Humacao Nature Reserve (

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

: ''Reserva Natural de Humacao''), or the Punta Santiago Nature Reserve, is a nature reserve located in the southeastern coast of

Puerto Rico ; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...

, between the municipalities of

Humacao Humacao () is a city and municipality in Puerto Rico located in the eastern coast of the island, north of Yabucoa; south of Naguabo; east of Las Piedras; and west of Vieques Passage. Humacao is spread over 12 barrios and Humacao Pueblo (the ...

( Punta Santiago) and Naguabo ( Río). The 3,000-acre nature reserve was established in 1986 (under the name Humacao Wildlife Refuge) to protect and preserve the remaining

Pterocarpus ''Pterocarpus'' is a pantropical tree genus in the Fabaceae family. It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae, and was recently assigned to the informal monophyletic ''Pterocarpus'' clade within the Dalbergieae. Most species of ''Pterocarpus'' yi ...

forest ecosystem in the area, along with its surrounding wetlands and

mangrove A mangrove is a shrub or tree that grows mainly in coastal saline water, saline or brackish water. Mangroves grow in an equatorial climate, typically along coastlines and tidal rivers. They have particular adaptations to take in extra oxygen a ...

forests.

History

The area of the forest reserve was historically linked to the sugarcane industry of the region, and an old pump and the remnants of its former infrastructure can still be observed within the reserve. The area also contains a number of remnants that showcase the military history of the region: a former US Army lookout post on top of ''El Morrillo'', and a number of bunkers built during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. The forests and wetlands were acquired by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources in 1984, and it was proclaimed the Humacao Wildlife Refuge in 1986. The reserve is important for the revitalization of local ecosystems that were threatened by the industrial development of the area during the 19th and 20th centuries such as mangroves, wetlands and its distinctive Pterocarpus forest.

Ecology

The nature reserve protects the following natural areas and ecosystems: * A

forest characteristic of the region. * A wetland and system of lagoons with mangrove forests: Mandri I, Mandri II, Mandri III, Santa Tersa I, Santa Teresa II and Las Palmas. * The river mouths of the Antón Ruiz and several smaller streams and their associated ecosystems.

Recreation

Although the reserve is relatively large in area, only 6 acres out of more than 3,000 are reserved for recreation and public use. In addition to hiking trails and picnic areas, there is kayaking and bike rentals on site. Fishing is allowed on designated areas. One of the most popular hiking trails lead to a hill called ''El Morrillo'', which offers views of the reserve, Punta Santiago Beach, El Yunque,

Cayo Santiago Cayo Santiago, also known as Santiago Island, Isla de los monos (or Island of the monkeys), is located at , to the east of Punta Santiago, Humacao, Puerto Rico. It is known as the home to approximately 1800 rhesus macaque monkeys, who have bee ...

(popularly known as "Monkey Island") and the island of

Vieques Vieques (; ), officially Isla de Vieques, is an island, town and municipality of Puerto Rico, and together with Culebra, it is geographically part of the Spanish Virgin Islands. Vieques lies about east of the mainland of Puerto Rico, measuri ...

Gallery

File:Reserva de Humacao.jpg, Santa Teresa Lagoon File:Reserva de Humacao4.jpg, Las Palmas Lagoon File:Reserva de Humacao3.jpg, Reserva Humacao Beach File:Reserva de Humacao2.jpg, Ruins of the old sugarcane refinery. File:Reserva de Humacao1.jpg, Santa Teresa Lagoon

References

{{Protected areas of Puerto Rico Neotropical ecoregions Tourist attractions in Puerto Rico Humacao, Puerto Rico Naguabo, Puerto Rico 1986 establishments in Puerto Rico Protected areas established in 1986

History

Ecology

Recreation

Gallery

See also

References