Pachuca Range facts for kids

The Pachuca Range (also called the Sierra de Pachuca) is a cool mountain area in central Mexico. You can find these mountains in the state of Hidalgo. They are part of a bigger mountain system called the Sierra Madre Oriental.

What's in a Name? The History of Pachuca

The name "Pachuca" has an interesting history! The native Nahuatl-speaking people called these mountains "Pachoacan" or "Pachyohcan." This name meant "place of hay."

However, there are also other ideas about where the name came from. One of the earliest town names recorded in the area was "Pachuquillo." This is a smaller version of "Pachuca." Later, the main town and the surrounding area became known as Pachuca.

Where are the Pachuca Mountains?

The Pachuca Range helps form the edge of the Mezquital Valley to its northeast. These mountains stretch from the northwest to the southeast. They are about 45 kilometers (or 28 miles) long. You can find them reaching from Cerro Monte Noble in the north down to Real del Monte in the southeast.

Rocks and Riches: Geology of Pachuca

The rocks you see on the surface of the Pachuca Mountains are mostly from volcanoes. These rocks include types like andesites and basalts. They were formed millions of years ago!

These volcanic rocks are very special because they contain many valuable minerals. You can find ores of gold, silver, lead, zinc, and even mercury here. Because of these rich mineral deposits, the areas around Pachuca and Real del Monte became important mining districts. These mining towns are located on different sides of the Pachuca Mountains.

See also

In Spanish: Sierra de Pachuca para niños