Geology of North America: Difference between revisions
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==Geography== |
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[[File:Barranca del cobre 2.jpg|thumb|left|Copper Canyon in Chihuahua, Mexico]] |
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[[File:Cascada Basaseachi.jpg|thumb|[[Basaseachic Falls]]]] |
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The range trends from the north to southeast. [[Canyon]]s cut by the rivers of the wet western slopes exist in addition to those of the northeast slopes. |
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===Location=== |
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The range runs north to south, from just south of the [[Sonora]]–[[Arizona]] border southeast through eastern [[Sonora]], western [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]], [[Sinaloa]], [[Durango (state)|Durango]], [[Zacatecas]], [[Nayarit]], [[Jalisco]], [[Aguascalientes (state)|Aguascalientes]] to [[Guanajuato (state)|Guanajuato]], where it joins with the [[Sierra Madre del Sur]] and the [[Eje Volcánico Transversal]] (Transverse Volcanic Axis) of central Mexico after crossing {{convert|1250|km|mi|abbr = on}}.<ref name = "Centres of Plant Diversity">{{cite web | title = Mexico Regional Overview | last = Toledo | first = Victor | url = http://botany.si.edu/projects/cpd/ma/mamexico.htm | accessdate =16 March 2012}}</ref> The mountains range from {{convert|300|km|mi|abbr = on}} from the [[Gulf of California]] in the north, but begin to approach within {{convert|50|km|mi|abbr = on}} of the [[Pacific]] in the South.<ref name = "Topography and Drainage">{{cite web | title = Topogrpahy and Drainage | url = http://countrystudies.us/mexico/48.htm | accessdate =16 March 2012}}</ref> These mountains are generally considered to be part of the much larger [[American cordillera]], the mountains extending from [[Alaska]] down to these across Western North America.<ref name = "HildebrandKTOro">{{cite web | last = Hildebrand | first = Robert | title = Did westward subduction cause Cretaceous - Tertiary orogeny in the North American Cordillera | url = http://dandelion-patch.mit.edu/afs/athena.mit.edu/course/12/12.115/OldFiles/www/12.114%20Papers/HILDEBRAND_GSA_SP_FINAL_WHOLE.pdf | accessdate =13 March 2012}}</ref> |
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===Features=== |
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This is a dramatic landscape of steep mountains formed by a high plateau that has been cut through with canyons including [[Copper Canyon]], larger and, in places, deeper than the [[Grand Canyon]].<ref name = "WildInqCopCan">{{cite web | title = Mexico's Copper Canyon | year = 2012 | url = http://www.wildernessinquiry.org/destinations/index.php?dest=coppercanyon | accessdate =15 March 2012}}</ref> This plateau has an average elevation of {{convert|2250|m|ft|abbr = on}} with most of the more eroded canyons on the western slope, due to the higher moisture content.<ref name = "Centres of Plant Diversity"/> |
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The highest elevations occur in the Tarahumara range.<ref name = "Standish2009" >{{ cite book | title = The states of Mexico: a reference guide to history and culture | last = Standish | first = Peter | year = 2009 | url = http://books.google.com/books?ei=f3JqT92NLsX42gXm_sGRBg&id=fSPjoQwNslAC&dq=Sierra+madre+occidental+rivers+and+lakes&ots=Oe57WXe1Nd&q=Sierra+madre+occidental+rivers+lakes#v=snippet&q=Sierra%20madre%20occidental%20rivers%20lakes&f=false | accessdate =21 March 2012 }}</ref> The exact elevations of the highest peaks are not known within accurate enough ranges to determine the relative elevation of peaks. The highest point is probably [[Cerro Mohinora]], located at {{Coord|25|57|N|107|03 |W|}}. The height of the mountain ranges from estimates of {{convert|3040|m|ft|abbr = on}}<ref name = "Mathiasen2010">{{cite web | last = Mathiasen | title = First Report of White Fir Dwarf Mistletoe (Arceuthobium abietinum f. sp. concoloris) on Mexican Spruce (Picea mexicana) in Northern Mexico | year = 2010| url = http://openagricola.nal.usda.gov/Record/IND44357752 | accessdate =15 March 2012}}</ref> up to {{convert|3300|m|ft|abbr = on}}.<ref name = "Valenzuela">{{cite web | title = Going back to my roots | last = Valenzuela | first = Luis | url = http://www.personal.psu.edu/lrv110/index_files/Page371.htm | accessdate =15 March 2012}}</ref> However, Cerro Barajas, at {{Coord|26|24|N|106|5|W|}}, may be as high as {{convert|3300|m|ft|abbr = on}}<ref name = "PBBarajas">{{cite web | title = Cerro Barajas, Mexico | url = http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=7943 | accessdate =21 March 2012 }}</ref> although other sources give {{convert|3170|m|ft|abbr = on}} as the elevation.