Hidalgo (state) - Geography, Climate and Nature

Geography, Climate and Nature

The terrain of the state is very rugged. At its lowest point it is only a few meters above sea level and it is over 3,300 meters above sea level at its highest. The state is divided into three geographical regions: the Coastal Plain, the Sierra Madre Oriental, and the Altiplano Meridional, which contains the highest peaks. Each of these regions are distinct from each other. The north of the state has the lowest elevation and the hottest climate. It is also the smallest region of the state. The second region averages about 800 meters above sea level and is more temperate in climate. The coldest climates at the highest areas are the most populated and average about 2,000 masl.(regions)Major elevations in the state include Cerro la Peñuela (3,350 masl), Cerro el Jihuingo (3,240masl), Cerro la Paila (3,200 masl), Cerro las Navajas (3,180 masl), Cerro el Agual Azul (3,040 masl) and Cerro la Estancia (3,020 masl). Principal rivers include the Tula, Amajac and the Metztitlan. Other rivers in the state flow into these three, such as the Rosas, Cuautitlan, Guadalupe and Salado, which flow into the Tula River. One exception to this is the San Juan River, which forms part of the state’s border with Querétaro. This river flows into the Pánuco River in San Luis Potosí. The Amajac begins in the Sierra de Pachuca and flows southeast. The Metztitlan River begins at the state’s border with Puebla state and eventually flows into Metztitlan Lake. Principal lakes in the state are the Metztitlan, Zupitlan or Tulancingo, San Antonio, Pueblilla and Carrillos. The state also has a significant number of sulfur and hot water springs such as La Cantera in Tula, Mixquiahual and Vito in Atotonilco, Tephé in Ejido Tephé, Humedades y Dios Padra in Ixmiquilpan and Tolantongo and Textacapa in Cardonal.

There are three main climates in the state. The lowlands are hot with temperatures rising as high as 44C in the summer in places such as the municipality of Pisaflores. Temperate regions can have hot days but often the temperature is moderated by cooler winds and clouds. Cold climates dominate the highest altitudes where freezing temperatures at night are not uncommon. Rainfall varies widely from as low as 250mm per year to as high as 2,800mm per year. The main indicator of climate type is altitude.

Most plants are either of the desert type with pines and holm oak in the higher mountain areas. A small area is the Huasteca region is highland rainforest. Wildlife includes thirty one species of serpent, thirteen species of duck, six of doves, three of falcons, as well as mammals such as skunks, spider monkeys, wild boar, anteaters and gray foxes.

In addition to the three main geographic/climate regions, the state subdivides into a number of sub-regions. Sub-regions include the La Huasteca area. This extends like a green sash across part of the state, and altitude does not exceed 800 masl. It is mostly located near the Gulf Coast and receives a significant amount of rainfall from this body of water. The Huasteca is highland rain forest with plants blooming nearly year-round. Forests contain species such as “tlacuilo,” holm oak, Copaifera, “zuchiate,” mahogany, white cedar and many others. The area has one of the widest varieties of wild birds including eagles, hummingbirds, wild turkeys and more. Reptiles include a wide variety of snakes and mammals include coyotes, bobcats, wild boar, spotted deer, rabbits and more. Tropical crops are raised here including sugar cane, coconuts, pineapple, bananas, mamey, tamarind and more.

The Sierra Alta region is part of the Sierra Madre Oriental. Some of Hidalgo’s main peaks are located here such as the Cerro del Aguila, Cerro del Santo Roa and Cerrro de Agua Fria. There is also a volcanic cone by the name of Cerro la Aguja de Calnali. Many of Hidalgo’s caves, such as Texcatete in Zacualtipan, Texcapa in Tepehuacan and Tecamachal and Villacastla in Molango, are located here. This mountain range is part of the temperate climate zone of the state.(regions) The Sierra Baja is also located in the Sierra Madre Oriental and is characterized by small plains surrounded by stony peaks. There are five major canyons located here, oriented from south to north, which take their names from the rivers that form them:Amajac, Meztitlan, Amolon, Mezquititlan and Tolantongo. Although lower than the temperate Sierra Alta, it still has a temperate climate due to strong, moist winds which flow from the northeast.(regions) The Sierra Gorda is a branch of the Sierra Madre Oriental which crosses northwest Hidalgo and ends in San Luis Potosí. These are mostly mountains of volcanic origin. The Tula and Moctezuma Rivers meet here, whose waters then cut the Moctezuma Canyon, which has walls up to 480 meters high.

