Sierra de los Agustinos
Sierra de los Agustinos is a mountain range in Guanajuato state of central Mexico. The range is a protected natural area, and provides water, firewood, recreation for the surrounding region.
Geography
The Sierra de los Agustinos are volcanic mountains which rise from the Bajío, a high plain. The Sierra is in the basin of the Lerma River, which runs south and west of the range. The main mass of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt lies to the south and southeast.The volcanic rocks which make up the Sierra are porous and highly fractured, and the Agustinos Aquifer is important source of groundwater in the adjacent lowlands. The range has deposits of non-metallic minerals including as opal, perlite, kaolin, and silica sand.
Flora and fauna
The natural vegetation includes tropical deciduous forest at lower elevation, and oak forest at higher elevation. Characteristic trees include palo dulce tepeguaje, oak, and pinqüica. 531 species of plants have been recorded within the protected natural area.The Sierra is an important habitat for wildlife. 29 mammal species, 145 bird species, 16 reptile species, and three species of amphibians have been recorded in the Sierra. Native mammals include the bobcat, ringtail, white-nosed coati, raccoon, Mexican long-nosed bat, and Saussure's shrew. Native birds include Swainson's hawk, Mexican falcon, brown-backed solitaire. Reptiles include the boa constrictor and black-tailed rattlesnake. The Sierra is part of the annual migration route of the monarch butterfly between eastern North America and the butterflies' wintering grounds in the mountains of Michoacán and Mexico states to the south.