- Main geographical depressions of Mexico
- 1- Balsas Depression
- 2- Laguna Salada (Baja California)
- 3- Lake Chapala
- 4- Lake of Pátzcuaro
- References
The main depressions in Mexico are the Balsas Depression, the Laguna Salada (Baja California), Lake Chapala and Lake Pátzcuaro.
A geographical depression is understood to be any area of the earth's relief, which is located at a lower height than that of the surrounding surface. Depressions can vary in origin and size.
Mexico, for its part, has four major depressions. These are part of its geography and are the product of various environmental factors that caused the subsidence of its relief.
Main geographical depressions of Mexico
1- Balsas Depression
The Balsas depression is a wide region of lowlands that occupy important parts of the states of Jalisco, Michoacán, Guerrero, Mexico, Morelos, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Oaxaca and part of the DF.
The lowest altitude range within this depression ranges from 500 to 600 meters above sea level.
The cause of this depression dates back to the late Mesozoic and early Cenozoic. The formations of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, composed of limestones, schists and sandstones, gave way to upheavals due to folding and large fractures, through which the igneous material was introduced, covering the belt and profoundly modifying the relief. In this way, the widespread Balsas Depression was formed.
2- Laguna Salada (Baja California)
The Laguna Salada is a sandy depression that begins in the vicinity of Cerro El Centinela and extends south between the Sierra de Cucapá and the Sierra de Juárez.
It is the area with the lowest relief in all of Mexico, reaching about 12 meters below sea level.
It is a desert wasteland with a very arid climate. Previously it owned water, being the last occasion in which it got to show it between the years 1997 and 1999.
3- Lake Chapala
It is a natural reservoir in Mexico, located between the states of Jalisco and Michoacán, reaching 1,112 km 2.
It represents the largest lake in the country and the main source of drinking water supply in the Guadalajara metropolitan area.
It is located in the Lerma-Santiago hydrological depression, along with the Lerma River and the Grande de Santiago River.
It is located in a valley surrounded by cones, volcanic domes, hills and geological faults, at about 1,520 meters above sea level.
4- Lake of Pátzcuaro
This lake is located in the state of Michoacán and represents one of the main tourist attractions in the state.
It has an area of 260 km 2. It has seven islands and an altitude of 2,035 meters above sea level.
References
- Depression (geology). Retrieved on: October 11, 2017, in Wikipedia: wikipedia.org
- Depression (geography). Retrieved on: October 11, 2017, in Wikipedia: wikipedia.org
- Category: Depressions in Mexico. Retrieved on: October 11, 2017, in Wikipedia: wikipedia.org
- Balsas Depression. Retrieved on: October 11, 2017, in Wikipedia: wikipedia.org
- Laguna Salada (Baja California). Retrieved on: October 11, 2017, in Wikipedia: wikipedia.org
- Chapala lake. Retrieved on: October 11, 2017, in Wikipedia: wikipedia.org
- Lake of Pátzcuaro. Retrieved on: October 11, 2017, in Wikipedia: wikipedia.org