GUANAJUATO RELIEF: MAIN CHARACTERISTICS - GEOGRAPHY - 2025

The relief of Guanajuato is formed by a great variety of geographical features represented by the elevation of its ground in relation to sea level. This elevation fluctuates between 1725 and 3110 meters.

Within the geography of the state there are several mountains that rise above 2000 meters in height. The highest point is Cerro de Los Agustinos.

The state of Guanajuato covers the areas of the physiographic provinces of the Sierra Madre Oriental by 5.32%, the Mesa del Centro by 45.31%, and the Neovolcanic Axis by 49.37%.

This state is located in the north-central region of Mexico and limits geographically to the north with Zacatecas and San Luis de Potosí, to the west with Jalisco, to the east with Querétaro and to the south with Michoacán.

Division according to its relief

Due to its geographical location within the country, it is considered that the state can be divided into two zones:

North-central and northeastern zone:

This area is made up of mountains such as El Azafrán, which is located at 2,140 meters above sea level (masl). There are also plains such as Santa Bárbara, San Luis de la Paz and San Felipe.

Central-south, western and southeast zone:

In what corresponds to the central-south and western zone, there are the elevations of the Los Agustinos volcanoes (3110 masl), Cerro Culiacán (2830 masl) and Sierra de Pénjamo (2510 masl). These include areas of valleys, plains and hills.

The southeastern part includes heights greater than 3000 meters above sea level towards the San José Iturbide area.

Geographic division

This state is geographically divided into five regions:

1- The Valleys Abajeños

These are located approximately 1600 meters above sea level. They are distributed at the foot of the Picacho, Tule, Cerro Grande and Cerro Culiacán hills.

2- El Bajío

Its height varies between 1700 and 2000 meters above sea level. In this area, livestock and agriculture activities are highly favored due to the plains and valleys.

3- The Central Sierra

It has an approximate height of 2100 meters above sea level. This mountain range separates the area of ​​Los Altos from El Bajío. Here is located a mother vein that has been exploited for more than 400 years.

Its height privileges the climate with a temperate temperature that favors the forests. During the summer and autumn there can be rains, and in winter it is usually the coldest area.

4- The Sierra Gorda

It is a mountainous area whose height can vary between 900 and 2400 meters above sea level. This region is more desolate compared to the rest of the regions of the state.

5- Los Altos

This area is located at 2000 meters above sea level and flat surfaces and deep plains prevail. There are two very important basins: the Lerma river and the Pánuco river. It is the driest region of the state.

References

1. Carmen Manso Porto, RA (1997). Historical cartography of America: manuscript catalog (18th-19th centuries). Spain: Royal Academy of History.
2. Estrada, VM (2002). Geography 3. Mexico: Editorial Progreso.
3. INEGI, IN (October 2, 2017). Relief of the State of Guanajuato. Obtained from paratodomexico.com
4. Susana A. Alaniz-Álvarez, Á. F.-S. (Jan 1, 2007). Geology of Mexico. Mexico: Mexican Geological Society.
5. Teresa Reyna Trujillo, I. d. (1988). Recent research on amaranth. Mexico: UNAM.