Sierra Negra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sierra Negra |
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Pico de Orizaba and Sierra Negra viewed from the west, near Ciudad Serdán
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,580 m (15,030 ft) |
| Prominence | 540 m (1,770 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Sierra Negra
Location in Puebla (state)
Sierra Negra
Location in Mexico
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| Location | Chalchicomula de Sesma, Puebla, Mexico |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
| Volcanic arc/belt | Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt |
Sierra Negra (which means "Black Mountain" in Spanish) is an old, inactive volcano in Mexico. It's located in the state of Puebla, very close to the border with Veracruz. Standing at 4,580 meters (about 15,026 feet) above sea level, it's the fifth-tallest mountain in Mexico. Sierra Negra is often seen next to its much taller neighbor, Pico de Orizaba, which is the highest peak in Mexico.
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A Special Mountain
Sierra Negra is part of the Pico de Orizaba National Park. This mountain is home to two very important tools for studying space. These are the Large Millimeter Telescope and the High Altitude Water Cherenkov Observatory.
Studying the Universe
The Large Millimeter Telescope is a huge telescope that helps scientists look at objects far away in space. It can see things that regular telescopes cannot. The High Altitude Water Cherenkov Observatory is another special tool. It helps scientists study very high-energy particles from space. Because of these important science tools, visiting the mountain is usually restricted. You need to ask for permission at least a week before you want to go.
Highest Road in North America
There is a special road on Sierra Negra that leads up to these observatories. People say this road is the highest road in all of North America! If you look closely at pictures of Sierra Negra, you might see a small white dot. That white dot is part of the telescope facility.
What's in a Name?
The word sierra in Spanish usually means a mountain range or a long line of hills. But some single mountains, like Sierra Negra, were also given this name a long time ago.
Different Names for Sierra Negra
The official name for this mountain, according to Mexico's geography experts, is Cerro La Negra. This means "Black Lady Hill." However, most people just call it Sierra Negra. Some older names in the Nahuatl language are Tliltépetl, meaning "Black Mountain," or Atlitzin, which means "Our Lord (or Lady) of the Waters." People who speak Orizaba Nahuatl call the mountain Iztactepetl Icni. This means "Sibling of the White Mountain," because Pico de Orizaba is known as the "White Mountain."
See also
- List of mountain peaks of Mexico
- List of the highest major summits of North America
- Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt
- National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics
- List of national parks of Mexico
