Copper Canyon

Copper Canyon is a canyon system in the Sierra Madre Occidental in northwestern Mexico. The region occupies approximately 65,000 sq km (25,000 sq mi) in the southwestern part of Chihuahua in northwest Mexico. The name comes from the color of the canyon walls.

The region's geology alternates between soft and hard layers, resulting in stair-step canyons. All six rivers merge into the Rio Fuerte and empty into the Gulf of California.

Although the Copper Canyon is a canyon along one section of the Urique River, the name has come to be associated with the entire canyon system of the Sierra Tarahumara, which comprises more than 20 canyons. Six main interconnected canyons were formed by six rivers draining the Sierra Tarahumara's western side (an Occidental range segment).

The six main canyons, along with their approximate maximum depths that make up the Copper Canyon system are:

• Urique Canyon - 1,860 m (6,100 ft) deep

• Sinforosa Canyon - 1,800 m (5,900 ft) deep

• Copper Canyon - 1,735 m (5,700 ft) deep

• Tararecua Canyon - 1,400 m (4,600 ft) deep

• Batopilas Canyon - 1,800 m (5,900 ft) deep

• Oteros Canyon - 975 m (3,200 ft) deep

Except for the rocks at the very bottom of the canyons, the rocks of the Copper Canyon area consist primarily of explosive volcanic ash flows, ash falls, and mudflow breccias deposited approximately 20 to 40 million years ago.

The temperature of the canyon is significantly varied from top to bottom, resulting in vegetation that is also different in the two zones. The cooler highlands are home to Ponderosa pines and oak, whereas the warmer lower zone is predominately sub-tropical.

Piedra Volada Falls is a 366 m (1,200 ft) plunge waterfall in the Copper Canyon region, along with Basaseachi Falls, Mexico's third-highest waterfall at 243 m (800 ft).

The Chihuahua-Pacific Railway, also known as El Chepe, is a central rail line in northwest Mexico, linking Chihuahua City to Los Mochis and its port, Topolobampo. It runs 673 km (418 mi), traversing the Copper Canyon and is often called the most scenic railroad trip on the continent. It is an important transportation system for locals and a tourist draw.

The tracks pass over 37 bridges and through 86 tunnels, rising as high as 2,400 m (7,900 ft) above sea level near Divisadero (the Continental Divide), a popular lookout spot over the canyons. Each one-way trip takes roughly 16 hours. The track also crosses over itself to gain elevation.

Among the villages located in or on the Copper Canyon are:

• Bahuichivo: El Chepe train stop for Cerocahui, Urique, Piedras Verdes and Tubares

• Basaseachi: situated near the Piedra Volada waterfall

• Batopila: on the Batopilas River at the bottom of a canyon; first established by the Spanish around 1632 to mine silver

• Bocoyna: on the eastern escarpment of the continental divide. The nearby Rio Conchos flows into the Rio Grande on the Mexico-Texas border

• Cerocahui: 14 km (9 mi) south of the train stop at Bahuichivo

• Creel: one of the highest points on the El Chepe railroad route; a central point for commerce and tourism

• Divisadero: a key train stop and vista point with fantastic views down into the Urique Canyon; home to three tourist-class hotels strategically located on the canyon rim

• Témoris: a dual town located 400 m apart in elevation; El Chepe traverses the valley three times, including a mile-long tunnel to gain elevation

• Urique: situated at the bottom of the canyon rim on the Urique River

Sierra Tarahumara

The Sierra Tarahumara is part of the Sierra Madre Occidental in northwestern Mexico. The region is named after the Tarahumara Indians who inhabit this remote area of southwestern Chihuahua and northern Durango.

Numerous deep canyons or barrancas, as they are called locally, cut through the area; consequently, it is commonly referred to as Canyon Country.

It is a spectacular region of high sierras and deep canyons. It extends for nearly 1000 km (600 mi) from just south of the United States border through the northern Mexican states of Chihuahua, Sonora, Durango, and Sinaloa.

Ranging in altitude from around 200 m (650 ft) to over 3,000 m (9,800 ft), the region is characterized by a tremendous diversity of tropical, subtropical and temperate flora and fauna, including some endemic species.

Mexican Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga lindleyana) trees cover the high plateaus in altitudes over 2,400 m (8,000 ft), but many species of wildlife are endangered due to deforestation in the area.

Cougars live in the remotest of regions and are rarely seen. However, these upper regions blossom with wildflowers until October, after the summer rainy season.

At 1,200 - 2,400 m (4,000 - 8,000 ft) altitude, oak trees grow in huge forests and the more shade-tolerant types of trees. In the fall, the woods become brilliant with color from Andean alder (Alnus acuminata) and poplar (Populus spp.) trees.

Brushwood and scrubby trees grow on the canyon slopes, which can accommodate the dry season. Giant fig (Ficus spp.) and palm trees thrive at the bottom, where water is plentiful, and the climate is tropical.