Geography Ponce, Puerto Rico

1 geography

1.1 land features
1.2 water features
1.3 climate

geography

the municipality of ponce includes many acres of lush forests one. city of ponce can seen in far background.

the municipality of ponce sits on southern coastal plain region of puerto rico, on shores of caribbean sea. bordered municipalities of adjuntas, utuado, jayuya, peñuelas, , juana díaz. ponce large municipality, arecibo larger in land area in puerto rico. in terms of physical features, municipality occupies rectangular area in south-central portion of island of approximately 10 miles (16 km) wide (east-to-west) 13 miles (21 km) long (north-to-south). has surface area of 116.0 square miles (300 km). main physiographic features of municipality of ponce are: (1) mountainous interior containing headwaters of main river systems, (2) upper plain, (3) range of predominantly east-west trending limestone hills, (4) coastal plain, , (5) coastal flat. northern two-thirds of municipality consists of mountainous interior, southern third divided between hills, coastal plains, , coastal flat.

ponce s municipal territory reaches central mountain range north , caribbean sea south. geographically speaking, southern area of territory part of ponce-patillas alluvial plain subsector , southern coastal plain, created consolidation of valleys of southern side of central mountain range , cayey mountain range. central area of municipality part of semi-arid southern hills. these 2 regions classified being driest on island. northern part of municipality considered within rainy western mountains. barrio anón home cerro maravilla, peak @ 4,085 feet (1,245 m) puerto rico s fourth highest peak.

nineteen barrios comprise rural areas of municipality, , topology of lands varies flatlands hills steep mountain slopes. hilly barrios of municipality (moving clockwise around outskirts of city) these seven: quebrada limón, marueño, magueyes, tibes, portugués, machuelo arriba, , cerrillos. barrios of canas, coto laurel, capitanejo, sabanetas, vayas, , bucaná surround outskits of city these flat. remaining 6 (6) other barrios further away city , topology rugged mountain terrain. these (clockwise): guaraguao, san patricio, monte llano, maragüez, anón, , real. ruggedness of these barrios because through these areas of municipality runs central mountain range of island. remaining barrios part of urban zone of city. there 6 barrios in core urban zone of municipality named primero, segundo, tercero, cuarto, quinto, , sexto. delimetered streets, rivers, or major highways. example, barrio tercero bounded in north isabel street, in east rio portugués, in south comercio street, , west plaza las delicias. barrio tercero includes of called historic district.

there seismic detector university of puerto rico, mayagüez campus, has placed in barrio cerrillos.

land features

cruceta el vigia marks spot during 17th through 19th centuries guard watched merchant enemy ships approaching ponce harbor 3 mi (5 km) away.

elevations include cerro de punta @ 4,390 feet (1,338 m), highest in puerto rico, located in barrio anón in territory of municipality of ponce. mount jayuya, @ 4,314 feet (1,315 m) located on boundary between barrio anón , barrio saliente in jayuya. cerro maravilla, @ 3,970 feet (1,210 m) above sea level, located east of barrio anón. there many other mountains @ lower elevations in municipality, such montes llanos ridge , mount diablo, @ 2,231 feet (680 m) , mount marueño, @ 2,100 feet (640 m), , pinto peak, among others. part of toro negro forest located in barrio anón. coastal promontories include cuchara, peñoncillo, carnero, , cabullón points. fifty-six (56) percent of municipality consists of slopes 10 degrees or greater.

water features

the 14 rivers comprising hydrographic system of ponce matilde, inabón, bucaná, jacaguas, portugués, cañas, pastillo, cerrillos, chiquito, bayagan, blanco, prieto, anón , san patricio jacaguas river runs brief stretch on southeast area of municipality. inabón river springs anón ward , runs through municipality 18 mi (29.0 km); tributaries of inabón anón , guayo rivers , emajagua brook. bucaná river springs machuelo arriba ward , runs 18.5 mi (29.8 km) caribbean sea. tributaries of bucaná san patricio, bayagán, , prieto rivers , ausubo brook. portugués river springs ward of name in adjuntas, , runs 17.3 mi (27.8 km) caribbean sea @ ponce playa ward. matilde river, known pastillo river, runs 12 mi (19 km); tributaries cañas river , limón , del agua brooks. lakes in ponce include bronce , ponceña lakes bearing numbers: uno, dos, tres, , cinco; , salinas lagoon, considered restricted lagoon. other water bodies springs @ quintana , la guancha , el tuque beaches. there beach @ caja de muertos island. lake cerrillos located within limits of municipality, future lake resulting portugues dam. cerrillos state forest located in municipality of ponce.

coastal geographic features in ponce include cabullón inlet, , 5 keys: jueyes, ratones, cardona, gatas, , isla del frio. caja de muertos island , morrillito islet located @ boundary between ponce , juana díaz. there mangrove covering area of approximately 100 acres (40 ha) @ cabullón promontory , isla del frio. salinas lagoon, part of reserva natural punta cucharas, has mangrove expands 37 acres (15 ha). lagoon consists of 698 cuerdas (678 acres; 274 ha). rita cave located in barrio cerrillos.

climate

ponce features tropical savannah climate (koppen aw). ponce has winter highs averaging 87 °f (31 °c) , summer highs, 93 °f (34 °c). has record high of 100 °f (38 °c), occurred on august 21, 2003, , record low of 51 °f (11 °c) occurred on february 28, 2004, tying record low of 51 °f (11 °c) january 25, 1993.

the rainfall in ponce varies both season , locality. municipality averages 38.52 inches of rain per year, 2 distinct, asymmetrical wet , dry seasons. there brief, moderately wet season in may, followed brief, moderately dry season june through july, , more prolonged, intense wet season in september through october, followed longer, drier season december through april. 2 thirds of total rainfall occurs in wettest 5 months. driest month january, receives less inch of rain. long-term mean annual rainfall in municipality of ponce ranges 36 inches (910 mm) in coastal plain 100 inches (2,500 mm) @ highest elevations of mountainous interior. of populated parts of municipality, however, located @ lower elevations , have lower rainfall.

the mean annual temperature in municipality 79 °f (26 °c).