Volcán Siete Orejas
Encyclopedia
Volcán Siete Orejas is a stratovolcano
in Guatemala
located in the department of Quetzaltenango
(municipalities of Quetzaltenango
, Concepción Chiquirichapa
, La Esperanza
, and San Martin Sacatepequez
.) The volcano has 7 peaks, set around a large crater of which the southern side appears to have collapsed. The highest peaks are located on the north-west side and have an elevation of 3370 metres (11,056.4 ft) and 3157 metres (10,357.6 ft).
The U-shaped volcanic edifice opens south towards the coastal piedmont, creating both cold and temperate climatic zones within a relatively small area. Within the edifice are hot springs as well as the headwaters of the rio Ocosito
which flows into the Pacific Ocean
.
, hosting an abundance of endemic species such as the endangered Guatemalan Fir or "Pinabete" (Abies guatemalensis) and forming an integral part of one of the largest contiguous biological corridors of southwestern Guatemala. Bird species include the Pink-headed Warbler
, Black-capped Siskin
, Highland Guan
, Rufous-collared Robin
, White-breasted Hawk, and Rufous-browed Wren
.
: Wuq Xinkan. According to locals, this name originated from a legend about a large boulder on one of the peaks.
, and Tacana
. In 2009 the municipality of Concepción Chiquirichapa
founded the Regional Ecological Park "Cacique Dormido" which offers hiking, camping, bird-watching, and cultural tours on the volcano.
Stratovolcano
A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a tall, conical volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile and periodic, explosive eruptions...
in 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...
located in the department of Quetzaltenango
Quetzaltenango
Quetzaltenango, also commonly known by its indigenous name, Xelajú , or more commonly, Xela , is the second largest city of Guatemala. It is both the capital of Quetzaltenango Department and the municipal seat of Quetzaltenango municipality....
(municipalities of Quetzaltenango
Quetzaltenango
Quetzaltenango, also commonly known by its indigenous name, Xelajú , or more commonly, Xela , is the second largest city of Guatemala. It is both the capital of Quetzaltenango Department and the municipal seat of Quetzaltenango municipality....
, Concepción Chiquirichapa
Concepción Chiquirichapa
Concepción Chiquirichapa is a municipality in the Quetzaltenango department of Guatemala.The municipality of Concepción Chiquirichapa, is part of the 81 municipalities in the Western Highlands of Guatemala...
, La Esperanza
La Esperanza
La Esperanza is a town in northern Ecuador, in the Imbabura Province, Ibarra Canton. It lies at the northern foot of the Mount Imbabura volcano....
, and San Martin Sacatepequez
San Martín Sacatepéquez
San Martín Sacatepéquez is one of 24 municipalities in the department of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. San Martín Sacatepéquez has a surface area of 100 km2. The center of the town is situated at 2,450 meters above sea level...
.) The volcano has 7 peaks, set around a large crater of which the southern side appears to have collapsed. The highest peaks are located on the north-west side and have an elevation of 3370 metres (11,056.4 ft) and 3157 metres (10,357.6 ft).
The U-shaped volcanic edifice opens south towards the coastal piedmont, creating both cold and temperate climatic zones within a relatively small area. Within the edifice are hot springs as well as the headwaters of the rio Ocosito
Ocosito River
The río Ocosito is a river in Guatemala. The river's sources are located in the Sierra Madre mountain range in Quetzaltenango. It flows southwards to Retalhuleu and then west to the Pacific Ocean. The river's length is 107 km. The Ocosito river basin covers an area of 2,035 km³.-External links:*,...
which flows into the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
.
Ecological significance
The volcano forms part of the Sierra MadreSierra Madre de Chiapas
Sierra Madre is a mountain range which runs northwest-southeast from the state of Chiapas in Mexico across Guatemala and into El Salvador and Honduras. Most of the volcanoes of Guatemala are a part of this range.A narrow coastal plain lies south the range, between the Sierra Madre and the Pacific...
, hosting an abundance of endemic species such as the endangered Guatemalan Fir or "Pinabete" (Abies guatemalensis) and forming an integral part of one of the largest contiguous biological corridors of southwestern Guatemala. Bird species include the Pink-headed Warbler
Pink-headed Warbler
The Pink-headed Warbler is a small passerine bird found in the southwestern highlands of Guatemala and the central and southeastern highlands of the Mexican state of Chiapas. The adult is primarily red, with a silvery-pink head and chest...
, Black-capped Siskin
Black-capped Siskin
The Black-Capped Siskin is a species of finch in the Fringillidae family.It is found in Guatemala and Mexico.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes and heavily degraded former forest.-References:...
, Highland Guan
Highland Guan
The Highland Guan is a species of bird in the Cracidae family. It is found in the highlands of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, southern Mexico, and Nicaragua.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forest...
, Rufous-collared Robin
Rufous-collared Robin
The Rufous-collared Robin is a species of bird in the Turdidae family.It is endemic to highlands of Middle America, south of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, occurring in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Chiapas state in Mexico. Its closest relative is the American Robin, and like that species,...
, White-breasted Hawk, and Rufous-browed Wren
Rufous-browed Wren
The Rufous-browed Wren is a species of bird in the Troglodytidae family. It is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests....
.
Cultural significance
The volcano's ridgeline houses over 18 Mayan ceremonial altars, most of which are still actively used by local Mayan priests. The name Siete Orejas originates from the local name in the Mam languageMam language
Mam is a Mayan language with almost 480,000 speakers as of 2002, spoken in the Mexican state of Chiapas and the Guatemalan departments of Quetzaltenango, Huehuetenango and San Marcos....
: Wuq Xinkan. According to locals, this name originated from a legend about a large boulder on one of the peaks.
Recreational opportunities
On clear days the ridgeline of the volcano has wide views of the surrounding area, from the city of Quetzaltenango, to San Marcos and the coastal piedmont, including views of volcanoes Santa Maria, Santiaguito, TajumulcoTajumulco
Tajumulco is a municipality in the San Marcos department of Guatemala....
, and Tacana
Tacana
The Tacana language is a Western Tacanan language spoken by approximately 1,800 Tacana people in Bolivia out of an ethnic population of approximately 5,000 in the jungles along the Beni and Madre de Dios rivers.-External links:*...
. In 2009 the municipality of Concepción Chiquirichapa
Concepción Chiquirichapa
Concepción Chiquirichapa is a municipality in the Quetzaltenango department of Guatemala.The municipality of Concepción Chiquirichapa, is part of the 81 municipalities in the Western Highlands of Guatemala...
founded the Regional Ecological Park "Cacique Dormido" which offers hiking, camping, bird-watching, and cultural tours on the volcano.