Serranía del Empalado facts for kids
The Serranía del Empalado, also known as Siruma or Ciruma, is a mountain range in Venezuela. It is part of the Coriano system, which includes the Lara-Falcón-Yaracuy region. This mountain chain is quite high but also small and stands alone.
It is separated from other mountains by lower areas. To the south, the Serranía del Empalado is separated from the Serranía of Jirajara by land lower than 900 meters. To the east, the Depression of Carora separates it from the Sierra of Baragua. The valley of the Matícora River separates it from the Sierra of Saint Luis.
The Serranía del Empalado is made up of two main mountain groups, called "massifs." These groups are connected by high valleys. One group is the Socopó, or Socopo Hill. It covers an area of about 38.4 square kilometers above 900 meters high. Its highest point is 1571 meters. The other group includes Cerro Azúl and the Cerrón. This larger group covers about 508.3 square kilometers and reaches a maximum height of 1900 meters.
This mountain range is seen as the natural eastern edge of the Lake of Maracaibo basin. Since the 1800s, it has helped mark the borders of different areas. These areas were once the provinces of Coro, Maracaibo, and Barquisimeto. Today, the Serranía del Empalado is located where the Venezuelan states of Falcón, Lara, and Zulia meet. It also marked the northwestern edge of the area where the Jirajaran language was once spoken.
Plants and Trees
The original plants and trees in the Serranía del Empalado were mostly dry forest. However, there are still parts of cloud forest remaining.
This area is home to special trees like Gyranthera caribensis. You can also find palms such as Attalea butyracea and Geonoma interrupta.
Animals and Wildlife
Many different animals live in the Serranía del Empalado. About 40 types of mammals, not including bats, have been found on the lower western side. This area is near the Burro Negro Protected Watershed of the Pueblo Viejo dam. A similar number of mammals have been recorded on the northern slopes of the range.
At least three types of frogs are only found in this mountain range. These special frogs are Dendropsophus amicorum, Mannophryne lamarcai, and Leptodactylus magistris. Other common types of frogs also live here. These include Hyla crepitans, Bufo marinus, Phyllomedusa trinitatis, Phrynohyas venulosa, and Physalaemus pustulosus.
See also
In Spanish: Serranía del Empalado para niños
