Sierra Mazateca
The Sierra Mazateca is a mountainous stretch of land in the north of the Mexican state of Oaxaca .
Geographically, the area can be divided into four climatic zones, which are related to the altitude levels of this mountainous region: cold highland zones above 1800 m (tierra fría), climatically temperate mountainous areas between 800 and 1800 m (tierra templada) and the lowlands below 800 m ( tierra caliente). The tierra templada is the most densely populated, with cities being the most common form of settlement since the time of the Spanish conquest .