El Tepozteco National Park is a protected area located in the Morelos state of central Mexico. It covers 232.58 km in the mountains of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. The park includes El Tepozteco, an ancient site with an Aztec temple.
Geography
El Tepozteco National Park is located in the central part of the Sierra Chichinautzin, a volcanic area that separates the Valley of Mexico to the north from the Balsas Basin to the south. The highest point in the park, Chichinautzin Volcano (3,490 meters), is in the northwest corner. The Sierra de Tepoztlán is near the center of the park, just north of the town of Tepoztlán. The land is mostly steep, with elevations ranging from 1,200 to 3,480 meters. The volcanic field is relatively young, with Chichinautzin Volcano's last major eruption occurring about 1,800 years ago. The park's landscape includes cinder cones and lava flows.
Most of the park is in the state of Morelos, within the Tepoztlán municipality. A small part of the park extends into the Federal District. Mexico City is located to the north in the Valley of Mexico, and Cuernavaca is to the south. The park's forests and volcanic rock that allows water to pass through are important for filling the water sources and underground water supplies that provide fresh water to Mexico City and Cuernavaca.
The park is surrounded on the east and west by the Flora and Fauna Protection Area Chichinautzin Biological Corridor, another natural protected area.
Climate
The climate changes with elevation. At lower elevations, it is warm and moderately wet. At higher elevations, it becomes temperate and moderately wet. The average yearly temperature is 18°C or higher at lower elevations, 12–18°C at middle elevations (2400–2800 meters), and 5–12°C at high elevations. The average yearly rainfall is between 800 and 1200 millimeters, with more rain at higher elevations.
Flora and fauna
El Tepozteco National Park has many types of plants that change based on how high above sea level the area is and how much rain it gets. Tropical dry forests with trees that lose their leaves seasonally are found in the southern part of the park up to 1,600 meters. Most of the park is part of the pine–oak forest area. Pine and oak forests, along with juniper forests, grow from 1,600 to 2,800 meters. Pine forests are most common above 2,800 meters, and pine–fir and fir forests grow above 3,000 meters. Small areas of montane cloud forests, which are always moist and have clouds around them, are found on steep slopes and in canyons.
Scientists have recorded 126 bird species in the park, 42 of which are found only in Mexico. Some birds live in limited areas, such as the banded quail, dusky hummingbird, Boucard’s wren, long-tailed wood partridge, black-chested sparrow, and the endangered Sierra Madre sparrow. There are 35 mammal species in the park, three of which are found only in Mexico.
The park is home to 27 reptile species, 19 of which are found only in Mexico. Native reptiles include the Mexican beaded lizard and three types of rattlesnakes: the Mexican lance-headed rattlesnake, Central Mexican pygmy rattlesnake, and Cross-banded mountain rattlesnake. Native amphibians include the dwarf Mexican tree frog, Craugastor hobartsmithi, Craugastor vocalis, Eleutherodactylus nitidus, and Mexican cascades frog.
Conservation
President Lázaro Cárdenas created the park through a government order on January 22, 1937.
The park is divided into four areas: preservation, restoration, traditional use, and human settlements.
The preservation area includes parts of the park that have mostly undisturbed and sensitive habitats. This area covers 12,958.1 hectares and includes the Tenexcalli and Barriga de Plata regions. Tenexcalli (10,031 hectares) is located in the northern part of the park and includes Chichinautzin Volcano.
The restoration area, called El Texcal, covers 2,682.9 hectares in the southwestern part of the park. This area has been greatly changed by past human activities. It is located between 1,400 and 1,950 meters above sea level. Human activities are limited here to help plants and animals recover naturally.
The traditional use area covers 6,496.6 hectares. People living in this area are allowed to use natural resources in ways that do not harm the environment. This area includes the Atongo-Valle Sagrado Tombuco, Calamatlán, Ojuelos, and Barbechos regions.
About 40,000 people live within the park’s boundaries in eight settlements: Santa Catarina, San Andrés de la Cal, Tepoztlán, San Juan Tlacotenco, Santo Domingo Ocotitlán, Amatlán de Quetzalcóatl, Villa Santiago Tepetlapa, and Acolapa. These settlements together cover 1,121.1 hectares.