Sierra Madre del Sur facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sierra Madre del Sur |
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The Sierra Madre del Sur mountains near Playa Azul, in Michoacán.
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | (Cerro Nube) |
| Elevation | 3,720 m (12,200 ft) |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 1,000 km (620 mi) NW x SE |
| Area | 143,447 km2 (55,385 sq mi) |
| Geography | |
Sierra Madre del Sur, other major mountain ranges, and the Mexican Plateau
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| Country | Mexico |
| States | Michoacan, Guerrero, Oaxaca |
The Sierra Madre del Sur is a long mountain range in southern Mexico. It stretches for about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles). The range goes from southern Michoacán east through Guerrero and into eastern Oaxaca. It ends near the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
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Geography of the Mountains
The Sierra Madre del Sur connects with another mountain range. This range is called the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (or Eje Volcánico Transversal). They meet in northern Oaxaca. However, a large valley separates them further west. This valley is formed by the Balsas River and its smaller river, the Río Tepalcatepec.
The highest point in these mountains is Cerro Nube. It stands tall at 3,720 meters (12,200 feet). This peak is located in southern Oaxaca. There is only one main highway that crosses this mountain range. It connects the city of Acapulco to Mexico City.
The mountains in southern Michoacán, near Coalcomán, are also part of the Sierra Madre del Sur. Even though the deep canyon of the lower Río Balsas separates them, they are still considered part of the same range.
Amazing Nature and Wildlife
This mountain range is famous for its incredible biodiversity. This means it has a very wide variety of plants and animals. Many of these species are endemic. Endemic means they are found only in this specific area and nowhere else in the world.
Forests of the Sierra Madre del Sur
The higher parts of the mountains are covered by special forests. These are called the Sierra Madre del Sur pine-oak forests. They are part of a long chain of similar forests. These forests stretch all the way from the Southwestern United States to Costa Rica. They follow the American Cordillera, which is a huge chain of mountains.
Lower down the mountains, you will find different types of forests. These are tropical dry forests. They are part of the Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests Biome.
- The Jalisco dry forests are found at the western end of the range. They are on the side facing the Pacific Ocean.
- The Southern Pacific dry forests cover most of the Pacific side of the range. They stretch from Michoacán in the west through Guerrero and Oaxaca.
- The Balsas dry forests are found in the valley of the Balsas River. This river basin is located north of the Sierra Madre del Sur.
See also
In Spanish: Sierra Madre del Sur para niños
