- Sierra Madre Occidental
The Sierra Madre Occidental is a mountain range in western
Mexico and the extreme southwest of theUnited States , [cite web
url=http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/na/na0302_full.html#location
title=Terrestrial Ecoregions -- Sierra Madre Occidental pine-oak forests (NA0302)
publisher=www.worldwildlife.org
accessdate=2008-03-08
last=
first=] extending 1500 km from southeastArizona (south and east of Tucson) southeast through easternSonora , western Chihuahua, Durango,Zacatecas , Aguascalientes to Guanajuato, where it joins with theSierra Madre Oriental and theEje Volcánico Transversal (Transverse Volcanic Axis) of central Mexico. These mountains are generally considered to be part of the much largerAmerican cordillera . "Sierra Madre " means "Mother Range"The highest point is probably
Cerro Mohinora , located at coord|25|57|N|107|03|W|. Different sources cite its altitude as either 3250 m or 3300 m. However, other mountains at coord|26|03|N|106|25|W| and coord|23|12|N|104|57|W| are of very similar altitude and may possibly be higher.The range is home to the
Sierra Madre Occidental pine-oak forests , noted for their highbiodiversity and large number of endemic species.The mountains are home to several indigenous nations speaking
Uto-Aztecan languages , including theTarahumara in the central portion of the range, and theHuichol in the southern part of the range.References
ee also
*
Edwin Bustillos
*Madrean pine-oak woodlands
*Madrean sky islands
*Sierra Madre Occidental pine-oak forests External links
* [http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/na/na0302_full.html Sierra Madre Occidental pine-oak woodlands (World Wildlife Fund)]
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