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This forest is commonly known as El Yunque, which may be attributed to either a Spanish approximation of the aboriginal Taíno word yu-ke which means "white lands", or the word "anvil," which is yunque in Spanish. The highest mountain peak in the forest rises 3,494 feet (1,065 m) above sea level.
Thereof, how did El Yunque get its name?
The forest get its name from an Indian spirit Yuquiyu (or "Yokahu"), which means "Forest of Clouds", that gave the mountain that dominates the 28,000 acres of tropical forest.
In respect to this, why is Yunque important?
So El Yunque is vital for Puerto Rico's water supply and for its natural heritage. El Yunque is not only a refuge for endangered species, but also a refuge for people. In fact, it has an international reputation as a refuge—it's one of the most important destinations in the Caribbean for ecotourism.
The distance between San Juan and El Yunque National Forest is 38 km. The road distance is 51.6 km.