Sierra Atravesada facts for kids
The Sierra Atravesada is a mountain range in Oaxaca, Mexico. It's also known as the Sierra de Niltepec. This mountain range is located in a part of Mexico called the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, which is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger landmasses.
Exploring the Sierra Atravesada
The Sierra Atravesada mountains are found in the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas. They are part of the larger Sierra Madre de Chiapas mountain system. These mountains stretch from east to west.
Most of the Sierra Atravesada is made up of special kinds of rocks. These include metamorphic rocks, which are rocks changed by heat and pressure, and granite rocks. The Sierra Atravesada forms an important natural division within the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
Tallest Mountains
The main peaks, or highest points, in the Sierra Atravesada are:
- Cerro Azul — 2,250 metres (7,380 ft)
- Cerro Baul — 2,050 metres (6,730 ft)
Rivers and Rainfall
Water flows from the Sierra Atravesada in different directions. On its eastern side, water flows into the Rio Uxpanapa river system. This system eventually reaches the Gulf of Mexico. On the western side, the main river is the Rio Chimalapa, which flows into the Pacific Ocean.
The Rio Negro, a branch of the Grijalva, starts on the eastern slopes of these mountains. Other important rivers that begin in the Sierra Atravesada include the Salado, Chivela, Chichigua, and the Sarabia rivers. All of these flow into the Coatzacoalcos, which is one of Mexico's largest rivers.
This area gets a lot of rain because it's in the path of humid winds from the Gulf of Mexico. The amount of rain can be between 2,800 and 4,000 millimeters per year, depending on the mountain slope. The weather is usually warm, with an average temperature of 25 °C (77 °F). This combination of high temperatures and lots of sunshine makes the entire region a great example of a tropical rainforest.
See also
In Spanish: Sierra Atravesada para niños
