Mexico is a country with a natural wealth that is sometimes difficult to believe; for example, it only takes fifty minutes on the road to go from a climate with perpetual snow, to the tropics, with all its lush vegetation!
This fantastic variety of climates, animals and plants that live in our country is mainly due to two causes: the first, because our territory is located in a transitional area between the tropical and desert areas of the planet; The second is that Mexico has an extremely rugged geography, so that each elevation, each valley, mountain or ravine presents unique microclimatic conditions, which promote the development of a great variety of ecosystems, from tropical jungles to deserts and prairies or majestic forests conifers; All this contributes, without a doubt, to create the greatness of our beautiful nation.
Mexico is a country with a natural wealth that is sometimes difficult to believe; for example, it only takes fifty minutes on the road to go from a climate with perpetual snow, to the tropics, with all its lush vegetation! This fantastic variety of climates, animals and plants that live in our country is mainly due to two causes: the first, because our territory is located in a transitional area between the tropical and desert areas of the planet; The second is that Mexico has an extremely rugged geography, so that each elevation, each valley, mountain or ravine presents unique microclimatic conditions, which promote the development of a great variety of ecosystems, from tropical jungles to deserts and prairies or majestic forests. coniferous; All this contributes, without a doubt, to create the greatness of our beautiful nation.
Rain forest
Also known as tropical forest, evergreen forest or high evergreen forest, it is the terrestrial ecosystem with the greatest biodiversity in the world, since in one square kilometer it can have more species of plants and animals than those that are home to many European countries.
Thanks to the conditions of high humidity and temperatures above 22 ° C that prevail on average in the jungle, and at an altitude that oscillates between sea level and 1,200 m, a surprising amount and diversity of plants, food source for the incredible number of animals, fungi, bacteria and so many other forms of life that live in a jungle.
Going into the rainforest is an extraordinary experience. A walk through the shady undergrowth reserves countless surprises for us, and allows us, for example, to admire the hundred-year-old trees of enormous heights, which give the impression of touching the sky; at all times noises, squawks, screeches and the song of thousands of birds that live in the crowns are heard. All of this, together, gives us the unique and certain feeling that we are totally surrounded by life.
Location: Quintana Roo, Yucatán, Campeche, Tabasco, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Puebla and San Luis Potosí.
Deciduous forest
Also known as tropical deciduous forest, the lowland rainforest is an ecosystem with great biodiversity. It is established from sea level to 1,900 m of altitude, and is often mixed with small portions of high jungle, especially in the ravines. It has a warm climate throughout the year, as well as a dry season that causes the trees to not reach great heights and to lose their leaves, given the scarcity of water. Seen from afar, this ecosystem delights us with its wonderful yellow, ocher and reddish tones, alternated with greens and as many shades as varieties of trees live in it; When the variety of trees is minimal and species with thorns dominate, it is called a thorny forest.
In the low forest it is possible to find a great zoological diversity adapted to the lack of rain that occurs during the four to six months of low water; Thus we find a huge variety of birds, mammals, insects, reptiles and amphibians, among others, and that, as in almost all ecosystems, it is necessary to have a little patience and a good sense of observation to be able to admire their wonderful shapes and colors .
Location: Yucatán, Veracruz, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Puebla, Michoacán, Morelos, State of Mexico, Colima, Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa, Durango, Chihuahua, Sonora, Zacatecas, Baja California Sur and Tamaulipas.
Xerophilous scrub
The xerophilous scrub is the most abundant ecosystem in our Republic, because due to the low rainfall conditions that prevail in much of our territory, especially in the north, this ecosystem can be established in large areas. It is sometimes known as a desert. The xerophilous scrub has little vegetation, composed of plants adapted to drought conditions, such as cacti, agaves and small bushes with thorns, which give it a peculiar character. Despite this scarcity, it has a large number of animal species, such as snakes, iguanas, insects, arachnids, scorpions, birds, and many other species capable of living in regions with little water.
There are several kinds of scrub, depending on the dominant plants, such as the rosetophilic scrub, dominated by magueys of multiple shapes and sizes, or the scrub where cacti predominate, including the huge organs, which soar proudly into the sky.
Location: Oaxaca, Puebla, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, Durango, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Sonora, Baja California Sur and Baja California.
