El Yunque National Forest

El Yunque National Forest, formerly known as the Luquillo National Forest  and the Caribbean National Forest, is located on the United States territory of Puerto Rico. It is commonly known as only El Yunque, a Spanish approximation of the aboriginal Taino  word "Yu-ke," thought by scholars to mean "White Lands." However the lightning storms that occur there were to the Spaniards the sound of a giant hammer hitting an anvil (yunque in Spanish).

It is also the name of the second highest mountain peak in the Forest (see El Yunque, Puerto Rico).

El Yunque is the only tropical rain forest in the United States National Forest System.

Geography

A deep cavern in El Yunque Rainforest

The forest is located on the slopes of the Sierra de Luquillo Mountains  in Puerto Rico, and encompasses 28,000 acres (43.753 mi² or 113.32 km²) of land, making it the largest block of public land on the island of Puerto Rico. El Toro, the highest mountain peak in the forest rises 1,065 meters (3,537 ft) above sea level.

In descending order of land area the forest is located in the municipalities of Río Grande, Naguabo, Luquillo, Ceiba, Canóvanas, Las Piedras, Fajardo, and Juncos.

Forest headquarters are located in Río Grande, Puerto Rico. El Yunque rain forest is the only tropical rain forest in the US forest system. Ample rain fall (Over 200 inches a year in some areas) creates a jungle-like setting- with lush foliage, crags, waterfalls and rivers. Hike along trails that cover miles of the breathtaking, enchanting terrain. The rain forest is located in the north-east part of Puerto Rico, with the main entrance of Río Grande, just off of Route 3, on Highway 191.

Flora and fauna

Typical yearly rainfall can be up to 6 m (240 inches) per year, which constitutes more than 380,000,000 m³ (100 billion US gallons) spread over the forest. The forest contains hundreds of species of trees, orchids, plants, and a few animals. You will hear the Coqui frogs and see large snails as they are enjoying the moisture of the forest. The rain helps to create the perfect ecosystem for the frogs and snails and some other creatures in the habitat. You will also hear many birds singing as you walk the trails.

El Yunque is composed of four different forest vegetation areas: Tabonuco Forest, Palo Colorado Forest, Sierra Palm Forest, and Dwarf Forest. El Yunque is also renowned for its unique Taíno petroglyphs.