Pico Piedras Blancas

Pico Piedras Blancas
Pico Piedras Blancas (Right) and Pico Mucumamó (left) seen from Alto de Mifafí
Highest point
Elevation	4,737 m (15,541 ft)
Coordinates	8°51′N 71°57′W / 8.850°N 71.950°W / 8.850; -71.950
Geography
Location	Mérida, Mérida, Venezuela
Parent range	Sierra de la Culata, Andes
Climbing
First ascent	Unknown, however
Easiest route	Walk, easy climb PD

The Pico Piedras Blancas (also known as Misamán), at 4,737 metres (15,541 ft), is the highest mountain of the Sierra de la Culata range in the Mérida State, and the fifth highest mountain in Venezuela. Its name, meaning "White Stones", is of uncertain origin, since the massif is predominantly grey in color (however, see ). Pico Piedras Blancas lacks glaciers. However, seasonal snowfalls may briefly cover its flanks. From its summit and under clear conditions, Lake Maracaibo can be seen. One of the accesses to reach the base of the mountain, is through the Mifafí Condor Reserve, which hosts some specimens of this andean bird.

Pico Piedras Blancas is located 35 km (22 mi) to the northeast of Mérida, the state capital. Pico Piedras Blancas is very close to Pico Mucumamó, Pico Los Nevados and Pico El Buitre; all of them surround a high altitude valley in the heart of the Sierra de la Culata at approximately 4200 meters above sea level, known on topographic maps as Hoyo Negro ("Black Hole").

A former measure of 4762 metres, given by Jahn in 1910, was corrected to 4737 metres in 1951. The latter measure was confirmed by a 2002 GPS survey.

Though being the highest mountain of the Sierra de la Culata, it is not as frequently climbed as Pico Pan de Azucar in the same range of La Culata or the highest peaks of the Sierra Nevada de Mérida range.