Basaseachic Falls National Park
Encyclopedia
Basaseachic Falls National Park is a national park located in the western side of the state of Chihuahua in the heart of the Sierra Madre Occidental
mountain range. The park is named after Basaseachic Falls (Cascada de Basaseachic) the second tallest waterfall in Mexico with a height of 246 meters (853 ft). Basaseachic Falls empties into Candameña Canyon (Barranca de Candameña) which was carved by the Basaseachic River over millions of years. The park is famous for its natural beauty of pine-oak forest, spectacular rock formations, and breathtaking views off of high cliffs. Cliffs in the park reach an impressive height of 1,640 meters (5,380 ft).
prior to the Spanish Colonial period. The etymology of the name "Basaseachic" originates from the Tarahumara
language, Rarámuri meaning "place of the waterfall"
The first known european settlement in the area was Misión de Tomochi near the town of Cajurichi which was under the legal jurisdiction of the mission. After the 18th century the area attracted many settlers because of the discovery of abundant natural resources like minerals and high quality wood.
Basaseachic Falls National Park was created by the Mexican federal government on February 2, 1981, by decree under president Yair Valencia Rayas. The park was defined to 5,803 hectares (14,340 acres) in the Sierra Madre Occidental
along the surrounding area of the Basaseachic Falls
and Barranca de Candameña.
. The dramatic topology was created by deep tectonic plate movements causing large fractures and rising rifts. The violent movement of the terrain resulted in deep canyons and high mountains. The present day topology has been changed over thousands of years by wind erosion and the Basaseachic River.
The vertically pronounced walls of the Candameña Canyon can reach a height of 1,640 meters (5,380 ft); Candameña Canyon is known as one of the deepest canyons in the Sierra Tarahumara. The park includes two rivers: Duraznos River and Basaseachic River; both rivers feed into Basaseachic Falls
that empties into the Candameña Canyon finally ending in the Candameña River.
the following climates occur in the park.
The park has a great diversity in flora found in Northern Mexico. One of the factors that allows the park to have such a great variety of flora is due to the large number of microclimates found int park due to dramatic terrain. The flora in the park like throughout the Sierra Madre Occidental
mountain range varies with elevation. Pine (Pinus) and Oak (Quercus) species are usually found at an elevation of 2,000 meters (6,560 ft) above sea level. The park contains 92 species of conifers, 76 species of oaks. A large number number of flora species in the following genus are observed in the park: Pinus, Quercus, Ficus
, Vachellia
, Ipomoea
, Acacia
, Lysiloma
, Bursera
, Vitex
, Tabebuia
, Sideroxylon
, Cordia
, Fouquieria
, Pithecellobium
.
The park also supports a large variety of fauna including a significant number of mammals, reptiles and birds. The mammals that can be found in the park include: Mexican Fox Squirrel (Sciurus nayaritensis), Antelope Jackrabbit (Lepus alleni), Raccoon (Procyon lotor), Hooded Skunk (Mephitis macroura), Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), Collared Peccary (Pecari tajacu), White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Cougar (Puma concolor). The three main species of reptiles found in the park are: Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum), Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus
), Black-tail Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus
).
There is a great variety of birds observed in the park including: Mexican Jay (Aphelocoma ultramarina), Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri), Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus), Canyon Towhee (Pipilo fuscus), Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura), Broad-billed Hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris), Montezuma Quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae), Mountain Trogon (Trogon mexicanus)Turkey Vulture, (Cathartes aura). Trogon mexicanus is endemic species found in the mountains in Mexico; it is considered an endangered species and has symbolic significance to Mexicans.
Sierra Madre Occidental
The Sierra Madre Occidental is a mountain range in western Mexico.-Setting:The range runs north to south, from just south of the Sonora–Arizona border southeast through eastern Sonora, western Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Durango, Zacatecas, Nayarit, Jalisco, Aguascalientes to Guanajuato, where it joins...
mountain range. The park is named after Basaseachic Falls (Cascada de Basaseachic) the second tallest waterfall in Mexico with a height of 246 meters (853 ft). Basaseachic Falls empties into Candameña Canyon (Barranca de Candameña) which was carved by the Basaseachic River over millions of years. The park is famous for its natural beauty of pine-oak forest, spectacular rock formations, and breathtaking views off of high cliffs. Cliffs in the park reach an impressive height of 1,640 meters (5,380 ft).
