The Blue Mountains are the longest mountain range in Jamaica. They include the island's highest point, Blue Mountain Peak, at 2256 m (7402 ft).[1] From the summit, accessible via a walking track, both the north and south coasts of the island can be seen. On a clear day, the outline of the island of Cuba, 210 km (130 mi) away, can also be seen. The mountain range spans four parishes: Portland, St. Thomas, St. Mary and St. Andrew.
The Blue Mountains rise to its elevations from the coastal plain in the space of about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi), thus producing one of the steepest general gradients in the world. This forms cooling relief from the sweltering heat of the city of Kingston, visible below. Their summits rise and fall for 38.62 kilometres (24.00 mi) and span 22.53 kilometres (14.00 mi) at their widest point. The temperature decreases from around 27 °C (80 °F) at sea level to 5 °C (40 °F) at the Blue Mountain Peak, just 16 km (9.9 mi) inland.
Rainfall
The island's average rainfall is 1,960 millimetres (77 in) per year.[citation needed] Where the higher elevations of the Blue Mountains catch the rain from moisture-laden winds it exceeds 5,080 millimetres (200 in) per year[citation needed] with some areas recording totals of more than 7,620 millimetres (300 in).[citation needed]
Climate
High elevations of the Blue Mountains have a subtropical highland climate (Cfb) under the Köppen climate classification.
Climate data for Blue Mountains (altitude: 1,493 metres (4,898 ft))
The Blue Mountains climatic diversity has led to the growth of diverse and lush vegetation including towering trees and more than 500 species of flowering plants.[citation needed]
The mountains are home to the world's second-largest butterfly and the largest in the Americas, the Homerus swallowtail.[3] This is the most well-studied remaining population of the endangered butterfly.[3] The Jamaican coney (Geocapromys brownii), a type of hutia, and the Jamaican boa (Chilabothrus subflavus) are also found there.
In past years when Jamaica's economy was dominated by plantation slavery, some slaves escaped to the mountains to live independently, where they were known as Jamaican Maroons. Charles Town, Jamaica on the Buff Bay River in central Portland, Moore Town in eastern Portland, and Scott's Hall, Jamaica in St Mary are the contemporary communities of Windward Maroons.
Today, the famous Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, which commands premium prices on world markets, is cultivated between 0.6 kilometres (0.37 mi) and 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) above sea level,[4] while higher slopes are preserved as forest. Hagley Gap and Mavis Bank are farming communities located on Blue Mountain with Hagley Gap being closest to Blue Mountain Peak. Both towns rely upon the area's rich soil for growing coffee.
References
^Hamilton, Janice (2005), Jamaica in Pictures, Lerner Publications, p. 10, ISBN0-8225-2394-9
^(PDF). Meteorological Service (Jamaica). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
^ abLehnert, Matthew S.; Kramer, Valerie R.; Rawlins, John E.; Verdecia, Vanessa; Daniels, Jaret C. (2017-07-10). "Jamaica's Critically Endangered Butterfly: A Review of the Biology and Conservation Status of the Homerus Swallowtail (Papilio (Pterourus) homerus Fabricius)". Insects. 8 (3): 68. doi:10.3390/insects8030068. PMC5620688. PMID 28698508.
^Rebecca Tortello. . A Jamaica Gleaner Feature. Archived from the original on 28 January 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
External links
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Blue Mountains (Jamaica).
