The Sierra Madre MountainsSpanning central Mexico from the Californian border in the northwest into

The Sierra Madre MountainsSpanning central Mexico from the Californian border in the northwest into Guatemala in the southeast, the Sierra Madre Mountains is easily Mexico’s largest mountain system. The Sierra Madre ranges from 1,500 to 3,500 meters above sea level — a combination of barren, snow-capped peaks and pine-oak forests that flourish in both arid and humid regions of the mountain range. The Sierra Madre is host to many endemic species of plants and wildlife, making it one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world.Meaning “Mother Highlands” in Spanish, the Sierra Madre is made up of three smaller ranges — the Sierra Madre Oriental to the east, the Sierra Madre Occidental to the west, and the Sierra Madre Del Sur to the south. These ridge systems form the margins of the central Mexican plateau, which are lined by steep, incising canyons known as barrancas that are almost 1,000 meters deep. These deep canyons and rugged mountains are a grand adventure for mountain-climbing enthusiasts, but are dangerous obstacles for those hoping to travel from east to west, or vice versa, across the Mexican plateau.-DCPhoto credits:http://bit.ly/1IXCkDHhttp://bit.ly/1WbxYyDMore reading: http://usat.ly/1KcjZ2qhttp://bit.ly/1DAroMchttp://bit.ly/1MiWPgShttp://bit.ly/1WbxYyD -- source link

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