A GEOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE JUAN FERNANDEZ ISLANDS 



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Fig. 24. Quebr. del Minero. — Photo C. Skottsberg 2^/^^ ,916. 



permanent streams. Bounded by Damajuana on the east and by Cordon Central on 

 the west it is dominated by the square Yunque massif (figs. 22, 31). Due to the 

 scant water supply in the side gullies near the sea, the distal part of the valley floor 

 inclines steeply, whereas the middle section has been levelled, being almost hori- 

 zontal at the small clearing known as Plazoleta (or Plazuela) del Yimque ("small 

 square"), situated about 220 m above the sea (Skottsb. 3 PI. 89: 2), but from here 

 the gradient gets very steep. It is evident from the pictures in Walter's narrative 

 that quite some clearing was done by Anson's party, very likely as far up as to 

 Plazoleta, and there is little native forest below this point. In 1916 — 17 the trail 

 went through an extensive macal, and the lower slopes near the sea were barren. 

 Very few people lived in this valley (fig. 27).' The forests of the interior were in 

 good condition and the upper montane type luxuriated below the saddle between 

 Damajuana and Yunque from 400 to 600 m. 



El Yunque (The Anvil) presents, from all directions, the same venerable 

 appearance (figs. 21, 22, 25, 31, 51). The walls are everywhere steep with gradients 



' Plazoleta is where, in 1930, HuGO Weber went to live all alone as a modern Robinson, 

 as told in his interesting book. He built a hut, cleared the ground, made a garden and raised 

 chickens. He married in 1932, built a more substantial home and extended his cultivations. In 

 1942 he left the island and settled on the mainland. The little farm is still his property but without 

 a tenant, and I am told by Dr. Guillermo Kuschel that the place was overgrown with Rubus 

 ulmifoUus when he visited the island a few years ago. 



