Sierra de Órganos National Park

Sierra de Órganos National Park is a national park in Mexico, located in the northwest corner of the municipality of Sombrerete in the state of Zacatecas, on the border with Durango. The park is known for its diverse aridland ecosystem and towering rock formations of the Sierra Madre Occidental, which are reminiscent of organ pipe cactuses or the pipes of the musical instrument from which it takes its name.

In addition to coniferous forests in the highlands and xerophilous scrub in the lowlands, Sierra de Órganos is a refuge for several species of animals endemic to the region and others in danger of extinction. It is a popular area for recreation, including hiking and cycling, and for the scenic beauty of its landscapes.

History

Sierra de Órganos National Park was created by federal decree on November 27, 2000. It is administered by Mexico's Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT).

Geography and climate

The park covers a total area of 1,125 hectares (4.34 sq mi) on the northwestern edge of Zacatecas in the municipality of Sombrerete, approximately 21 kilometres (13 mi) northwest of the city of Sombrerete along Highway 45, which connects Zacatecas with the municipality of Vicente Guerrero in Durango. The park is also about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) northeast of the town of Villa Insurgentes. A dirt road about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) in length provides access to the park from Highway 45.

Sierra de Órganos is nestled within the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range, in an area that corresponds to the physiographic province of the Mexican Plateau. The topography is uneven, with elevations ranging from 2,120 to 2,560 metres (6,960 to 8,400 ft) above sea level. This gives rise to dramatic ridges and steep peaks that form small plateaus, often with very prominent, nearly vertical cliff faces. Small valleys surrounding the peaks afford scenic views of the rock formations from a distance.

The climate of the region is semi-arid; most precipitation occurs in the winter, and only scarcely in the summer. Temperatures can vary from warm to hot during the day and cool to cold at night.

Flora and fauna

The park is a refuge for a great diversity of wildlife, including some plant and animal species which are locally endemic. Flora is characteristic of mixed pine–oak forests in the mountains, dominated by trees including the pinyon pine and encino, and of scrubby, arid grasslands at lower elevations. Other plants in the park include palms, ferns, huizache, maguey, nopal peach, nopal cork, oregano, manzanita, gatuña, jarilla, sotol, biznaga, guayabillo, capulín, tepozán, horse's brush, and wild onion.

Fauna is typical of the region as a whole. Species often observed in the park include the hare, raccoon, gray fox, coyote, opossum, badger, red lynx, white-tailed deer, mourning dove, white-winged dove, scaled quail, common calandria, and peregrine falcon. The cacomixtle, a small procyonid mammal, is endemic to and threatened in the area.

The biodiversity of the park faces many threats from the outside world. Several growing human settlements are very close to the park, many of which are dedicated to agriculture and livestock ranching and have caused serious deterioration of surrounding natural ecosystems in certain areas. The exploitation of local sand mines is also an issue.

See also

• List of national parks of Mexico

External links

• Decree of the Sierra de Órganos National Park
• Description of the Sierra de Órganos