Geography
The park is located in the Federal District of Mexico City distributed between the boroughs of Cuajimalpa and Álvaro Obregón. Its altitude varies between 2,600 and 3,700 meters above sea level. The park is seven km long, three km wide with an area of 1,867 hectares. It is one of the most important natural areas of the Federal District, protecting much of the Sierra de las Cruces mountain range and represents about 15% of the Valley of Mexico. The climate of the park is relatively cold and damp due to its altitude. It rains here daily much of the year and fog is common year round. Because of this climate and the rugged terrain, it has many ravines, brooks, streams and a number of waterfalls. Plant life is dominated by pines, oyamel firs and holm oaks, which are broken up by meadows.(resdesc) Other flora include Hartweg's Pine Sigesbeckia, alchemilla procumbens, sage, little leaf snowberries, muhlenbergia, festuca, calamagrostis, lupins, beard-tongue, ragwort, muly, and oaks. Animal life in the park has decreased significantly since it was established. Animals that can still be found include raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, white-tailed deer, lynxes, ring-tailed cats, coyotes, grey foxes, skunks, bats, long-tailed shrews, salamanders, rattlesnakes and lizards There are a number of species of birds including bluebirds, American Robins, Red-tailed Hawks, Turkey Buzzards, American Kestrels, Peregrine Falcons and Song Thrushes.
The park is considered to be the oldest protected biosphere in Mexico. It was originally declared a forest reserved in 1876 by President Lerdo de Tejada with the intent of conserving its fresh water springs to supply Mexico City. It was later declared a national park on 27 November 1917 by President Venustiano Carranza who was motivated by the area’s landscape and the cultural value of the abandoned monastery which lends its name to the park. The park remained under federal management until 2000, when Secretary of the Environment, Natural Resources and Fishing gave control of the park to the government of Mexico City.(correon)
Read more about this topic: Desierto De Los Leones National Park
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