Sierra Madre Occidental

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This picture shows an aerial view of the Sierra Madre Occidental crossing the territory of Durango, western Mexico

The Sierra Madre Occidental is a mountain range in western Mexico and the extreme southwest of the United States, extending 1500 km from southeast Arizona (south and east of Tucson) southeast through eastern Sonora, western Chihuahua, Durango, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes to Guanajuato, where it joins with the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Eje Volcánico Transversal of central Mexico.

The highest point is probably Cerro Mohinora, located at [25°57′N 107°03′W]. Different sources cite its altitude as either 3250 m or 3300 m. However, other mountains at [26°03′N 106°25′W] and [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 high biodiversity and large number of endemic species.

The mountains are home to several indigenous nations speaking Uto-Aztecan languages, including the Tarahumara in the central portion of the range, and the Huichol in the southern part of the range.

See also

• Madrean pine-oak woodlands
• Madrean sky islands

External links

• [Sierra Madre Occidental pine-oak woodlands (World Wildlife Fund)]

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