Sierra de los Cuchumatanes
Encyclopedia
The Sierra de los Cuchumatanes is the highest non-volcanic mountain range in Central America
. Its elevations range from 500 m to over 3,800 m, and it covers a total area of ±16,350 km². With an area of 1,500 km² situated above 3,000 m, it is also the most extensive highland region in Central America. The Sierra de los Cuchumatanes is located in western Guatemala
in the departments of Huehuetenango
and El Quiché. Its western and south-western borders are marked by the Seleguá River
which separates it from the Sierra Madre
volcanic chain. Its southern border is defined by the Río Negro
which flows into the Chixoy River
that turns northwards and separates the Cuchumatanes from the mountains in the Alta Verapaz
region. The highest peaks, which reach up to 3,828 meters, are in the department of Huehuetenango.
The name "Cuchumatán" is derived from the Mam
words "Cuchuj" (to join or unite) and "matán" (with superior force) and means "that which was brought together by superior force". Cuchumatán may also be a derivation of the Nahuatl
word "kochmatlán" which means "place of the parrot hunters".
The Cuchumatanes has a variety of different biome
s, including pine-oak lower montane and montane humid forest
, while lower montane wet forest
and neotropic grass & shrub lands
are present on higher slopes and plateaus, and subtropical pluvial forest
in the northern piemonte.
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
. Its elevations range from 500 m to over 3,800 m, and it covers a total area of ±16,350 km². With an area of 1,500 km² situated above 3,000 m, it is also the most extensive highland region in Central America. The Sierra de los Cuchumatanes is located in western 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...
in the departments of Huehuetenango
Huehuetenango (department)
Huehuetenango is one of the 22 departments of Guatemala. It is situated in the western highlands and shares borders with México in the north and west; with El Quiché in the east, with Totonicapán, Quetzaltenango, and San Marcos to the south. The capital is the city of Huehuetenango.Huehuetenango's...
and El Quiché. Its western and south-western borders are marked by the Seleguá River
Seleguá River
The Selegua is a river in Guatemala. The river flows northwards from its sources in the highlands of Huehuetenango until it crosses the border with Mexico at , and continues northwards into the Presa de La Angostura, one of Mexico's largest artificial lakes. The river's length in Guatemala is 102...
which separates it from the Sierra Madre
Sierra 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...
volcanic chain. Its southern border is defined by the Río Negro
Chixoy River
The Chixoy River or Río Negro is a river in Guatemala. The river is called Río Negro from its sources in the highlands of Huehuetenango and El Quiché until it reaches the Chixoy hydroelectric dam , where the Río Salamá and Rio Carchela converge with the Río Negro...
which flows into the Chixoy River
Chixoy River
The Chixoy River or Río Negro is a river in Guatemala. The river is called Río Negro from its sources in the highlands of Huehuetenango and El Quiché until it reaches the Chixoy hydroelectric dam , where the Río Salamá and Rio Carchela converge with the Río Negro...
that turns northwards and separates the Cuchumatanes from the mountains in the Alta Verapaz
Alta Verapaz
Alta Verapaz is a department in the north central part of Guatemala. The capital and chief city of the department is Cobán. Verapaz is bordered to the north by El Petén, to the east by Izabal, to the south by Zacapa, El Progreso, and Baja Verapaz, and to the west by El Quiché.Also in Alta Verapaz...
region. The highest peaks, which reach up to 3,828 meters, are in the department of Huehuetenango.
The name "Cuchumatán" is derived from the Mam
Mam 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....
words "Cuchuj" (to join or unite) and "matán" (with superior force) and means "that which was brought together by superior force". Cuchumatán may also be a derivation of the Nahuatl
Nahuatl
Nahuatl is thought to mean "a good, clear sound" This language name has several spellings, among them náhuatl , Naoatl, Nauatl, Nahuatl, Nawatl. In a back formation from the name of the language, the ethnic group of Nahuatl speakers are called Nahua...
word "kochmatlán" which means "place of the parrot hunters".
The Cuchumatanes has a variety of different biome
Biome
Biomes are climatically and geographically defined as similar climatic conditions on the Earth, such as communities of plants, animals, and soil organisms, and are often referred to as ecosystems. Some parts of the earth have more or less the same kind of abiotic and biotic factors spread over a...
s, including pine-oak lower montane and montane humid forest
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests , also known as tropical moist forests, are a tropical and subtropical forest biome....
, while lower montane wet forest
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests , also known as tropical moist forests, are a tropical and subtropical forest biome....
and neotropic grass & shrub lands
Montane grasslands and shrublands
Montane grasslands and shrublands is a biome defined by the World Wildlife Fund. The biome includes high altitude grasslands and shrublands around the world....
are present on higher slopes and plateaus, and subtropical pluvial forest
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests , also known as tropical moist forests, are a tropical and subtropical forest biome....
in the northern piemonte.