The highlight of Michoacan is hilly and consists mainly of two large mountain regions, crossed by a vast plain with lower areas.
Michoacán is located in the south west of Mexico, it borders the states of Querétaro, Guanajuato and Jalisco to the north; with the state of Guerrero and the Pacific Ocean to the south; with Querétaro, Guerrero and Mexico to the east and with the Pacific Ocean, Jalisco and Colima to the west.
The state of Michoacán is part of the Sierra Madre del Sur and the Neovolcanic Axis of Mexico. Its capital, Morelia, is located 1,920 meters above sea level.
It has an area of 59,928 km². The most relevant in elevation is towards the northeastern area of the state, where mountains and hills are noted, between small valleys and plains.
Variety of the relief of Michoacán
Michoacán's relief is so varied and irregular, that it goes from sea level to 4,100 meters high. In it, numerous important volcanic formations take place within Mexico.
It is basically comprised of 5 types of reliefs. They are divided as follows:
-Saws: 63.2%.
-Lake plains: 14.49%.
-Valley: 8.07%.
-Tablets: 7.14% and
-Lomeríos: 7.1%.
The 2 most important topographic formations in the country converge in the state of Michoacán, which are highlighted below:
-The Sierra Madre del Sur: makes up 54.26% of Michoacan territory. This topographic formation includes the South Coastal Mountain Range, South Coasts, Tepalcatepec Depression, Balsas Depression and part of the Sierra de las Costas de Colima and Jalisco.
-The Neovolcanic Axis: makes up 45.74% of the territory of Michoacán. This topographic formation includes the Neovolcanic Tarasca formation, Bajíos y Sierras, Thousand summits, the southern part of Escarpa, Bajío de Guanajuato, Sierras and plains of Hidalgo and Querétaro.
Due to the diversity of its geography, the state has important volcanic elevations, hills, forests, lakes and lagoons.
Main elevations
The mountains that make up the state are mostly dormant volcanoes. However, some have shown signs of recent activity.
-Pico or Volcán de Tancítaro: located at 4,100 meters above sea level, it is the highest of the volcanic peaks in the state of Michoacán. It is one of the peaks that make up the Mexican Neovolcanic Axis.
-Cerro de San Andrés: located at 3,600 meters above sea level, the volcano is active. In 2005 it was its last eruption. In the mountains that surround it are the thermal waters of El Currutaco, a spa with wells of boiling mud.
-Cerro Patamban: located at 3,500 meters above sea level. Its peak is covered with snow a few months a year.
-Cerro El Campanario: located at 3,460 meters above sea level. Located in the Sierra Chincua, it has the sanctuary for the Monarch butterfly.
-Cerro La Nieve: located at 3,440 meters above sea level.
-Cerro Uripitijuata: located at 3,400 meters above sea level.
-Cerro El Tecolote: located at 3,440 meters above sea level.
-Cerro El Zirate: located at 3,340 meters above sea level.
-Volcán Paricutín: located at 2,800 meters above sea level.
-Cerro El Quinceo: located at 2,740 meters above sea level.
-Cerro La Joya: located at 2,700 meters above sea level.
-Cerro La Bufa: located at 2,600 meters above sea level. It is the highest formation of the Sierra Madre del Sur found in the state.
-Cerro Blanco: located at 2,250 meters above sea level.
-Cerro La Magueyera: located at 2,120 meters above sea level.
References
- Saved, GM (2004). The End of All the Earth: History, Ecology and Culture on the Michoacan Coast. The College of Michoacán AC
- (2000). Mexico today 1999. INEGI.
- Martínez, BG (2008). The regions of Mexico: geographical and historical breviary. The College of Mexico AC.
- Michoacán, S. d. (2014). Michoacán Guide: The soul of Mexico. Unknown Mexico.
- Sánchez, MC (2001). Geography 2 of Mexico. Editorial Progreso.
- Stanislawski, D. (2015). The Anatomy of Eleven Towns in Michoacán. University of Texas Press.
- Velázquez, A., Torres, A., & Bocco, G. (2003). The teachings of San Juan: participatory research for the integral management of natural resources. National Institute of Ecology.