
Cloud-shrouded San Martin Volcano, Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico
The 'Sierra de Los Tuxtlas' ('Tuxtlas Mountains') are a range of
volcanic mountains lining the southeastern
Veracruz Gulf coast in southcentral
Mexico.
Peaks in this range include Volcano Santa Marta and Volcano San Martín, both rising above 1700 meters. San Martín is the only recently-active volcano in the range, erupting in 1664 and again in May 1793. It is a broad
alkaline shield volcano with a one kilometer wide summit. Hundreds of smaller
cinder cones are prevalent throughout the Sierra.
Other, extinct volcanoes include San Martin Pajapan (1,160 meters) and Cerro El Vigia (800 meters).
The Sierra de Los Tuxtlas volcanoes are an insular anomaly. The volcanoes are separated from the nearest volcano in the
Trans-Mexican volcanic belt to the west by about 150 miles (250 km), and from the
Central American Volcanic Belt to the southeast by almost 200 miles (330 km).
Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve
The upper flanks of the San Martin and Santa Marta volcanoes are covered with a
neotropical rainforest, while the lower portions are covered with stunted pastures. Much of the Sierra de los Tuxtlas are in the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve.
See also
Olmec heartland
References
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Volcanes de México, , Esperanza, Yarza de la Torre, Aguilar, , (in Spanish)
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External links
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Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve
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tuxtlas.com: Los Tuxtlas