PACIFIC COASTAL PLAIN: HYDROLOGY, CLIMATE, FLORA, FAUNA - GEOGRAPHY - 2025

The Pacific Coastal Plain is one of the 15 physiographic regions into which Mexico is divided. It begins in the vicinity of the city of Mexicali (capital of the state of Baja California) and in the delta of the Colorado River in the northern part of the Gulf of California. This plain ends near the city of Tepic, capital of the state of Nayarit, about 1,450 km south of Mexico.

In general, a coastal plain is a geographic area of ​​flat, low terrain that extends alongside the ocean. They are separated from the rest of the interior of the continent by nearby geographical features, such as mountains, mountain ranges, plateaus, among others.

Coastal plains can be formed by the development of some continental shelf. This begins as a flat terrain located below sea level. When the ocean level drops, the land is exposed creating a coastal plain.

Sometimes these extend inland. Later, they are separated from the ocean by formations that rise above sea level.

Additionally, it can develop when river currents carry rocks, soil, and other sedimentary materials into the ocean. The successive and sustained contributions of sediment generate layers that accumulate over time. In this way, an expanse of flat or gently sloping terrain is created.

Characteristics of the Pacific Coastal Plain

In the American continent there are several areas of coastal plains. Some of them narrow due to the little separation between the mountains and the sea. However, others are widely spread and very fertile.

It is precisely in this last group that the one that stretches along the Pacific coast from southern Mexico to Central America stands out. For most of your journey through the Aztec region, the Pacific Coastal Plain borders the Gulf of California. It crosses the states of Sonora, Sinaloa and Nayarit.

Thus, this coastal plain corresponds to the ancient lands occupied by the Mayans. Innumerable products are produced and traded in these lands.

Among them, dried fish and evaporated sea salt. Similarly, cocoa, sugar cane and cotton are grown in the Pacific Coastal Plain. Livestock activities are also carried out.

The entire northern section of this plain is occupied by the Sonoran desert. However, parts of this land have been irrigated and transformed into highly productive farmland.

Hydrology

For the most part, the hydrology of the Pacific Coastal Plain is made up of lagoons and rivers that run from the western part of the Sierra Madre. All of these rivers have created deltas in the region near the coast. Among the most important of these coastal plains are the Yaqui River and the Fuerte River.

Yaqui River

For its part, the Yaqui is located in the central-western zone of Sonora. Its length is 397 km and the total extension of its basin is between 72,000 km² and 79,172 km².

Along this river are the La Angostura, El Novillo and General Alvaro Obregón dams.

Strong River

With regard to the Fuerte River, Chihuahua is born by the union of the Verde and Urique rivers. It descends from the Sierra Madre Occidental to the Gulf of California through the state of Sinaloa.

Its waters are used for irrigation in the lowlands of the gulf. The Fort is approximately 290 km long (560 km if the Río Verde is included).

Weather

In general, the Pacific Coastal Plain has a warm humid or warm sub-humid climate.

The first is characterized by having an average annual temperature of between 22 ° and 26 ° C. As for rainfall, they range from 2,000 to 4,000 mm per year.

On the other hand, in the warm subhumid climate annually rainfall of between 1,000 and 2,000 mm is recorded. Temperatures can vary between 22 ° C and 26 ° C. In some regions, temperatures can even exceed 26 ° C.

However, the Pacific Coastal Plain north of parallel 25 ° N exhibits a very dry climate. In this type of climate the circulation of the winds is high. This results in low cloudiness and rainfall of 300 to 600 mm per year.

Average temperatures are between 22 ° to 26 ° C in some regions. In others, the average is 18 ° to 22 ° C.

Relief

Contrary to popular belief, the lowlands are not completely flat. They are made up of a series of topographic changes such as coastal terraces, low plateaus and small basins interspersed with river deltas and narrow coastal strips. In this sense, the coastal terraces are successive platforms of different levels.

On the other hand, the Pacific coastal plain is composed in a large part of its territory by alluvium. An alluvium is sedimentary material that has been transported by water currents from regions that are higher.

This transport is done through areas of steep slopes and is deposited in areas of lower elevation. The flat coastal areas receive these alluviums from the western part of the Sierra Madre.

Flora

Broadleaf species abound in the Pacific Coastal Plain. These plants are characterized by having leaves with a flat and relatively wide surface. Its coverage in the area is at the open forest level.

These forests are interspersed with cultivated pastures and areas covered by mangroves. The one that predominates is the red mangrove. But there is also an association of red mangrove, mangrove, black and red mangrove with buttonhole strata. These strata surround the densest areas of the mangrove.

In addition, some endemic species of the families Urticaceae, Piperaceae, Arecaceae, Araceae, Crassulaceae, Sabiaceae and Nyctaginaceae are part of the flora. These are generally found within the farms used for export crops.

Fauna

The fauna of the Pacific Coastal Plain in Mexico is favored by the presence of large areas covered by mangroves.

These mangroves and their associated wetlands also serve as one of the most important winter habitats, holding 80% of the migratory shorebird populations of the Pacific. There are a total of 252 species of birds. There also live 36 types of endemic birds.

Similarly, large numbers of reptiles, amphibians and other land vertebrates such as pumas, ocelots and jaguars can be found. Within the marine fauna, four species of turtles are in danger of extinction.

References

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