Los Morrillos (Cabo Rojo)

Los Morrillos de los Cabos Rojos (Spanish for "the little promontories of the red capes") or more commonly known as Los Morrillos de Cabo Rojo, is a cape and tombolo landform located in southwestern Puerto Rico in the municipality of Cabo Rojo. Los Morrillos is an excellent example of a tombolo, or a tied island, with two sand pits. The cape resembles a letter Y with its two promontories or morrillos being connected through sand pits which enclose a saltwater lagoon. The landform was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1980 (as the Cabo Rojo National Natural Landmark), and the site includes mangroves, beaches, important bird nesting areas, limestone caves, cliffs and rock formations.[1] The reddish-colored limestone cliffs give the name to the town and municipality of Cabo Rojo.[2]

Los Morrillos de los Cabos Rojos
"Los Morrillos", "Los Cabos Rojos"
Tombolo
Los Morrillos Lighthouse on the western "morrillo".
Los Morrillos Lighthouse on the western "morrillo".
Los Morrillos de los Cabos Rojos is located in Puerto Rico
Los Morrillos de los Cabos Rojos
Los Morrillos de los Cabos Rojos
Coordinates: 17°56′01.2″N 67°11′31.9″W
LocationCabo Rojo, Puerto Rico
Elevation92 ft (28 m)
Designated1980

The Los Morrillos Lighthouse (or Cabo Rojo Lighthouse) is a prominent historic landmark located in the landform. The site is located in and administered by the Boquerón State Forest and the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge.[3][4]

Location and geology

This landform is located in the southwestern corner of the main island of Puerto Rico, shared by the barrios Boquerón and Llanos Costa of the municipality of Cabo Rojo. The cape is south facing towards the Caribbean Sea and creates two bays: the Salinas Bay to the west and the Sucia Bay to the east. The tombolo itself is connected to the mainland through a thin isthmus containing mangroves, reefs and salt flats.[5] The geology of the landform consists mainly of limestone and serpentine rock formations, some of which are considered amongst the oldest in Puerto Rico.[6]

Notable features

Point Jagüey (Spanish: Punta Jagüey) is the westernmost part of the landform and contains some of the most prominent cliffs. Jagüey Cave (Spanish: Cueva Jagüey), a small cave is located nearby immediately south of the point. Another prominent feature is the Puente de Tierra (Spanish for "land bridge"), a limestone formation resembling a small thin bridge. Sucia Lagoon (Spanish: Laguna Sucia) is located between the two morrillos and it contains mangrove forests and salt flats.[7][8][9]

  • Puente de Piedra ("stone bridge").
    Puente de Piedra ("stone bridge").
  • Cliff formations near the lighthouse.
    Cliff formations near the lighthouse.
  • Limestone cliffs located next to the lighthouse.
    Limestone cliffs located next to the lighthouse.
  • View of Cabo Rojo from Los Morrillos.
    View of Cabo Rojo from Los Morrillos.
  • View of the lighthouse with Laguna Sucia in the background.
    View of the lighthouse with Laguna Sucia in the background.
  • Limestone cliff formations near Playa Sucia.
    Limestone cliff formations near Playa Sucia.
  • Cave near Point Jaguey.
    Cave near Point Jaguey.
  • Reddish-colored limestone cliffs.
    Reddish-colored limestone cliffs.
  • Limestone cliff formations near the lighthouse.
    Limestone cliff formations near the lighthouse.

See also

References
  1. "National Natural Landmarks - National Natural Landmarks (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  2. "Cabo Rojo-municipio de Puerto Rico-datos y fotos-videos". www.prfrogui.com. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  3. "El Bosque Estatal de Boquerón". DRNA. 2015-06-12. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  4. "Home - Cabo Rojo - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service". www.fws.gov. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  5. "Comité Caborrojeño Pro Salud y Ambiente Inc. – "Los hombres pasan pero los principios quedan y triunfan" – Ramón Emeterio Betances y Alacán". Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  6. guatu (2018-06-10). "Un recorrido de la geología de Puerto Rico". Ciencias Terrestres, Geología y Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  7. "Faro Los Morrillos de Cabo Rojo". Discover Puerto Rico. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  8. "Faro Los Morillos (Cabo Rojo)". Conoce a Puerto Rico. 2016-05-01. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  9. Explorer, J. C. "Acantilados y un Puente de Piedra en Cabo Rojo". Puerto Rico Explorers. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
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