| Blue Mountain Peak | |
|---|---|
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Blue Mountain Peak
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| Elevation | 2,256 m (7,402 ft) [1] |
| Prominence | 2,256 m (7,402 ft) [1] |
| Listing | Country high point Ultra |
| Location | |
| Location | Portland / Saint Thomas, Jamaica |
| Range | Blue Mountains |
| Coordinates | [1] |
Blue Mountain Peak is the highest mountain in Jamaica at 2,256 metres (7,402 ft). It is the home of Blue Mountain coffee and their famous tours. Blue Mountain Peak is the second highest peak in the Caribbean after Pico Duarte of the Dominican Republic.[2] It is located on the border of the Portland and Saint Thomas parishes of Jamaica.
The Blue Mountains are considered by many to be a hiker's and camper's paradise. The traditional Blue Mountain trek is the 7-mile (10 km) hike to the peak, a 3,000-foot (1,000 m) increase in elevation. Jamaicans prefer to reach the peak at sunrise so the 3–4 hour hike is usually undertaken in darkness. This is also done because the sky is very clear in the morning and Cuba can be seen far away. Some of the plants found on the Blue Mountain can not be found anywhere else in the world and they are often of a dwarfed sort. This is mainly due to the cold climate which inhibits growth. The small coffee farming communities of Claverty Cottage and Hagley Gap are located near the peak.