Sierra Nevada (Mexico)
The Sierra Nevada ("Snowy Mountain Range") is a mountain range in Mexico . It forms the higher eastern part of the Sierra Volcánica Transversal and is commonly referred to as the "region of volcanoes" (Spanish: Región de los Volcánes ).
geography
The Sierra Nevada has a length of about 120 kilometers and a width of about 30 kilometers. It is located southeast of Mexico City and includes several national parks ( Parque Nacional Izta-Popo-Zoquiapan, Parque Nacional Malintzin (PNM), Parque Nacional Pico de Orizaba and others).
geology
The formation of the Sierra Nevada can possibly be seen in connection with a land bridge that formed when the American double continent grew together. This resulted in northward thrust forces in the south of the North American continental plate, which led to the formation of the volcanic chain.
Main surveys
The highest and most important peaks of the Sierra Nevada are the Popocatépetl (5452 m), the Iztaccíhuatl (5280 m) and the Citlaltépetl (5636 m); A small snow cap remains on them even in summer. On smaller peaks, which are still higher than most other mountains in Mexico, the winter snow melts completely in spring, but at the latest in summer.
While most of the volcanoes of the Sierra Nevada are considered extinct, the Popocatépetl is active from time to time and threatens the region around Puebla in particular with ash rain and smaller earthquakes. Due to the volcanic activity, climbing the Popocatépetl crater is not allowed.
The other mountains can be climbed in one-day tours - preferably in summer and accompanied by a guide.
See also
Remarks
- ↑ Depending on the source, the height information differs by up to 50 m from each other