A 51st Highpoint? Puerto Ricans Vote in Statehood Referendum

Cerro de Punta, the highpoint of Puerto Rico (Credit: Ratzer1 | Wikipedia)

 

Highpointers may have to find a way to reach a 51st highpoint as Puerto Ricans headed to the polls Sunday to vote on a statehood referendum.

Voters were presented with the option to vote for independence/free association, keeping the status quo, or statehood.  The result of the vote, known as a plebiscite, is non-binding as the United States Congress would have to formally set forth conditions for statehood, and this not required in response to the vote.

However, let’s go down the rabbit hole and assume that the vote comes back supporting statehood (a strong possibility as many who oppose statehood are boycotting the vote), and Congress votes to extend statehood to Puerto Rico.

If Puerto Rico were to become a state, it’s highpoint is Cerro de Punta, a 4,390 foot mountain in the Cordillera Central, a mountain range that divides the island.  On a clear day, San Juan, which is 75 miles away, can be seen. 

The mountain’s elevation would place it between Kentucky’s Black Mountain and Vermont’s Mount Mansfield in elevation ranking.