<ref name = "Jurado2005">{{cite journal | title = Tree-rings and climate relationships for Douglas-fir chronologies from the SierraMadreOccidental, Mexico: A 1681–2001 rain reconstruction | last = González-Elizondo | first = Martha | last2 = Jurado | first2 = Enrique | last3 = Návar | first3 = José | last4 = González-Elizondo | first4 = Socorro | last5 = Villanueva | first5 = José | last6 = Aguirre | first6 = Oscar | last7 = Jiménez | first7 = Javier | year = 2005 | journal = Forest Ecology and Management | volume = 213 | pages = 39–53 | url = http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112705002148 | accessdate =21 March 2012 | doi=10.1016/j.foreco.2005.03.012}}</ref> Cerro Gordo, at {{Coord|23|12|N|104|57|W|}}, may have an elevation between {{convert|3350|m|ft|abbr = on}}<ref name = "PBGordo">{{cite web | title = Cerro Gordo, Mexico | url = http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=7953 | accessdate =21 March 2012 }}</ref> and {{convert|3340|m|ft|abbr = on}}.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Relieve, Durango | url = http://cuentame.inegi.gob.mx/monografias/informacion/dur/territorio/relieve.aspx?tema=me&e=10 | accessdate =21 March 2012 }}</ref> |
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Revision as of 03:10, 22 October 2012
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Geography
The range trends from the north to southeast. Canyons cut by the rivers of the wet western slopes exist in addition to those of the northeast slopes.
Location
The range runs north to south, from just south of the Sonora–Arizona border southeast through eastern Sonora, western Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Durango, Zacatecas, Nayarit, Jalisco, Aguascalientes to Guanajuato, where it joins with the Sierra Madre del Sur and the Eje Volcánico Transversal (Transverse Volcanic Axis) of central Mexico after crossing 1,250 km (780 mi).[1] The mountains range from 300 km (190 mi) from the Gulf of California in the north, but begin to approach within 50 km (31 mi) of the Pacific in the South.[2] These mountains are generally considered to be part of the much larger American cordillera, the mountains extending from Alaska down to these across Western North America.[3]
Features
This is a dramatic landscape of steep mountains formed by a high plateau that has been cut through with canyons including Copper Canyon, larger and, in places, deeper than the Grand Canyon.[4] This plateau has an average elevation of 2,250 m (7,380 ft) with most of the more eroded canyons on the western slope, due to the higher moisture content.[1]
The highest elevations occur in the Tarahumara range.[5] The exact elevations of the highest peaks are not known within accurate enough ranges to determine the relative elevation of peaks. The highest point is probably Cerro Mohinora, located at 25°57′N 107°03′W / 25.950°N 107.050°W. The height of the mountain ranges from estimates of 3,040 m (9,970 ft)[6] up to 3,300 m (10,800 ft).[7] However, Cerro Barajas, at 26°24′N 106°5′W / 26.400°N 106.083°W, may be as high as 3,300 m (10,800 ft)[8] although other sources give 3,170 m (10,400 ft) as the elevation.[9] Cerro Gordo, at 23°12′N 104°57′W / 23.200°N 104.950°W, may have an elevation between 3,350 m (10,990 ft)[10] and 3,340 m (10,960 ft).[11]
- ^ a b Toledo, Victor. "Mexico Regional Overview". Retrieved 16 March 2012.
- ^ "Topogrpahy and Drainage". Retrieved 16 March 2012.
- ^ Hildebrand, Robert. "Did westward subduction cause Cretaceous - Tertiary orogeny in the North American Cordillera" (PDF). Retrieved 13 March 2012.
- ^ "Mexico's Copper Canyon". 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
- ^ Standish, Peter (2009). The states of Mexico: a reference guide to history and culture. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
- ^ Mathiasen (2010). "First Report of White Fir Dwarf Mistletoe (Arceuthobium abietinum f. sp. concoloris) on Mexican Spruce (Picea mexicana) in Northern Mexico". Retrieved 15 March 2012.
- ^ Valenzuela, Luis. "Going back to my roots". Retrieved 15 March 2012.
- ^ "Cerro Barajas, Mexico". Retrieved 21 March 2012.
- ^ González-Elizondo, Martha; Jurado, Enrique; Návar, José; González-Elizondo, Socorro; Villanueva, José; Aguirre, Oscar; Jiménez, Javier (2005). "Tree-rings and climate relationships for Douglas-fir chronologies from the SierraMadreOccidental, Mexico: A 1681–2001 rain reconstruction". Forest Ecology and Management. 213: 39–53. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2005.03.012. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
- ^ "Cerro Gordo, Mexico". Retrieved 21 March 2012.
- ^ "Relieve, Durango". Retrieved 21 March 2012.