Sierra de la Laguna
Encyclopedia
The Sierra de la Laguna is a mountain range on the Baja California Peninsula
of Mexico
. It lies at the southern end of the peninsula in the state of Baja California Sur
, and is the southernmost range of the Peninsular Ranges
.
The southern tip of the peninsula, including the Sierra de la Laguna, was formerly an island, and it has a distinctive flora and fauna, with many affinities to southern Mexico. The Sierra is home to many endemic
species and subspecies. The dry San Lucan xeric scrub
extends from the coast to 250 meters elevation. The Sierra de la Laguna dry forests
occupy lower portion of the range, from 250 to 800 meters elevation. Above 800 meters elevation, the dry forests transition to the Sierra de la Laguna pine-oak forests
. The composition of the pine
-oak
forests varies with elevation; oak woodland
s predominate from 800 to 1200 meters elevation, with oak-pine woodlands between 1200 and 1600 meters elevation, transitioning to pine-oak forests above 1600 meters elevation. The predominant pine is a local subspecies of Mexican Pinyon
, Pinus cembroides subsp. lagunae.
The forests are exploited commercially for timber
, and cattle
-raising is common in the oak woodland and dry forest zones.
UNESCO
has designated the Sierra de la Laguna a global biosphere reserve
: "This semi arid to temperate subhumid climate area represents highly important and contrasted ecosystems, including arid zones, matorral
es, low deciduous forest type, evergreen oak: Quercus devia
(“encino”) woods, pine-evergreen oak mix woods and oases with palms and “guerivos” situated throughout the gallery forest following the long river basins." The Biosphere reserve was established by a Mexican presidential decree of 6 June 1994, which designated a core area and buffer zones. The core area is centered on the higher-elevation oak-pine forests, while the transition area includes the communities of Todos Santos
, El Pescadero
, El Triunfo, San Antonio
, San Bartolo, Buena Vista, Los Barriles, Las Cuevas, Santiago
and Miraflores.
Baja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. It lies at the southern end of the peninsula in the state of Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur , is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state on October 8, 1974, the area was known as the South Territory of Baja California. It has an area of , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises...
, and is the southernmost range of the Peninsular Ranges
Peninsular Ranges
The Peninsular Ranges are a group of mountain ranges, in the Pacific Coast Ranges, which stretch from southern California in the United States to the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula; they are part of the North American Coast Ranges that run along the Pacific coast from Alaska...
.
The southern tip of the peninsula, including the Sierra de la Laguna, was formerly an island, and it has a distinctive flora and fauna, with many affinities to southern Mexico. The Sierra is home to many endemic
Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
species and subspecies. The dry San Lucan xeric scrub
San Lucan xeric scrub
The San Lucan xeric scrub is a xeric shrubland ecoregion of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula.-Setting:The San Lucan xeric scrub covers an area of at the southern tip of the peninsula. The xeric scrub extends from coast up to 250 meters elevation, where the Sierra de la Laguna dry forests...
extends from the coast to 250 meters elevation. The Sierra de la Laguna dry forests
Sierra de la Laguna dry forests
The Sierra de la Laguna dry forests are a subtropical dry forest ecoregion of the southern Baja California Peninsula in Mexico.-Location:The dry forests cover the lower elevations of the Sierra de la Laguna, from elevation. They are surrounded at lower elevations by the San Lucan xeric scrub,...
occupy lower portion of the range, from 250 to 800 meters elevation. Above 800 meters elevation, the dry forests transition to the Sierra de la Laguna pine-oak forests
Sierra de la Laguna pine-oak forests
The Sierra de la Laguna pine-oak forests is a subtropical coniferous forest ecoregion, found in the Sierra de la Laguna range at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, in the state of Baja California Sur of Mexico.-Setting:...
. The composition of the pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
-oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
forests varies with elevation; oak woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
s predominate from 800 to 1200 meters elevation, with oak-pine woodlands between 1200 and 1600 meters elevation, transitioning to pine-oak forests above 1600 meters elevation. The predominant pine is a local subspecies of Mexican Pinyon
Mexican Pinyon
The Mexican Pinyon ' is a pine in the pinyon pine group, native to western North America.-Distribution:The range extends from westernmost Texas, United States , south through much of Mexico, occurring widely along the Sierra Madre Oriental and Sierra Madre Occidental ranges, and more rarely in the...
, Pinus cembroides subsp. lagunae.
The forests are exploited commercially for timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
, and cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
-raising is common in the oak woodland and dry forest zones.
UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
has designated the Sierra de la Laguna a global biosphere reserve
Biosphere reserve
The Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:...
: "This semi arid to temperate subhumid climate area represents highly important and contrasted ecosystems, including arid zones, matorral
Matorral
Matorral is a Spanish word, along with tomillares, for shrubland, thicket or bushes. It is used in naming and describing a Mediterranean climate ecosystem in Southern Europe.-Mediterranean region:...
es, low deciduous forest type, evergreen oak: Quercus devia
Quercus devia
Quercus devia is a species of plant in the Fagaceae family. It is endemic to Mexico. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Nixon, K. et al. 1998. . Downloaded on 23 August 2007....
(“encino”) woods, pine-evergreen oak mix woods and oases with palms and “guerivos” situated throughout the gallery forest following the long river basins." The Biosphere reserve was established by a Mexican presidential decree of 6 June 1994, which designated a core area and buffer zones. The core area is centered on the higher-elevation oak-pine forests, while the transition area includes the communities of Todos Santos
Todos Santos, Baja California Sur
Todos Santos is a small coastal town at the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains, on the Pacific coast side of the Baja California Peninsula, about an hour's drive north of Cabo San Lucas on Highway 19 and an hour's drive southwest from La Paz. Todos Santos is located very near the Tropic...
, El Pescadero
El Pescadero, Baja California Sur
Pescadero is a small village in the municipality of La Paz in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur.It is located at km 64 on Federal Highway 19 on the Pacific Ocean about 8 kilometers South of Todos Santos which is about a one hour drive north of Cabo San Lucas...
, El Triunfo, San Antonio
San Antonio, Baja California Sur
San Antonio de la Sierra is a small town in La Paz Municipality in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur, located near El Triunfo on Federal Highway 1. It had a 2010 census population of 463 inhabitants, and is situated at 400 meters elevation above sea level.-Information:Adm...
, San Bartolo, Buena Vista, Los Barriles, Las Cuevas, Santiago
Santiago, Baja California Sur
Santiago is a small town in Los Cabos Municipality in Baja California Sur, Mexico, located on Mexico's Highway 1, about an hour's drive north of San José del Cabo....
and Miraflores.