The Sierra de Tenango begins to one side of the Valley of Tulancingo and extends down to the Huasteca region of Puebla and Veracruz. It is also called the Sierra Norte de Puebla and the Sierra de Huayacocotla. These are low lying mountains with a humid, cloudy temperate climate with frequent rain in the summer. Two of Hidalgo’s main dams, the Tejocotal and the Omitemetl are located on the rivers here, and are part of the Necaxa hydroelectrical system.

The Valley of Tulancingo has a temperate climate with an average year round temperature of 15C. It is bordered by the Sierra de Tenango and the highlands of Apan. It is a large fertile valley with extensive agriculture.

La Comarca Minera is the mountain area around Pachuca and Real del Monte and contains the Cerro de las Navajas, a mountain made mostly of obsidian. It extends from the Pachuca area north towards the municipality of Huasca then east towards Actopan. From Pachuca it extends a short ways south to Mineral de la Reforma and Comarca. In almost all of this region, there is extensive mining, both of precious metals as well as lead and building stone such as sandstone and marble. Over 38 million kilograms of silver and 200 tons of fine gold have been extracted since the Conquest, which nearly equals the weight of the stone used to build the Tembleque Aqueduct. In additions to mines, the area is home to extensive forests of oyamel fir, pines and holm oak. Many of its peaks are rocky and barren such as Zumate in Omitlan, Peñas Cargadas in Real del Monte and Peña del Conejo in San Jeronimo.

The Altiplano Meridonal or central high plains are centered around the municipality of Apan and is best known as a major pulque-producing area, although it is also a major producer of barley for beer-making. In pre-historic times, the area was a huge lake, of which only three small lakes remain today. One is called Apan, which exists only during the rainy season, Tocha or Atocha, which is mostly swamp, and Tecocomulco,which is very shallow and filled with reeds. The soils here are of volcanic origin from local volcanoes such as Tepozán, Jehuingo, Coatzengo and Tecajete. The climate of the area is cold with frequent freezes in the winter.

The very north of the Valley or Basin of Mexico is located within the state, which is separated from the area in which Mexico City is found by a series of low lying mountains. This part of the Valley extends from Tizayuca towards Pachuca. It is separated from the Valley of Mezquital by the Sierra de Tezontlalpan and from the rest of the Valley of Mexico by the low lying Sierra de los Pitos. The climate here is temperate and semi arid with occasional freezes. Except for the forests on the mountain tops, the flora and fauna are those found in more arid regions such as maguey, yucca, rabbits, armadillos and mesquite trees.

Since many of the mountains surrounding Pachuca lack tree cover, little slows the prevailing winds which can reach speeds of up to 120 km per hour. This gives the capital city the nickname of La Bella Airosa (Beautiful, Windy City).

The Valley of Mezquital is three three valleys called the Actopan, the Ixmiquilpan and the Tasquillo as well as flat areas known as Tula and Alfajayucan. The vegetation is mostly that of semi arid regions with mesquite trees and various types of cacti growing. The only areas with tree cover are those near streams and other water sources and on the mountain tops of the peaks. Despite this, the region is considered to be Hidalgo’s granary, growing corn, beans, wheat, tomatoes, onions, oats, olives, cactus fruit, tejocote and much more. It produces more than half of the alfalfa and green chili peppers in Mexico. Due to the lack of rainfall, irrigation from the areas above and below ground streams is important. However, it is also one of the areas of Mexico with the highest levels of malnutrition. The valley averages 2000 meters above sea level and has a temperate climate with freezes being rare.