Sierra del Lacandón

Sierra del Lacandón
Highest point
Elevation 636 m (2,087 ft)
Coordinates 17°11′42.31″N 91°5′9.97″W / 17.1950861°N 91.0861028°W / 17.1950861; -91.0861028Coordinates: 17°11′42.31″N 91°5′9.97″W / 17.1950861°N 91.0861028°W / 17.1950861; -91.0861028
Geography
Countries Guatemala and Mexico
States El Petén and Chiapas
Geology
Age of rock Cretaceous
Type of rock Karstic

The Sierra del Lacandón is a low karstic mountain range in Guatemala and Mexico. It is situated in the north-west of the department of El Petén and the south-east of Chiapas.[1] Its highest points are located near the Mexican border at coordinates 17°14′39″N 91°12′08″W / 17.244195°N 91.202145°W / 17.244195; -91.202145 and 17°11′42″N 91°05′10″W / 17.195087°N 91.086102°W / 17.195087; -91.086102 The range consists of southeast to northwest trending ridges of folded cretaceous limestone and dolomite hills rising above the lowlands of the Petén Basin.[2]

Sierra del Lacandón National Park

Sierra del Lacandón
Protected Area
Official name: Parque Nacional Sierra del Lacandón
Country Guatemala
Region El Petén
Municipality La Libertad
Landmark Mountain range
Highest point
 - elevation 636 m (2,087 ft)
Lowest point
 - elevation 50 m (164 ft)
Area 2,028.65 km2 (783 sq mi)
Biome TSMF
Geology karst
Founded Decreto 5–90
Date 1990
Management CONAP
Fundación Defensores de la Naturaleza
IUCN category II - National Park
Website: Sierra del Lacandón National Park

The Sierra del Lacandón National Park is situated in the tropical rain forest in the north west of Guatemala. It is part of the Maya Biosphere Reserve and is unique for its biodiversity. It is also considered of great importance for the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor as it connects the protected areas of northern Guatemala with those of southern Mexico, like the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve in Chiapas.

Several ancient Maya archaeological sites are located within the park boundaries. These include Piedras Negras, El Porvenir, Macabilero, La Pasadita, El Hormiguero, and El Ceibo.[3]

See also

References

  1. "Sierra del Lacandón National Park". Parkswatch.
  2. Marshall, Jeffrey S. (2007). "The Geomorphology and Physiographic Provinces of Central America" (PDF). In Bundschuh, Jochen & Guillermo E. Alvarado (Eds). Central America: Geology, Resources and Hazards. Taylor & Francis. pp. 1–30. ISBN 978-0-415-41647-4.
  3. "Sierra del Lacandón National Park. Archaeology project overview". Sierra del Lacandón National Park. Archived from the original on 15 October 2006. Retrieved 2009-06-11.


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