The orography of Oaxaca is characterized by being almost entirely a knot or mountainous massif, since in this state three mountain ranges are crossed: The Sierra Madre Oriental or Sierra de Oaxaca, the Sierra Madre del Sur and the Sierra Atravesada or Niltepec, occupying in total 52 percent of that territory.
Other important mountains for their height in Oaxaca are Zempoaltépetl, Monte Quiexobee, Cerro Cloud and Cerro Águila.
Oaxaca is located in southwestern Mexico, bordering Veracruz, Puebla, Chiapas, Guerrero, and the Pacific Ocean.
The multiplicity of geographical forms in this state has allowed a diversity of plant and animal life to emerge there.
You may also be interested in the natural resources of Oaxaca.
General characteristics
The three mountain ranges that cross Oaxaca are formed by sedimentary, intrusive, exclusive, volcanic and metamorphic igneous rocks.
The orographic study of this state shows that the plains and valleys are very scarce, and that there is a great variety of hills that are integrated throughout the region.
In addition to the important mountain ranges described below, in the state of Oaxaca there are low mountainous elevations such as El Cheve and the Prieto volcón, the San Felipe hill and the Campana hill. Also a significant number of canyons and canyons.
The Sierra Madre Oriental
The Sierra Madre Oriental or Sierra de Oaxaca crosses about ten states of the Mexican territory thanks to its 1,350 kilometers of extension.
Although most of this mountain range is located in Mexican territory, a part of this mountain range runs through Texas and is part of the Chisus Mountains and Big Bend National Park.
The most prominent hills belonging to the Sierra Madre Oriental are Cerro San Rafael with 3751 meters above sea level, Cerro Potosí with 3700 meters above sea level and Sierra de la Martha that has the same height as Potosí.
The Sierra Madre del Sur
It covers 1200 kilometers of territory and touches the north of the state of Oaxaca. Although the average with respect to its altitude is 2000 meters above sea level, the highest point in this state is 3710 meters on the Quie yelaag hill.
This mountain range is also known for its many canyons, formed by the variety of rivers that cross it.
Likewise, this area is home to forests with many examples of oak pine and mining is carried out as an economic activity with the extraction of silver, gold, iron and lead.
Sierra Traversed
It is found in the region of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Oaxaca in the Mexican South Pacific. It is also considered as an extension of the Sierra de Chiapas.
This mountain range is formed from granitic and metamorphic stones characteristic of the Isthmus. Some important rivers pass through its slopes are the Uxpanapa, the Chimalapa, the Salado, the Chívela, the Chichigua and the Sarabia.
Its highest points are Cerro Azul with 2,250 meters above sea level, and Cerro Baúl with 2,050 meters above sea level.
The entire area of the Sierra Atravesada falls under the classification of humid tropical forest, due to the high temperatures and the heavy rainfall.
References
- Vidal, R. (2005). The climatic regions of Mexico. Mexico: UNAM GEOGRAPHY. Retrieved on November 9, 2017 from: books.google.es
- Vergara, M. (sf) Hillside soils fertility at the Oaxaca's northern sierra. Chapingo: Autonomous University of Chapingo. Retrieved on November 9, 2017 from: books.google.es
- Valdez, S. (2012). Orography of Oaxaca. Retrieved on November 9, 2017 from: indivoaxaca.wordpress.com
- García, A. (2004). Biodiversity of Oaxaca. Mexico: World wildlife fund. Retrieved on November 9, 2017 from: books.google.es
- Oaxaca.. Retrieved on November 6, 2017 from: inafed.gob.mx