Cerro Amay

About

Cerro Amay is a mountain in the Quiché Department of Guatemala, centered near -90.77 W, 15.48 N. The mountain is affiliated with, but not part of, the Cuchumatanes Mountains, which lie to its west, and with the Sierra De Chama. Cerro Amay is topographically distinct and is notable for the Cerro Amay Cloud Forest, a tract of mostly virgin cloud forest covering approximately 19,000 hectares or approximately 46,000 acres. Cerro Amay gets its name from Spanish and Kek'chi, a Mayan language. Cerro means 'mountain' and Amay means 'difficult to survive.' Cerro Amay has been little-studied by scientists because of its remoteness and the fact that few people know about it. Based upon geological maps, Cerro Amay is located directly on Chixoy-Polochic Geological Fault System that comprises the geological boundary between North America and South America., and is thus as close as possible to the site of the Great American Interchange. The Chixoy-Polochic Fault remains active and earthquakes are not uncommon, suggesting that Cerro Amay may still be growing. The highest point at Cerro Amay is approximately 2,615 meters (8, 579 feet) above sea level. Cerro Amay is defined on its west side by the Putul River, and on its east side, the Chixoy River, which is the headwater of the Usumacinta. A steep southern escarpment defines the southern side of Cerro Amay and the north side slopes gradua

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.