Cerro del Chiquihuite facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cerro del Chiquihuite |
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Cerro del Chiquihuite in 2007
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,730 m (8,960 ft) |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Chiquihuite Hill |
| Language of name | Spanish and Nahuatl |
| Geography | |
| Location | Mexico City State of Mexico |
Cerro del Chiquihuite (which means "Chiquihuite Hill") is a hill located in the northern part of Mexico City. It sits in the borough of Gustavo A. Madero and touches the municipality of Tlalnepantla de Baz in the State of Mexico. This hill is about 2,730 meters (8,957 feet) above sea level. It is part of the Sierra de Guadalupe mountain range.
Cerro del Chiquihuite was a filming spot for the Mexican movie Lolo in 1993. In 2021, a sad event happened when a landslide occurred in a neighborhood near the hill.
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What is Cerro del Chiquihuite Made Of?
Cerro del Chiquihuite is like an old volcano dome. It is made of a type of rock called andesite. This rock was laid down in layers. Over time, the weather has worn down these rocks a lot.
In the past, Cerro del Chiquihuite had many natural springs. These were places where water flowed out of the ground. But over the years, most of these springs have dried up. Only one big spring, called "El Pocito," still flows in the Lázaro Cárdenas area.
Many buildings and homes are built on the mountain. Because of this, it is prone to landslides, especially after heavy rains. For example, in 1987, 15 people died because of mudslides from Cerro del Chiquihuite and nearby hills.
How Was Cerro del Chiquihuite Used in the Past?
Building the Templo Mayor
Back in the 1400s, Cerro del Chiquihuite was close to Lake Texcoco. It was about 9 to 12 kilometers (5 to 7 miles) from Tenochtitlán. Tenochtitlán was the capital city of the Aztec Empire.
The hill is mostly made of a special pinkish and violet rock. This rock is easy to cut into flat pieces. The Aztecs used this rock to build the Templo Mayor. This was a very important temple in their capital city.
The Chiquihuitazo Incident
On December 27, 2002, a big event happened on the mountain. It was called the chiquihuitazo. This name comes from the hill itself.
A TV company, Televisión Azteca, had a disagreement with the owners of another TV station, XHTVM-TV channel 40. This disagreement was about a contract from 1998. Guards hired by Televisión Azteca went to the channel 40 transmitter facilities. These facilities are located on Cerro del Chiquihuite.
This event led to many discussions and debates. In the end, the owners of XHTVM channel 40 managed to keep their station. A song was even made about the event, called "No Te Metas con mi Chiquihuite" (Don't Mess with My Chiquihuite).
Broadcasting from the Hilltop
A road goes all the way to the top of Cerro del Chiquihuite. Many important antennas are located there. These antennas send out signals for five FM radio stations and eleven television stations. Other telecommunications equipment is also found there.
Television Stations
- XHDF-TDT, channel 1
- XHTDMX-TDT, channel 6
- XHIMT-TDT, channel 7
- XEIPN-TDT, channel 11
- XHCDM-TDT, channel 21
- XEIMT-TDT, channel 22
- XHTRES-TDT, channel 28
- XHSPR-TDT, channel 30
- XHTVM-TDT, channel 40
- XHHCU-TDT, channel 45
Radio Stations
- XEDA-FM 90.5 MHz
- XHDL-FM 98.5 MHz
- XHMM-FM 100.1 MHz
- XHMVS-FM 102.5 MHz
- XHEXA-FM 104.9 MHz
Some radio stations also have backup equipment on Cerro del Chiquihuite.
Getting Around the Area
The Cablebús Tlalpexco is a cable car system that helps people travel in the area around Cerro del Chiquihuite.
The 2021 Landslide Event
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On September 10, 2021, a landslide happened in the Lázaro Cárdenas neighborhood. This area is in Tlalnepantla, State of Mexico, near the hill. The landslide buried at least 10 houses.
Rescue teams worked hard to find people. Sadly, some people were reported missing. One person was rescued alive but had injuries. She was identified as Jessica, 28 years old. Her sister, Mariana Martínez Rodríguez, 21, was found deceased.
Over the next few days, rescue efforts continued. On September 11, officials said three people were still missing: Paola Daniela Campos, 22, and her two young children, Jorge Dilan Mendoza Campos, 5, and Mia Mayrín, 3.
Mia's body was found on September 14. She was buried a few days later. The rescued survivor, Jessica, was able to leave the hospital on the same day. On September 21, the bodies of Paola and Dilan were found. They were buried on September 23.
After the landslide, the local mayor asked people in the affected street to leave their homes. This was to keep them safe from any more possible landslides. Shelters were set up for those who had to evacuate.
See also
In Spanish: Cerro del Chiquihuite para niños
