Mountains, Volcanos, Waterfalls, and Caves
By Marielle V. Turner*
When people think of Mexico, they think of tropical beach areas like Acapulco, Puerto Escondido, Cancun, or Playa del Carmen – not mountains. Most tourist cities are not in the mountains, but Mexico contains 47,539 named mountains in total.
The Sierra Madre Mountains and Waterfalls
The Sierra Madre Occidental has so many beautiful views. It has one of the largest cable-stayed bridges in the world, connecting the states of Durango and Sinaloa. Along with spectacular views, you will experience extremely fresh air. That is because there are a plethora of pine trees growing all over this mountain range.
There are also some of the most beautiful waterfalls you ever want to see in Mexiquillo, flowing down several kilometers, and you can even stand behind them in some places.
The Sierra Madre Del Sur is quite adventurous. There are tours through the Rio Subterráneo El Chonta in the state of Guerrero. You can swim in vast caves, called the caves of Cacahuamilpa, shown below. There are also limestone rocks of marine origin that formed millions of years ago.
Mexico City (CDMX), the capital of Mexico and one of the most highly populated cities in the world, was built from a lake basin at the base of the meeting of the Sierra Madre Occidental (West) and the Sierra Madre Oriental (East). “Sierra Madre” means “mother mountain range” in Spanish. Hence, Mexico has mountain ranges that speak to the Mexican honor of the woman.
The highest and most prominent mountain in Mexico is Pico de Orizaba (5,636m/18,491ft), which also happens to be the third-highest peak in North America. This video gives you a quick view.
Volcanos
Most people do not know that volcanoes are really mountains. However, they are formed differently. A mountain is formed due to various geological processes like the movement and opposition of tectonic plates. A volcano is formed around a vent that allows magma to reach the surface of the Earth.
Popocatépetl, called “El Popo,” is one of Mexico’s most active volcanoes, located in the state of Puebla, Southeast of Mexico City. Its twin volcano, Iztaccíhuatl, lies 16 kilometers or 10 miles north and lies dormant, but “El Popo” erupted on February 17, 2022. “El Popo” has had 15 major eruptions since the Spanish arrived in 1519.
Thin layers of ash can act as a natural fertilizer and increases soil production. This means there will probably be an increased harvest in the years following this eruption. This makes for a rise in agricultural production and an influx of money due to increased exports of many food items. All academic and statistical resources agree that Mexico is the largest avocado harvest area in the world.
The most naturally impressive thing is the Garden of Stone, pictured below. There are several theories of how this garden was formed. It could have been due to the lava flowing from volcanoes. Another rather fantastical theory is that a meteorite fell near “El Popo” and formed these rocks. Finally, the theory that makes the most sense, is that these rocks formed from the minerals at the bottom of the waters that used to cover the area. Eventually, the water evaporated and now you have these rocks that are supposedly rather warm. That could be quite enjoyable as it is much cooler at these elevations.
So, start planning your hiking trip! It will be difficult to choose which range to explore first. They are all gifted with magnificent views and a clean atmosphere. Enjoy!
*About the Author: Marielle V. Turner is a new resident of Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo. Originally from The Bronx in New York City, Marielle left in 2016 to live in Birmingham, AL. The opportunity came that allowed her to leave the U.S. permanently to live in Playa Del Carmen where she will spend her time healing physically and mentally. She will also be writing her first novel and will explore other aspects of Mexican culture to find her niche subject to focus on all the time.