| Cerro de la Silla | |
|---|---|
Cerro de la Silla in 2004 |
|
| Elevation | 1,820 m (5,971 ft) |
| Translation | Saddle Hill (Spanish) |
| Location | |
| Location | Guadalupe and Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike |
Cerro de la Silla (English: Saddle Hill), named for its distinctive saddle-shaped profile when viewed from the west, is a famous symbol of the landscape of the state of Nuevo León, Mexico. Even though the mountain itself is located in the adjacent city of Guadalupe, it is widely associated to the city of Monterrey, Mexico.
It covers an area of 60.5 square kilometres (23 mi²). The mountain has four peaks: Pico Antena, Pico Norte, Pico Sur and Pico la Virgen; Pico Norte (North Peak) is the highest at 1820 m (5970 ft) while Pico la Virgen (Virgin's Peak) is the lowest at 1750 m (5740 ft).
Set aside as a Natural Monument by the government of Mexico in 1991, the hill is a popular recreational area and is often climbed by hikers who take a 5.3 km (3.3 mi) trail to reach the top. The ascent is considered fairly difficult, requiring approximately 3 hours to complete. A panoramic view of the city of Monterrey can be seen from the top.
In the second half of the 20th century, an aerial tramway was built to give a fastest access to the iconic mountain for the population. Sadly, the day of its inauguration was also the day of its closure, as a tragic accident took the lives of five people, including the engineer Jesús Fernández, its designer. Several plans have been announced to rebuild another tramway with no results.
Some other known mountains or elevations of the zone are: Cerro de las Mitras, the Sierra Madre Oriental —the "m" figure visible from various parts of the city—, the Cerro del Topo Chico, Cerro del Obispado, Cerro de la Loma Larga and La Huasteca.