title: Sierra Cristal National Park
text: # Sierra Cristal National Park
  
  Sierra Cristal National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Sierra Cristal) is a national park in Cuba. It is located in the municipalities of Mayarí and Sagua de Tánamo in southern Holguín Province. It was the first National Park created in Cuba in 1930, and covers an area of 185.37 $km^2$ (71.57 sq mi).
  
  ## Overview
  
  It is located in the heights of Sierra Cristal (Cristal Mountains), one of the highest mountain range in Cuba (second only to Sierra Maestra). Cristal Peak (Pico Cristal) reaches an elevation of 1,300 m (4,300 ft).
  
  ## Conservation
  
  The ranges are dominated by pine forests. Cuban pine (Pinus cubensis) can reach heights of 30 m (98 ft) in this area. The endangered Cuban solenodon (Solenodon cubanus) can be found in Sierra Cristal.
  
  A research center established in 1988 in Pinares de Mayarí monitors the ecology of the region.
  
  