillow lavas are formed when lava enters the water and cools quickly, creating a rounded shape. Sheet flows are formed when lava spreads out on land and hardens into a flat, sheet-like shape.[12] The dolerite sills occur at various levels at a thickness not exceeding 300 metres (980 feet).[11]
Flora and fauna
Jamanota is home to a variety of unique and fascinating species of flora and fauna. From venomous snakes to rare birds that have adapted to the hill's unique environment. This section will highlight some of the most notable species found at Jamanota.
Watapana
The Watapana (Caesalpinia coriaria (Jacq.) Wild.) tree, also known as Dividivi, is recognizable from a considerable distance by its "windform".[13] The tree occurs less frequent on the island of Aruba than on Curaçao and Bonaire. Although Watapana and Dividivi are used synonymously, Dividivi actually refers to the fruit/pods of the Watapana tree. Growing and cultivating Watapanas was a means of living provided many with seasonal work. There were two harvest-period are January and June–July. In years with little rain, the January-crop were good, but sometimes it was spoiled by rainy weather. Women and children went out with sticks, baskets, or bags to beat the pods of the trees and gather them. They handed them to the owners, who would pay them twenty-five Dutch cents for approximately every 20 kg (44 lb). The principle market for these pods was Hamburg. Dividivi was used at tanneries on the Elbe river for the preparation of leather, which was then manufactured into the greased leather boots of East-European farmers. Aruba never shipped directly; everything was sent via Curaçao. Dividivi was in high demand as tannin, and in some places, it could be sold for sixty to eighty Dutch guilders a ton. Half-ripe pods, when pounded fine and boiled, yielded a pap that was used as medicine to open sores of animals. One of the best years was 1911, when Aruba exported 303.000 kg (668.001 lb).[14] In earlier times, the word Watapaana (see spelling 1914) also meant a flogging, as thin branches were used to punish slaves.[15]
Aruba Island rattlesnake
Papiemanto: Cascabel | Dutch: Aruba ratelslang
The
White-tailed Hawk and Crested Caracara
Papiamento: Falki, Partawela, Gabilan di seru | Dutch: Witstaartbuizerd
One notable examples is the rare, White-tailed Hawk (Geranoaetus albicaudatus), which is believed to have nested exclusively in the Jamanota area. While there have been sightings that have not been verified of this species in 1988 and 1997, its current presence on the island has not been confirmed. The White-tailed Hawk's distinctive call has been described as a 'penetrating "kee-weet, kee-weet".' However, these hawks are sometimes mistaken for other commonly found birds, such as the Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus) and Osprey (Pandion haliaetus).[21][22] The Crested Caracara, also known as the Warawara or Kuifcaracara in Papiamento and Dutch, respectively. The Warawara is the best-known falcon on the island and is the "garbageman" of the mondi (wilderness in Papiamento). They prefer to make their nests in the tall column cacti during the breeding season.[23]
Goat
Papiamento: Cabrito | Dutch: geit
In the 16th century, Spaniards transported herding animals, including goats, to Aruba after declaring the
In
As of 2015, there were an estimated 43 goats per square kilometer (16 goats per square mile), which equates to approximately 1465 goats in the Arikok National Park. While goats are non-selective animals, they do prefer Hubada/Twisted acacia (
See also
References
- ISBN 978-0-359-65900-5.
- ^ "Waarom Nationaal Park Arikok een must visit is". Archived from the original on 2023-03-28. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
- ^ "The influence of goats on soil erosion and vegetation in Arikok National Park, Aruba | Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database". www.dcbd.nl. Archived from the original on 2022-12-06. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ Versteeg, A.; Ruiz, A.C. (1995). Reconstructing Brasil Wood Island: the archaeology and landscape of Indian Aruba. Aruba: Publications of the Archaeological Museum, no. 6. p. 35
- ^ Stoffers, A.L. (1956). The vegetation of the Netherlands Antilles. Mededelingen van het Botanisch Museum en Herbarium van de Rijksuniversiteit te Utrecht, 135(1), 1–142.
- ^ "Diabase: A dark-colored, fine-grained intrusive igneous rock". geology.com. Archived from the original on 2023-03-29. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
- ^ "Schist: Metamorphic Rock - Pictures, Definition & More". geology.com. Archived from the original on 2023-03-31. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
- ^ "Schist | rock | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Archived from the original on 2023-03-31. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
- ^ "Tuff - an igneous rock of explosive volcanic eruptions". geology.com. Archived from the original on 2023-03-29. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
- from the original on 2012-08-31. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
- ^ ISBN 9789764100331.
- ISSN 0012-8252.
- ^ "Flora Malesiana - Caesalpinioideae: Caesalpinia coriaria". caesalpinioideae.linnaeus.naturalis.nl. Archived from the original on 2023-04-11. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
- ^ Hartog, Johan (1961). Aruba past and present: from the time of the indians until today. Translated by Verleun, J.A. Oranjestad: De Wit. pp. 154–156.
- ^ DBNL. "Wullschlägel (Heinrich Rudolf),, Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch West-Indië, Herman Daniël Benjamins, Joh. F. Snelleman". DBNL (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-04-19.
- ^ Strimple, Pete (1993). "Crotalus Unicolor (van Lidt de Jeude), Aruba Island rattlesnake". Litteratura Serpentium. 13 (1): 4–13.
- ^ Reinert, H.K., L.M. Bushar, G.L. Rocco, M. Goode, and R. A. Odum. 2002. Distribution of the Aruba island rattlesnake, Crotalus unicolor, on Aruba, Dutch West Indies. Caribbean Journal of Science 38:126-128.
- ^ Hartog, J. 1984. Aruba. Editions Delroisse, Boulogue, France. 15 pp.
- ^ Sarmiento, G. 1976. Evolution of arid vegetation in tropical America. In D. W. Goodall (ed.), Evolution of Desert Biota, pp. 64-99. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas
- ^ S, Sheri; ers. "Crotalus unicolor (Aruba Island Rattlesnake)". Animal Diversity Web. Archived from the original on 2023-04-04. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
- ^ Wells, J. V., Wells, A. C., & Dean, R. (2017). Birds of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao: A Site and Field Guide. Cornell University Press.
- ^ "| Dutch Caribbean Species Register". www.dutchcaribbeanspecies.org. Archived from the original on 2023-04-01. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
- ^ "Kuifcaracara (Warawara)" (PDF). Aruba National Park.
- ^ Hartog, Johan (1961). Aruba past and present: from the time of the indians until today. Translated by Verleun, J.A. Oranjestad: De Wit.
- ^ "| Dutch Caribbean Species Register". www.dutchcaribbeanspecies.org. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
- ^ "| Dutch Caribbean Species Register". www.dutchcaribbeanspecies.org. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
- ^ Veerbeek, Babette. ""Goats or no goats": The influence of goats on soil erosion and vegetation in Arikok National Park, Aruba" (PDF). Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
- ^ Buurt van, G., & Debrot, A. O. (2012). Exotic and invasive terrestrial and freshwater animal species in the Dutch Caribbean. Wageningen: IMARES Wageningen UR.
- ^ Reinart, H., Bushar, L., & Odum, R. (1995). Recommendations for the Conservation and Management of the Aruba Island rattlesnake (Crotalus unicolor). The Toledo Zoological Society, Toledo, USA: Aruba Island rattlesnake Conservation Action Plan.
- ^ Reinart, H., Bushar, L., Rocco, G., Goode, M., & Odum, R. (2002). A revision of the Distribution of the Aruba Island rattlesnake, Crotalus unicolor, on Aruba, Dutch West Indies. Caribbean Journal of Science, 126-128.