Sierra del Lacandón
Encyclopedia
The Sierra del Lacandón is a low karstic mountain range in Guatemala
and Mexico. It is situated in the north-west of the department of El Petén and the south-east of Chiapas
. Its highest points are located near the Mexican border at coordinates
17.244195°N 91.202145°W and 17.195087°N 91.086102°W
The range consists of southeast to northwest trending ridges of folded cretaceous
limestone
and dolomite
hills rising above the lowlands of the Petén Basin
.
and is unique for its biodiversity
. It is also considered of great importance for the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor
as it connects the protected areas of northern Guatemala with those of southern Mexico, like the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve in Chiapas.
Several ancient Maya archaeological sites are located within the park boundaries. These include Piedras Negras, El Porvenir
, Macabilero, La Pasadita, El Hormiguero
, and El Ceibo.
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 Mexico. It is situated in the north-west of the department of El Petén and the south-east of Chiapas
Chiapas
Chiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
. Its highest points are located near the Mexican border at coordinates
17.244195°N 91.202145°W and 17.195087°N 91.086102°W
The range consists of southeast to northwest trending ridges of folded cretaceous
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
and dolomite
Dolomite
Dolomite is a carbonate mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate CaMg2. The term is also used to describe the sedimentary carbonate rock dolostone....
hills rising above the lowlands of the Petén Basin
Petén Basin
The Petén Basin is a geographical subregion of Mesoamerica, located in the northern portion of the modern-day nation of Guatemala, and essentially contained within the department of El Petén...
.
Sierra del Lacandón National Park
The Sierra del Lacandón National Park is situated in the tropical rain forest in the north west of Guatemala. It is part of the Maya Biosphere ReserveMaya Biosphere Reserve
The Maya Biosphere Reserve is a nature reserve in Guatemala managed by Guatemala's National Council of Protected Areas...
and is unique for its biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
. It is also considered of great importance for the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor
Mesoamerican Biological Corridor
The Mesoamerican Biological Corridor is a large habitat corridor in Mesoamerica, stretching from Mexico southeastward through most of Central America, connecting several national parks. It was started in 1998 to keep 106 critically endangered species from going extinct...
as it connects the protected areas of northern Guatemala with those of southern Mexico, like the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve in Chiapas.
Several ancient Maya archaeological sites are located within the park boundaries. These include Piedras Negras, El Porvenir
El Porvenir
-Places:Bolivia*Porvenir Municipality,Chile*Porvenir, ChileEl Salvador*El Porvenir, Santa AnaEcuador* El Porvenir Parish, Palanda Canton, Zamora-ChinchipeHonduras*El Porvenir, Atlántida,*El Porvenir, Francisco MorazánMexico*El Porvenir, Chiapas...
, Macabilero, La Pasadita, El Hormiguero
El Hormiguero
El Hormiguero is a Spanish television program with a live audience focusing on comedy, science, and politics running since September 2006. It is hosted and produced by screenwriter Pablo Motos and aired on Cuatro, a Spanish television station, until June 11, 2011 but since September 5, 2011 is...
, and El Ceibo.