Lagunas de Zempoala National Park
Encyclopedia
Lagunas de Zempoala National Park (nahuatl language: Place of many Waters) is a natural protected area which consists of a group of seven lagoons. The park is located between the states of Morelos
and State of Mexico, Mexico
.
, northwestern section of the state of Morelos
, 50 km away from Mexico City.
The National Park covers about 4,700 hectares and lies at an elevation of about 2,900 meters (9500 feet) above sea level.
and the surrounding mountains, they are also supplied by rain; three of the lagoons have water the whole year and the other four are seasonal.
The three main lagoons, which are the year-lasting are
Zempoala- It is the biggest of all lagoons, here are located the tourist services. The parks security do not recommend swimming here because of the sediment.
Tonatihua- This is the less visited lagoon, which makes it easier for tourists to hear the birds and see animals like rabbits or squirrels.
Prieta- This lagoon is more visited than tonatihua because this is a good place for camping, tourists can also practice sports like hiking and horseback riding.
In the park there is a possibility of finding a great variety of mammals such as Deers, foxes, weasels, rabbits, squirrels, skunks; birds such as falcons, hummingbirds and sparrows; and amphibians such as the Axolotl
.
Morelos
Morelos officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Morelos is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 33 municipalities and its capital city is Cuernavaca....
and State of Mexico, 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...
.
Geography
The lagunas of Zempoala are located in biological corridor named Chichinautzin, between the municipalitys of Ocuilan de Arteaga, at the southwestern section of State of Mexico and HuitzilacHuitzilac
Huitzilac is a city in the Mexican state of Morelos. It stands at and at an altitude of 2,561 m. above sea level.The city serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of the same name...
, northwestern section of the state of Morelos
Morelos
Morelos officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Morelos is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 33 municipalities and its capital city is Cuernavaca....
, 50 km away from Mexico City.
The National Park covers about 4,700 hectares and lies at an elevation of about 2,900 meters (9500 feet) above sea level.
The Park
The Park consists of seven lagoons, their names are Zempoala, Compila, Tonatihua, Sec, Ocoyotongo, Quila y Hueyapan which are supplied with water through the rivers descending from the AjuscoAjusco
Ajusco is a lava dome volcano located just south of Mexico City, Mexico, in the Tlalpan borough of the city. It is the highest point in the Mexican Federal District, which contains Mexico City.-Etymology:...
and the surrounding mountains, they are also supplied by rain; three of the lagoons have water the whole year and the other four are seasonal.
The three main lagoons, which are the year-lasting are
Zempoala- It is the biggest of all lagoons, here are located the tourist services. The parks security do not recommend swimming here because of the sediment.
Tonatihua- This is the less visited lagoon, which makes it easier for tourists to hear the birds and see animals like rabbits or squirrels.
Prieta- This lagoon is more visited than tonatihua because this is a good place for camping, tourists can also practice sports like hiking and horseback riding.
Flora and Fauna
The abundant forests surrounding the park include different types of trees such as oaks, cedars, pine trees and firs.In the park there is a possibility of finding a great variety of mammals such as Deers, foxes, weasels, rabbits, squirrels, skunks; birds such as falcons, hummingbirds and sparrows; and amphibians such as the Axolotl
Axolotl
The axolotl , Ambystoma mexicanum, is a neotenic salamander, closely related to the Tiger Salamander. Larvae of this species fail to undergo metamorphosis, so the adults remain aquatic and gilled. It is also called ajolote...
.