History
Basaseachic Falls were discovered by Europeans sometime in the 18th century, becoming one of the most popular tourist attraction of the state of Chihuahua. The area of the present day national park was inhabited by TarahumaraTarahumara
The Rarámuri or Tarahumara are a Native American people of northwestern Mexico who are renowned for their long-distance running ability...
prior to the Spanish Colonial period. The etymology of the name "Basaseachic" originates from the Tarahumara
Tarahumara
The Rarámuri or Tarahumara are a Native American people of northwestern Mexico who are renowned for their long-distance running ability...
language, Rarámuri meaning "place of the waterfall"
The first known european settlement in the area was Misión de Tomochi near the town of Cajurichi which was under the legal jurisdiction of the mission. After the 18th century the area attracted many settlers because of the discovery of abundant natural resources like minerals and high quality wood.
Basaseachic Falls National Park was created by the Mexican federal government on February 2, 1981, by decree under president Yair Valencia Rayas. The park was defined to 5,803 hectares (14,340 acres) in the Sierra Madre Occidental
Sierra Madre Occidental
The Sierra Madre Occidental is a mountain range in western Mexico.-Setting:The range runs north to south, from just south of the Sonora–Arizona border southeast through eastern Sonora, western Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Durango, Zacatecas, Nayarit, Jalisco, Aguascalientes to Guanajuato, where it joins...
along the surrounding area of the Basaseachic Falls
Basaseachic Falls
Basaseachic Falls on the Basaseachic River is the second-highest waterfall in Mexico, located in the Parque Nacional Basaseachic at Cañon Basaseachic in the Copper Canyon region of northwest Mexico, near Creel, Chihuahua...
and Barranca de Candameña.
Geography
The park is located in the subdivision of the Sierra Madre Occidental known as Sierra Tarahumara, near the municipality of Ocampo, ChihuahuaOcampo, Chihuahua
Melchor Ocampo, more commonly simply Ocampo is a town and seat of the municipality of Ocampo, in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua.Originally settled as Jesús María, in 1861 it changed its name to honour recently assassinated Melchor Ocampo....
. The dramatic topology was created by deep tectonic plate movements causing large fractures and rising rifts. The violent movement of the terrain resulted in deep canyons and high mountains. The present day topology has been changed over thousands of years by wind erosion and the Basaseachic River.
The vertically pronounced walls of the Candameña Canyon can reach a height of 1,640 meters (5,380 ft); Candameña Canyon is known as one of the deepest canyons in the Sierra Tarahumara. The park includes two rivers: Duraznos River and Basaseachic River; both rivers feed into Basaseachic Falls
Basaseachic Falls
Basaseachic Falls on the Basaseachic River is the second-highest waterfall in Mexico, located in the Parque Nacional Basaseachic at Cañon Basaseachic in the Copper Canyon region of northwest Mexico, near Creel, Chihuahua...
that empties into the Candameña Canyon finally ending in the Candameña River.
Climate
The climate in the park changes depending the elevation of the terrain. There are many microclimates in the park due to the different terrain. According to Köppen climate classificationKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
the following climates occur in the park.
- Under 700 meters (2,296 ft) above sea level: BSh Semi-arid climate with annual average minimum of 17°C (63°F) and maximum of 39°C (103°F). With a wet season in the late summer and fall.
- From 700-1,300 meters (2,296-4,265 ft) above sea level: Cw'a Humid Subtropical climate with a high annual temperature reaching near 29°C (84°F) in the summer with a winter dry season mild temperatures rarely falling below 0°C (32°F). Monsoons come in the late summer and into the fall with an average 50 cm (20 in).
- From 1,300-1,700 meters (4,265-7,218 ft) above sea level: Cfa Humid Subtropical climate has warm humid summers and an average summer temperature of 20°C (68°F). The summer average precipitation is 70 cm (28 in) mostly in the months of: July, August, and September. From November to March there are many rainstorms and snowstorms caused by high elevation and prominent cold fronts. Winter temperatures can reach a low of -16°C (3°F).
- From 2,200-2,800 meters (7,217-9,186 ft) above sea level:Dfa Humid Continental climate has warm summers reaching a maximum temperature of 28°C (82°F) and summer lows of 10°C (50°F). Heavy rainstorms are observed from July to September. Winters are cold reaching a maximum low of -20°C (-4°F) and a maximum high of -8°C (17°F). During the winter months many snowstorms are observed with typically 1 meter (~3 ft) of snow per season.
- Over 2,800 meters (9,186 ft) above sea level: Dfb Humid Continental climate is found only in the extremely high elevations of the peaks of the Sierra Madre OccidentalSierra Madre OccidentalThe Sierra Madre Occidental is a mountain range in western Mexico.-Setting:The range runs north to south, from just south of the Sonora–Arizona border southeast through eastern Sonora, western Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Durango, Zacatecas, Nayarit, Jalisco, Aguascalientes to Guanajuato, where it joins...
