Pico Duarte

Duarte is a peak elevation mountain that belongs to the Cordillera Central in the Dominican Republic, where the highest point is in the Greater Antilles
Pico Duarte.

The two peaks are Pelona twins.  According to some existing topographic sheets both have the same peak height of 3087 meters, however altimeter measurements show that the Pelona is some meters below the height of the Pico Duarte. Until the early years of last century the two peaks were called Pelona.  The distinction was between Pelona, Pelona Grande and Chica.

La Grande Pelona Pico Trujillo was christened in the 30s following the death of dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo.  The straight distance between the peaks of Pico Duarte and La Pelona is 1 ½km.  The peaks are divided by the Valley Lilis with a height of 2950 meters. Other significant increases in surrounding Barraco is the peak (2644m) and the Loma de la Viuda (2801m).  Towards the east is the Loma Rusilla at 3038m and Pico Yaque at (2761m).
There are four major valleys draining the water from the mountains of Pico Duarte. One is the Valle de Bao, born in the Bao River to the north, the Rio Yaque del Norte from the northeast, the White River and the Rio Yaque South from the South. Towards the west are the valleys of the River Millet and Lemon Creek draining into the South and the valleys of the Mao River and its tributaries that drain to the North. Between these valleys, mountains rise up often over 2000 meters.

The climate is influenced mainly by the trade winds coming from the northeast bringing rain clouds that eventually collide with the ridges leading to discharge of their waters. Thus, much of the rain falls in the Northern Cordillera and easternmost slopes of the Cordillera Central (Reserva Científica Ebano Verde), the rest is dropped and travels on the North side of the Cordillera Central.  On the southern slopes of the Cordillera Central unless it rains there is a phenomenon known as Shadow of Rain.

Temperatures depend on the height. It can be calculated that for every 100m of climbing the temperature drops 1°C.  In the highest parts of the mountains, temperatures can reach below 0°C in the early morning.

The massif of Pico Duarte is extremely important to the hydrological regime of the country.  They are born from two major rivers of the Dominican Republic: Yaque del Norte River to Bao River and its tributary the River Yaque del Sur River with its tributaries Millet, Rio Grande and Rio San Juan.

These rivers are very important to provide drinking water to urban centers and for irrigation in arid areas in the western Cibao, San Juan Valley and the plains of Azua and Barahona.

All major rivers have dams when they leave the mountains to the plains.  These dams also store water for dry seasons, with hydroelectric plants that generate a significant portion of electricity nationwide.  Due to the geological formation of the Cordillera Central, its waters are mostly superficial.  Therefore, even on the highest points in the Valley Lilis, water rises throughout most of the year.

There is no accurate measurement of the height of Pico Duarte. In 1851, the first climber (the British Consul Robert Schomburg) estimated it to be 3140 meters in height.  In 1912, the botanist and priest Miguel Fuentes estimated 2855 meters. Traditionally, the added height was considered to be 3175 meters, but later this was amended to 3087 meters for both peaks (Duarte and La Pelona).
In 2003, Professor Kenneth Orvis, Department of Geography at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, calculated according to their GPS unit, the measure of Pico Duarte to be 3098 meters above sea level, with a margin of error of 4 meters. The Pelona, according to geographer, measures 3094 meters.