Sierra de Chuacús
Encyclopedia
The Sierra de Chuacús is situated in the central highlands
of Guatemala
, and runs southeast from El Quiché to Baja Verapaz
. Its northwestern border is marked by the Chixoy River
basin in Uspantán, which separates it from the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes
. Its eastern border is marked by the Salamá River
which separates it from the Sierra de las Minas
. Its southeastern border is defined by the Motagua River
valley.
The main crest of the Sierra the Chuacús is located along the El Quiché and Baja Verapáz border, and extends at an elevation above 2,100 m for more than 50 km. Its highest peak reaches up to 2504 m.
Located between the Motagua Fault
and the Chixoy-Polochic Fault
, the Chuacús mountains were formed by complex tectonic and geological processes that started in the Late Cretaceous
.
Guatemalan Highlands
The Guatemalan Highlands is an upland region in southern Guatemala, lying between the Sierra Madre de Chiapas to the south and the Petén lowlands to the north....
of Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, and runs southeast from El Quiché to Baja Verapaz
Baja Verapaz
Baja Verapaz is a department in Guatemala. The capital is Salamá.Baja Verapaz houses the Mario Dary Biotope Preserve, preserving the native flora and fauna of the region, especially the endangered national bird of Guatemala, the Resplendent Quetzal....
. Its northwestern border is marked by the Chixoy River
Chixoy River
The Chixoy River or Río Negro is a river in Guatemala. The river is called Río Negro from its sources in the highlands of Huehuetenango and El Quiché until it reaches the Chixoy hydroelectric dam , where the Río Salamá and Rio Carchela converge with the Río Negro...
basin in Uspantán, which separates it from the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes
Sierra de los Cuchumatanes
The Sierra de los Cuchumatanes is the highest non-volcanic mountain range in Central America. Its elevations range from 500 m to over 3,800 m, and it covers a total area of ±16,350 km². With an area of 1,500 km² situated above 3,000 m, it is also the most extensive highland region in Central...
. Its eastern border is marked by the Salamá River
Salamá River
The Salamá River is a river in Guatemala. The river is fed by a number of streams running down the slopes of the Sierra de las Minas and Sierra de Chuacús and flows in a north-westerly direction through the town of Salamá until it joins the Chixoy River....
which separates it from the Sierra de las Minas
Sierra de las Minas
Sierra de las Minas is a mountain range in eastern Guatemala, extending 130 km west of the Lake Izabal. It is 15–30 km wide and bordered by the valleys of the rivers Polochic in the north and the Motagua in the south. Its western border is marked by the Salamá River valley which separates it...
. Its southeastern border is defined by the Motagua River
Motagua River
The Motagua River is a long river in Guatemala. It rises in the western highlands of Guatemala where it is also called Río Grande, and runs in an easterly direction to the Gulf of Honduras. The final few kilometres of the river form part of the Guatemala/Honduras border...
valley.
The main crest of the Sierra the Chuacús is located along the El Quiché and Baja Verapáz border, and extends at an elevation above 2,100 m for more than 50 km. Its highest peak reaches up to 2504 m.
Located between the Motagua Fault
Motagua Fault
The Motagua Fault is a major, active left lateral-moving transform fault which cuts across Guatemala. It forms part of the tectonic boundary between the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate...
and the Chixoy-Polochic Fault
Chixoy-Polochic Fault
The Chixoy-Polochic Fault, also known as Cuilco-Chixoy-Polochic Fault, is a major fault zone in Guatemala and southwestern Mexico. It runs in a light arc from the east coast of Guatemala to Chiapas, following the deep valleys of the Polochic River, Chixoy River and Cuilco River.The Chixoy-Polochic...
, the Chuacús mountains were formed by complex tectonic and geological processes that started in the Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous
The Late Cretaceous is the younger of two epochs into which the Cretaceous period is divided in the geologic timescale. Rock strata from this epoch form the Upper Cretaceous series...
.
See also
- Geography of GuatemalaGeography of GuatemalaGuatemala is mountainous, except for the south coastal area and the northern vast lowlands of Petén department. Two mountain chains enter Guatemala from west to east, dividing the country into three major regions: the highlands, where the mountains are located; the Pacific coast, south of the...
- Guatemalan highlandsGuatemalan HighlandsThe Guatemalan Highlands is an upland region in southern Guatemala, lying between the Sierra Madre de Chiapas to the south and the Petén lowlands to the north....