Sierra del Lacandón facts for kids

The Sierra del Lacandón is a low mountain range found in Guatemala and Mexico. It is located in the northwest part of El Petén in Guatemala and the southeast part of Chiapas in Mexico. This mountain range is made of karstic rock, which means it has limestone that can form caves and sinkholes.

The highest points of the Sierra del Lacandón are close to the Mexican border. The range has ridges that run from the southeast to the northwest. These ridges are made of folded Cretaceous limestone and dolomite hills. They rise above the flat lands of the Petén Basin.

Quick facts for kids Sierra del Lacandón
Sierra del Lacandón Location in Guatemala Show map of Guatemala Sierra del Lacandón Location in Mexico Show map of Mexico
Highest point
Elevation	636 m (2,087 ft)
Geography
Countries	Guatemala and Mexico
Geology
Age of rock	Cretaceous
Type of rock	Karstic

Sierra del Lacandón National Park

The Sierra del Lacandón National Park is a large protected area. It was created in 1990 to help save nature. This park covers about 2,028 square kilometers (783 square miles).

The park is part of the larger Maya Biosphere Reserve. It is very special because it has many different kinds of plants and animals, which is called biodiversity. The park is also an important part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. This corridor helps connect protected areas in northern Guatemala with those in southern Mexico. For example, it links to the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve in Chiapas. This connection helps animals move freely and keeps their populations healthy.

Many ancient Maya archaeological sites are found inside the park. These include famous places like Piedras Negras, El Porvenir, Macabilero, La Pasadita, El Hormiguero, and El Ceibo. These sites show that people lived in this area a very long time ago.

See also

In Spanish: Sierra del Lacandón para niños

• Geography of Guatemala