The orography of Mexico It is mainly mountainous. That means it has high peaks and deep valleys. The most important valley is just over which Mexico City was established.
The relief of Mexico has three major units: the antiplanicie, the geovolcanic axis and the Yucatan peninsula.
The high plateau is located in the north of the country as a geological extension of the central plains of the United States. It has two large plateaus: one in the north and one in the center.
It is surrounded by two mountainous mountain ranges in a north-south direction: the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre Oriental.
The first, with 3 thousand meters above sea level, runs parallel to the coast of the Gulf of California.
The Sierra Madre Oriental passes 4 thousand meters above sea level at its highest point, which is the Peña Nevada.
For its part, the geovolcanic axis crosses the territory from east to west, between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. At its southernmost point it is bordered by the Sierra Madre del Sur.
Finally, the Yucatan Peninsula is a calcareous plateau with some rivers.
The most important Mexican valleys
Mexico's valley
It is a basin that includes part of the Federal District and 58 municipalities of the State of Mexico.
Valley of Toluca
It is the highest plain of the Mexican territory and has an area of 4500 square kilometers. In its area the Lerma River is born.
It had so many tributaries of water years ago that there were built several works to supply water to Mexico City. However, only 3,000 hectares of swamps survive today.
Ciénagas de Lerma
They constitute the most important natural wetland in the state of Mexico. They have almost 3,000 hectares in which are varied natural riches such as water mirrors, riverside trees, waterfowl, amphibians and fish.
The main hills of Mexico
The Mexican hills have an extensive base with a rounded top. The most representative are the following:
Cerro de la Bufa
It is located east of Zacatecas, with a height that exceeds 2 thousand meters above sea level.
It was the refuge of several tribes of the zacatecos. In 1588 his image was included in the coat of arms of the city.
It has several sites of tourist interest: the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Patrocinio, the Meteorological Observatory of Zacatecas, the Mausoleum of the Illustrious Men, the cable car of the city and a monument to Pacho Villa.
Cerro de la Silla
Cerro de la Silla owes its name to the resemblance it has with an equestrian chair.
This hill is located in Nuevo León and belongs to the foothill system of the Sierra Madre Oriental.
Cerro del Tepozteco
The Tepozteco is a protected natural area since 1937, with an approximate height of 2300 meters above sea level.
It is estimated that it is more than 1500 years old and it has been discovered that its construction was done in honor of Ometochtli-Tepoxtécatl, the deity of fertility.
Currently it is a place for climbing and for family walks.
Cerro del Cubilete
It has more than 2500 meters above sea level and on this is the famous Christ of the Mountain.
Cerro de las Campanas
It is a hill on which there are phonolite rocks (sound stones) that produce a semi-metallic sound very similar to that of the bells. It is located in the center of the city.
Main volcanoes
Toulca's snowy
It is a volcanic formation of more than 30 thousand years that goes from the center to the south of Toluca. It has an approximate height of 4690 meters above sea level.
Popocatépetl
It is a volcano that represents one of the highest peaks in Mexico and reaches the Sierra Nevada.
Iztaccíhuatl
It is a volcano that measures approximately 5286 meters above sea level and has three elevations known as the head, chest and feet. From this last point the famous Paso de Cortés is formed.
Main mountains
The highest mountains in Mexico are:
- Orizaba or Citlaltépetl, which measures approximately 5700 meters.
- Popocatépetl, of approximately 5462 meters.
- Iztaccíhuatl, with a little more than 5 thousand meters.
- Xinantécatl or Nevado de Toluca, with more than 4 thousand meters of height.
- Sierra Negra, Tliltépetl or Atlitzin volcano, with almost 4700 meters.
- Malintzin, which measures 4460 meters.
- Cofre de Perote, with its 4200 meters of height.
- Tacaná volcano, which reaches 4117 meters high.
Seismology of the Mexican territory
Plains, mountains and plateaus characterize the relief of Mexico, and is due to the intense tectonic activity that took place during the Quaternary period.
Clear examples of this activity are the two deep ocean trenches: the Mesoamerican trench and the Gulf of California.
The movement of tectonic plates in Mexican territory is constant, but there are occasions when these plates get stuck and energy accumulates that explodes after a time in strong earthquakes, such as those that occurred in 1957, 1985 and 2017.
In addition, the active fault of San Andrés touches the north of the country, so seismic activity is common in that area.
The main geological faults in Mexico are the San Andreas fault, the Mesoamerican fault and the transverse volcanic axis.
References
- Digital library (s / f). The Mexican relief. Retrieved from: bibliotecadigital.ilce.edu.mx
- Planet Club (s / f). Flora and fauna of the State of Mexico. Recovered from: com.mx
- Galeon (s / f). Orography. Retrieved from: galeon.com
- Geography (2007). Mexico: relief. Retrieved from: geografia.laguia2000.com
- National Institute of Statistic and Geography. inegi.org.mx
- Otero, Laura (2017). Iconic hills of Mexico. Recovered from: foodandtravel.mx