Sierra de los Tuxtlas
The Sierra de Los Tuxtlas ( Tuxtla Mountains ) is a mountain range of volcanic origin.
Geography
The mountain range extends in the Mexican state of Veracruz along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico about 18 ° north latitude. At its peaks, which are up to 1700 meters high, are the volcanoes of Santa Marta and San Martin Tuxtla. The latter, it is a shield volcano whose summit has a diameter of one kilometer, is the only volcano in the mountain range, which was still active even in recent times. His two last known eruptions took place in 1664 and 1793. Among the smaller volcanoes in the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas include the San Martin Pajapan ( 1160 meters ) and the Cerro El Vigia ( 800 meters). Scattered across the entire mountain range can be found beyond countless smaller cinder cones. The volcanoes of the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas is 250 kilometers from the Trans Mexican Volcanic Belt and 330 kilometers from the Central American volcanic belt. At the time of the Olmecs, the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas delivered those basalt stones, from which emerged the colossal heads and " altars " La Ventas.
Los Tuxtlas Nature Reserve
The flanks of the volcanoes San Martin Tuxtla and Santa Marta are covered in the upper part with neotropical vegetation. Further down the forests were cut down to create pastures for cattle farming and the countryside is endangered by continuing the rapidly growing population of the region. In order to prevent greater harm, in 1998 an area of 155 122 hectares was declared by the Mexican government to the Reserve of the Biosphere and is therefore protected. This includes both the Reserva Biosphere Volcan de San Martin, which extends along the coast about Roca Partida in the northwest until shortly before La Barra in the south east and the Ecological Reserve Nanciyaga that includes the third largest lake in Mexico with the Laguna de Catamaco. To reserve include mangrove swamps and the Tehuantepec rainforests. Famous the area is also known by local healers ( curanderos or Brujos ) that use natural remedies and rituals in the treatment of those seeking help.