. Summers are cool with temperatures rarely reaching 25°C (77°F) and summer lows fall below 10°C (50°F) regularly. There are heavy rainstorms from June to October. Winters are very cold with maximum high reaching 0°C (32°F) and reaching a maximum low of -31°C (-24°F). Winter snowstorms with high winds are common and typically over 1 meter (~3 ft) of snow per season.
Flora and Fauna
Sierra Madre Occidental
The Sierra Madre Occidental is a mountain range in western Mexico.-Setting:The range runs north to south, from just south of the Sonora–Arizona border southeast through eastern Sonora, western Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Durango, Zacatecas, Nayarit, Jalisco, Aguascalientes to Guanajuato, where it joins...
mountain range varies with elevation. Pine (Pinus) and Oak (Quercus) species are usually found at an elevation of 2,000 meters (6,560 ft) above sea level. The park contains 92 species of conifers, 76 species of oaks. A large number number of flora species in the following genus are observed in the park: Pinus, Quercus, Ficus
Ficus
Ficus is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes, and hemiepiphyte in the family Moraceae. Collectively known as fig trees or figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few species extending into the semi-warm temperate zone. The Common Fig Ficus is a genus of...
, Vachellia
Vachellia
Vachellia is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. It belongs to the subfamily Mimosoideae. Its species were considered members of genus Acacia until 2005....
, Ipomoea
Ipomoea
Ipomoea is the largest genus in the flowering plant family Convolvulaceae, with over 500 species. Most of these are called "morning glories", but this can refer to related genera also. Those formerly separated in Calonyction are called "moonflowers"...
, Acacia
Acacia
Acacia is a genus of shrubs and trees belonging to the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae, first described in Africa by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1773. Many non-Australian species tend to be thorny, whereas the majority of Australian acacias are not...
, Lysiloma
Lysiloma
Lysiloma is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae.-Selected species:* Lysiloma acapulcense Benth.* Lysiloma candidum Brandegee* Lysiloma divaricatum J.F.Macbr....
, Bursera
Bursera
Bursera, named after the Danish botanist Joachim Burser is a genus with about 100 described species of flowering shrubs and trees varying in size upwards to 25 m. high...
, Vitex
Vitex
Vitex is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae Martynov, nom. cons. . It has about 250 species. Its type species is Vitex agnus-castus. There is no universal English name, though "chastetree" is common for many species...
, Tabebuia
Tabebuia
Tabebuia is a neotropical genus of about 100 species in the tribe Tecomeae of the family Bignoniaceae. The species range from northern Mexico and southern Florida south to northern Argentina, including the Caribbean islands of Hispaniola and Cuba...
, Sideroxylon
Sideroxylon
Sideroxylon is a genus of flowering plants in the family Sapotaceae. There are about 70 species, collectively known as bully trees. The generic name is derived from the Greek words σιδηρος , meaning "iron", and ξύλον , meaning "wood."-Distribution:The genus is distributed mainly in the neotropics,...
, Cordia
Cordia
Cordia is a genus of flowering plants in the borage family, Boraginaceae. It contains about 300 species of shrubs and trees, which are found worldwide mostly in warmer regions. Many of the species are commonly called manjack, while bocote may refer to several Central American species in Spanish...
, Fouquieria
Fouquieria
Fouquieria is a genus of 11 species of desert plants, the sole genus in the family Fouquieriaceae. The genus includes the ocotillo and the boojum tree or cirio . They have semi-succulent stems with thinner spikes projecting from them, with leaves on the bases spikes...
, Pithecellobium
Pithecellobium
Pithecellobium is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek words πιθηκος , meaning "ape" or "monkey," and ελλοβιον , meaning "earring," which refers to the coiled shape of the seedpods.Delimitation to the closely related Albizia is a matter...
.
The park also supports a large variety of fauna including a significant number of mammals, reptiles and birds. The mammals that can be found in the park include: Mexican Fox Squirrel (Sciurus nayaritensis), Antelope Jackrabbit (Lepus alleni), Raccoon (Procyon lotor), Hooded Skunk (Mephitis macroura), Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), Collared Peccary (Pecari tajacu), White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Cougar (Puma concolor). The three main species of reptiles found in the park are: Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum), Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus
Crotalus lepidus
Crotalus lepidus is a venomous pitviper species found in the southwestern United States and northern central Mexico. Four subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
), Black-tail Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus
Crotalus molossus
Crotalus molossus is a venomous pitviper species found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Four subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
).
There is a great variety of birds observed in the park including: Mexican Jay (Aphelocoma ultramarina), Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri), Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus), Canyon Towhee (Pipilo fuscus), Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura), Broad-billed Hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris), Montezuma Quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae), Mountain Trogon (Trogon mexicanus)Turkey Vulture, (Cathartes aura). Trogon mexicanus is endemic species found in the mountains in Mexico; it is considered an endangered species and has symbolic significance to Mexicans.