A mogote () is a generally-isolated steep-sided residual hill in the tropics composed of either

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms wh ...

marble Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite. Marble is typically not foliated (layered), although there are exceptions. In geology, the term ''marble'' refers to metamorpho ...

, or dolomite. Mogotes are surrounded by nearly flat

alluvial plain An alluvial plain is a largely flat landform created by the deposition of sediment over a long period of time by one or more rivers coming from highland regions, from which alluvial soil forms. A floodplain is part of the process, being the s ...

s. The hills typically have a rounded, tower-like form.

Overview

This term is used for hills, isolated or linked, with very steep, almost vertical, walls, surrounded by alluvial plains in the

tropics The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred ...

, regardless of whether the carbonate strata in which they have formed are folded or not.Neuendorf, K. K. E., J. P. Mehl, Jr., and J. A. Jackson, 2005, ''Glossary of Geology'', 5th ed. American Geological Institute, Alexandria, Virginia. 779 p. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2002, ''A Lexicon of Cave and Karst Terminology with Special Reference to Environmental Karst Hydrology (2002 Edition)''. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Center for Environmental Assessment, Washington Office, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/R-02/003. 221 p. Mogotes are common in the karst areas of the Caribbean, especially in

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

and

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...

. Los Haitises National Park in the

Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares with ...

is another karst area that contains mogotes. The word ''mogote'' comes from the

Basque Basque may refer to: * Basques, an ethnic group of Spain and France * Basque language, their language Places * Basque Country (greater region), the homeland of the Basque people with parts in both Spain and France * Basque Country (autonomous c ...

word '''mokoti''' meaning "sharp-pointed" (moko''' meaning "mountain peak"). In

, several mogotes along a ridge are called ''pepinos''.

Gallery

USGS hostorical photo mogotes in Puerto Rico.jpg, ''Mogotes'' in

rising out of pineapple fields in a plain of blanket sand near Coto Sur. The quarry in the left background is 1 kilometer east of Manati. Vinalesvalley2.jpg, Two ''mogotes'' showing their typical rounded shape in Viñales Valley in

Pinar del Río Province Pinar del Río is one of the provinces of Cuba. It is at the western end of the island of Cuba. Geography The Pinar del Río province is Cuba's westernmost province and contains one of Cuba's three main mountain ranges, the Cordillera de Guanig ...

, western

Mogotes, Northern Matanzas Province in Cuba.jpg, ''Mogotes'', Northern

Matanzas Province Matanzas () is one of the provinces of Cuba. Major towns in the province include Cárdenas, Colón, Jovellanos and the capital of the same name, Matanzas. The resort town of Varadero is also located in this province. Among Cuban provinces, M ...

, near the city of Cárdenas, Cuba Mogotes in Northern Cuba, between Matanzas and Havana Provinces..JPG, ''Mogotes'' in Northern Cuba, between Matanzas and Havana Provinces Mogotes 1.jpg, View of ''mogotes'' along the Northern karst zone of

. Carreteritas de mi barrio - Hatillo, Puerto Rico - panoramio.jpg, ''Mogotes'' in ''Sector Hess'' in Esperanza, Arecibo, Puerto Rico.

Overview

Gallery

See also

References

Further reading