Grasslands
In Mexico the grasslands are better known as zacatales. They develop between 1100 and 2 500 meters above sea level and grow in almost always flat extensions (with the exception of the zacatales present on the slopes of the great mountains), whose dominant vegetation is made up of plants of the grass family , that is, grasses, which serve as food for a large number of herbivorous species, such as insects, hares and rodents, among others. As a general rule, grasslands live in areas with little rainfall or with a very marked dry season, simultaneously with a cool climate. Since grasslands can have other types of vegetation, such as shrubs, they are often mistaken for shrubs.
Location: Oaxaca, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, Durango and Chihuahua.
Bosques de EncinoMexico is a country very rich in wooded areas, and the oak forest represents a large proportion of those that exist in our country. This ecosystem, dominated by oaks or oaks, has a variable height, with trees ranging from 3 or 4 m high to large specimens of 20 m. The Mexican oak forest is reminiscent of the great temperate forests of North America, since these trees lose their leaves in the unfavorable season, painting the landscape with a multi-colored range of “autumn” tones, although in our country the loss of leaves is It works better in the winter. Most of the oaks develop at an altitude between 1,500 and 2,800 meters above sea level, with a climate that presents more or less abundant rains but with a dry season, which does not prevent shrubs, mosses, lichens and coexistence in the forest. including epiphytic plants like hay and orchids. The fauna is very abundant, with a large number of mammals, birds and reptiles; Additionally, in this type of forest there are usually numerous streams and small lakes that have given rise to a good number of recreational sites of singular beauty.
Location: It is found throughout the Republic, except in the states of Yucatán, Quintana Roo and Campeche.
Coniferous Forest As its name indicates, in this ecosystem the trees that reproduce by means of cones or “cones” dominate, such as pines, cedars, fir trees and junipers; In particular, the pines in our country have a special importance, because here about 40% of the world's diversity of these generous trees lives. For its development a temperate climate is necessary, with rains in a defined season, generally in summer, which causes the pine forest to mix with the oak forest very often, since both live in similar conditions, although the former is can develop in colder climates.
Pine trees do not allow the growth of an abundant shrubby undergrowth because their leaves form very acidic soil, but a forest of this nature is home to a large number of wildlife, which includes mammals such as rabbits and rodents, birds, reptiles and a wide variety of invertebrates. Undoubtedly, the pine forest, and in general the coniferous forest, is one of the most impressive ecosystems in our country due to the majesty of its trees, the richness of its fauna and the fragrance of the air that is breathed there.
Location: It is found throughout the Republic, except in the states of Yucatán, Quintana Roo and Campeche.
Mountain Mesophilic Forest Perhaps this ecosystem is one of the most beautiful in the country. Due to the size of its oaks and sweetgum trees -which reach heights of up to 20 m-, and to the conditions of constant humidity and abundant rains practically all year round, plus its temperate climate, the mesophyll forest is permanently covered with life: lichens, Mosses, herbs, shrubs and a spectacular number of bromeliads, orchids and ferns, ranging from small specimens to the majestic tree ferns of 10 to 12 m in height. As for its fauna, in this forest we can find all kinds of animals: multicolored birds, mammals (hares, foxes, squirrels), reptiles, and almost all the rest of the zoological scale. All this amount and variety of life forms make the mountain mesophilic forest a magical place on earth.
Location: Chiapas, Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo and San Luis Potosí.
Mangroves: Mangroves are a type of underwater ecosystem that thrives on the shores of coastal lagoons, in sheltered bays and at the mouths of rivers. The mangrove is a woody plant that grows in shallow waters, and can be from 2 to 20 m high. Over time, the mangrove forms true forests that give the impression of floating on water, although their roots are firmly anchored in the muddy bottom. The mangroves are the refuge of countless animal species, from small worms and mollusks to beautiful birds, which make the mangrove a unique and surprising ecosystem, close to an earthly paradise.
Location: They are found on all the coasts of the Republic, although not continuously.
Coral reefs
The reefs are well known for their extraordinary biodiversity; in fact, they are the aquatic ecosystem with the greatest quantity and variety of living organisms. The reef is an impressive submerged structure, formed by the accumulation of calcium carbonate carried out by millions of microscopic animals, corals, and which in turn give shelter to innumerable algae, the first link in the food chain that supports a large quantity of living beings. Diving in a coral reef is a unique experience, as you are suddenly surrounded by millions of fish, as varied as all the rest of the fantastic quantity and variety of life that colors this wonderful ecosystem.
Location: They are found in all coastal states, except Baja California, Sinaloa and Sonora, although their distribution is not uniform.