Read about life on a Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Farm
January 17, 2023
blue, mountains, jamaica, blue, mountains, longest, mountain, range, jamaica, they, include, island, highest, point, blue, mountain, peak, 2256, 7402, from, summit, accessible, walking, track, both, north, south, coasts, island, seen, clear, outline, island, c. The Blue Mountains are the longest mountain range in Jamaica They include the island s highest point Blue Mountain Peak at 2256 m 7402 ft 1 From the summit accessible via a walking track both the north and south coasts of the island can be seen On a clear day the outline of the island of Cuba 210 km 130 mi away can also be seen The mountain range spans four parishes Portland St Thomas St Mary and St Andrew Blue MountainsView of the Blue Mountain Range looking into St Mary Parish from St Andrew Parish Highest pointPeakBlue Mountain PeakElevation2 256 m 7 402 ft Coordinates818 6 N 76 40 W 18 100 N 76 667 W 18 100 76 667 Coordinates 18 6 N 76 40 W 18 100 N 76 667 W 18 100 76 667GeographyCountryJamaicaUNESCO World Heritage SiteOfficial nameBlue and John Crow MountainsTypeMixedCriteriaiii vi xDesignated2015 39th session Reference no 1356RegionAmericas Contents 1 Geography 1 1 Rainfall 1 2 Climate 1 3 Flora and fauna 2 Jamaican coffee 3 References 4 External linksGeography EditThe Blue Mountains dominate the eastern third of Jamaica while bordering the eastern parishes of Portland St Thomas St Mary and St Andrew to the south Part of the Blue Mountains is contained in the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park established in 1992 which is maintained by the Jamaican government The Blue Mountains rise to its elevations from the coastal plain in the space of about 16 kilometres 9 9 mi thus producing one of the steepest general gradients in the world This forms cooling relief from the sweltering heat of the city of Kingston visible below Their summits rise and fall for 38 62 kilometres 24 00 mi and span 22 53 kilometres 14 00 mi at their widest point The temperature decreases from around 27 C 80 F at sea level to 5 C 40 F at the Blue Mountain Peak just 16 km 9 9 mi inland Rainfall Edit The island s average rainfall is 1 960 millimetres 77 in per year citation needed Where the higher elevations of the Blue Mountains catch the rain from moisture laden winds it exceeds 5 080 millimetres 200 in per year citation needed with some areas recording totals of more than 7 620 millimetres 300 in citation needed Climate Edit High elevations of the Blue Mountains have a subtropical highland climate Cfb under the Koppen climate classification Climate data for Blue Mountains altitude 1 493 metres 4 898 ft Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearAverage high C F 20 0 68 0 19 9 67 8 21 0 69 8 21 5 70 7 21 8 71 2 22 9 73 2 23 7 74 7 23 7 74 7 23 0 73 4 21 9 71 4 21 1 70 0 20 4 68 7 21 7 71 1 Average low C F 11 9 53 4 11 7 53 1 12 0 53 6 12 6 54 7 13 5 56 3 14 2 57 6 14 7 58 5 15 0 59 0 14 4 57 9 14 5 58 1 14 0 57 2 12 9 55 2 13 5 56 3 Average precipitation mm inches 126 5 0 116 4 6 103 4 1 172 6 8 219 8 6 141 5 6 79 3 1 179 7 0 226 8 9 343 13 5 396 15 6 235 9 3 2 335 91 9 Average precipitation days 12 9 9 11 14 9 7 10 14 17 16 14 142Average relative humidity at 13 00 83 84 84 85 86 83 80 83 87 90 88 87 85Mean monthly sunshine hours 127 1 87 6 145 7 132 0 124 0 138 0 155 0 145 7 129 0 127 1 126 0 124 0 1 561 2Mean daily sunshine hours 4 1 3 1 4 7 4 4 4 0 4 6 5 0 4 7 4 3 4 1 4 2 4 0 4 3Source Meteorological Service Jamaica 2 Flora and fauna Edit The Blue Mountains climatic diversity has led to the growth of diverse and lush vegetation including towering trees and more than 500 species of flowering plants citation needed The mountains are home to the world s second largest butterfly and the largest in the Americas the Homerus swallowtail 3 This is the most well studied remaining population of the endangered butterfly 3 The Jamaican coney Geocapromys brownii a type of hutia and the Jamaican boa Chilabothrus subflavus are also found there Jamaican coffee Edit Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee In past years when Jamaica s economy was dominated by plantation slavery some slaves escaped to the mountains to live independently where they were known as Jamaican Maroons Charles Town Jamaica on the Buff Bay River in central Portland Moore Town in eastern Portland and Scott s Hall Jamaica in St Mary are the contemporary communities of Windward Maroons Today the famous Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee which commands premium prices on world markets is cultivated between 0 6 kilometres 0 37 mi and 1 5 kilometres 0 93 mi above sea level 4 while higher slopes are preserved as forest Hagley Gap and Mavis Bank are farming communities located on Blue Mountain with Hagley Gap being closest to Blue Mountain Peak Both towns rely upon the area s rich soil for growing coffee References Edit Hamilton Janice 2005 Jamaica in Pictures Lerner Publications p 10 ISBN 0 8225 2394 9 Mean Climatological Data PDF Meteorological Service Jamaica Archived from the original PDF on 16 September 2012 Retrieved 7 September 2016 a b Lehnert Matthew S Kramer Valerie R Rawlins John E Verdecia Vanessa Daniels Jaret C 2017 07 10 Jamaica s Critically Endangered Butterfly A Review of the Biology and Conservation Status of the Homerus Swallowtail Papilio Pterourus homerus Fabricius Insects 8 3 68 doi 10 3390 insects8030068 PMC 5620688 PMID 28698508 Rebecca Tortello Jamaican Coffee A Beverage of Distinction A Jamaica Gleaner Feature Archived from the original on 28 January 2011 Retrieved 19 March 2011 External links Edit Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Blue Mountains Jamaica Blue Mountains Jamaica Read about life on a Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Farm Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Blue Mountains Jamaica amp oldid 1133488559, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
