Cerro Catedral (Uruguay)

{{Infobox mountain

| name = Cerro Catedral

| photo = CerroCatedral.jpg

| photo_caption = The summit of Cerro Catedral, near a dirt road (Ruta 109).

| elevation_m = 513.66

| elevation_ref =

| prominence_m = 373

| prominence_ref =

| map = Uruguay

| map_caption = Uruguay

| label_position = left

| listing = Country high point

| translation = Cathedral Hill

| language = Spanish

| pronunciation = {{IPA|es|ˈsero kateˈðɾal|lang}}

| location = Aiguá, Maldonado Department,
Uruguay

| range = Sierra Carapé (part of Cuchilla Grande)

| coordinates = {{coord|34|22|55.9|S|54|40|27.7|W|type:mountain_region:UY_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| range_coordinates =

| coordinates_ref =

| topo =

| type = Hill (granite, gneiss)

| age = Precambrian

| first_ascent = Unknown

| easiest_route = Hike

}}

Cerro Catedral ("Cathedral Hill"), also known as Cerro Cordillera, is a peak and the highest point of Uruguay, with an altitude of {{convert|513.66|m|ft|abbr=on}}. It is located north of Maldonado Department, in the municipality of Aiguá, in a hill range named Sierra Carapé, which constitutes part of a larger range named Cuchilla Grande. Its name derived from the curious forms of the rocky elevations of its summit, which are very common in the southern part of this country.

History

Until 1973, Cerro de las Ánimas (formerly known as Mirador Nacional), with an elevation of {{convert|501|m|ft|abbr=on}}, was considered the highest point of Uruguay. However, in that year, a group of scientists of the Servicio Geográfico Militar (Military Geographic Service) changed the measure of Cerro Catedral.

Geography

=Location and geology=

Image:Marco del Cerro Catedral.jpg that indicates the summit]]

Sierra Carapé, formed in Precambrian time, crosses the Maldonado Department from west to east and enters the Rocha Department. It constitutes the border between the departments of Lavalleja and Maldonado. Cerro Catedral, or Cerro Cordillera, is situated in the region of Las Cañas, in the 8th Judicial Section and the 9th Police Section of the Maldonado Department. Near Cerro Catedral there are the source of José Ignacio Stream (Arroyo José Ignacio), which runs from north to south, and the source of Coronilla Stream (Arroyo Coronilla), running to the northwest, which drains into Aiguá.

The hill is situated in an area of the range which its formation is mainly granitic and gneissic.

=Vegetation=

In the highest areas of Cerro Catedral, the vegetation practically does not exist, with the sparse appearance of a shrub called Myrtus ugni between the rocks. Above the altitude of {{convert|400|m|ft|abbr=on}}, tough grasses, xerophile vegetation, Baccharis articulata and marcela predominate.

=Climate=

The climate in this locality is oceanic (described by the Köppen climate classification as Cfb), with mild to warm summers and chilly to cool winters (with frequent frosts). Strong winds are a common occurrence. The precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year and snowfalls are uncommon. The last episode of snow in the place occurred on June 23, 2025.{{Cite web |title=La nieve llegó a Uruguay: mirá en qué departamentos se registraron nevadas y los videos compartidos en redes sociales |url=https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nacional/la-nieve-llego-uruguay-mira-que-departamentos-se-registraron-nevadas-y-los-videos-compartidos-redes-sociales-n6005357 |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=El Observador}}

{{Weather box

|width = auto

|location = Cerro Catedral (514 metres - modelled data)

|metric first = yes

|single line = yes

|Jan high C = 26

|Feb high C = 25

|Mar high C = 23

|Apr high C = 19

|May high C = 16

|Jun high C = 14

|Jul high C = 13

|Aug high C = 15

|Sep high C = 16

|Oct high C = 19

|Nov high C = 21

|Dec high C = 24

|Jan low C = 14

|Feb low C = 14

|Mar low C = 13

|Apr low C = 10

|May low C = 7

|Jun low C = 5

|Jul low C = 4

|Aug low C = 5

|Sep low C = 6

|Oct low C = 8

|Nov low C = 10

|Dec low C = 12

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 69

|Feb precipitation mm = 101

|Mar precipitation mm = 98

|Apr precipitation mm = 93

|May precipitation mm = 83

|Jun precipitation mm = 74

|Jul precipitation mm = 82

|Aug precipitation mm = 70

|Sep precipitation mm = 74

|Oct precipitation mm = 102

|Nov precipitation mm = 103

|Dec precipitation mm = 77

|source 1 = MeteoBlue {{cite web

|url = https://www.meteoblue.com/pt/tempo/historyclimate/climatemodelled/cerro-catedral_uruguai_3443264

|title = Clima Cerro Catedral

|accessdate = 14 April 2020}}

|date = 2020}}

Sources

{{in lang|es}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20081202151454/http://www.maldonado.gub.uy/cerro.php Cerro Catedral], Site of the Municipality of Maldonado, Uruguay.

References

External links

{{in lang|en}} {{cite peakbagger|pid=8805|name=Cerro Catedral, Uruguay}}

Cerro Catedral

Category:Highest points of countries