Sierra San Luis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sierra San Luis |
|
|---|---|
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 20 mi (32 km) (N-S) |
| Width | 15 mi (24 km) E-W |
| Geography | |
| Country | Mexico |
| Municipalities | Agua Prieta and Douglas, Arizona |
| Range coordinates | 31°8′N 108°56′W / 31.133°N 108.933°W |
The Sierra San Luis is a cool mountain range found in the northern part of Mexico. It stretches across northwest Chihuahua and northeast Sonora. These mountains are part of a bigger chain called the Sierra Madre Occidental.
What makes this area special are its "sky islands." Imagine tall mountains rising like islands out of a flat desert. These are called the Madrean Sky Islands. They are found in the northeastern Sonoran Desert and the western Chihuahuan Desert. Some of these mountain ranges even reach into southeastern Arizona in the United States.
Most of the Sierra San Luis mountains are on private land. You can see these mountains, along with the Peloncillo Mountains to the north, from special places. These include the Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge and the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge. These refuges are great spots to watch wildlife.
The Rio Bavispe river flows along the southeast side of the Sierra San Luis. It then curves northwest around another mountain range called the Sierra del Tigre.
Animals and Plants of the Sierra San Luis
The "sky island" mountains are like isolated worlds. This isolation can lead to something called geographic isolation. It means that groups of animals or plants get separated from others of their kind. Over a long time, they can change and become unique species.
Scientists are studying how mammals move between these sky islands. They are especially interested in big cats like bobcats and mountain lions. Understanding their movements helps protect them.
Special Snakes in the Mountains
One interesting study focuses on a specific type of snake. It's called the Animas ridge-nosed rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi obscurus). Scientists are studying this snake in three different sky island ranges. These include the Animas Mountains, the Peloncillo Mountains, and the Sierra San Luis. This helps them learn more about how these snakes live and move.
Beavers in the Area
Long ago, many North American beavers lived in this region. They were quite common in the rivers and streams. However, their numbers have gone down a lot in recent years. Beavers are now much harder to find in the Sierra San Luis area.
