The highest mountains in Jamaica are called the Blue Mountains. This mountain range is situated on the east part of the island of Jamaica and is 28 miles long and approximately 12 miles wide at most points. The Blue Mountains rise quickly from sea level and it is possible to begin driving at sea level and reach an elevation of 7,000 feet in under one hour.
The Blue Mountains span 194,000 acres and the park was created in 1992. The reason for the establishment of the Blue Mountain Park was to preserve the trees that remain on the mountain range. There are more than 800 kinds of plants growing on the Blue Mountain range and more than 200 kinds of birds that live in a bird habitat there. Additionally, there are more than 500 kinds of flowers growing in the Blue Mountain range and approximately half of these are native plants. The Jamaica Bamboo is one such native flowering plant that grows in the Blue Mountains. This bamboo species flowers only every 33 years.
Spaniard explorers settled and made ranches at the base of the mountains initially, but the island of Jamaica was taken over by the British after this. The British settlers then cleared the lower elevations of the Blue Mountains for farming and to use the wood. Before this major deforestation of the mountains, the Blue Mountains were dense with trees. Due to continued deforestation, the tree line is currently at approximately the 2,000-foot elevation line in some areas and as high as the 5,000-foot elevation line in other areas.
The eastern side of the Blue Mountains receives more than 300 inches of rain annually. This plentiful rain provides water for approximately half of the entire population of Jamaica. Within the Blue Mountain range lies the last rain forest area that exists in Jamaica. This rain forest is the home of a wide variety of exotic plants. The second-biggest butterfly in the entire world also makes this rain forest its home.
The highest peak of the Blue Mountain range is 7402 feet above sea level. There is a hiking trail to reach the peak that is seven miles long. Hiking along this trail, a hiker will climb 3,000 feet to reach the top. Most hikers are able to complete the hike in approximately four hours of challenging work. Once the peak is reached, a majestic view of the south and north coasts can be seen. Hiking back down from the peak will take the hiker through botanical gardens, forests and fields.
There are shorter and less strenuous hiking trails in the Blue Mountains as well. Hikers can take a one-mile hike to Charlottenberg to visit a house filled with beautiful antiques set in a colorful garden. There is also a trail that leads to a botanical garden where many fascinating trees and shrubs from around the world can be seen. Another trail leads to a former coffee plantation that is currently a plant nursery.
