Biomes / Ecosystems of Mexico

The Chihuahuan Desert stretches deep into the Central Mexican Plateau from the southwestern United States. Bounded by the Sierra Madre range, this sheltered desert ecoregion is unique, encompassing one of Earth's most biologically diverse arid regions.

Home to the Lacandón indigenous tribe, the Lacandón Forest is known for the extraordinary diversity of its flora and fauna. The Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve encompasses much of this rainforest natural region, home to important Mayan archaeological sites, including Yaxchilan and Bonampak.

The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System is a marine region, underwater ecosystem and geological structure that stretches from the Yucatán Peninsula down to Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. This underwater wilderness of coral provides homes and food to hundreds of species.

The Sonoran Desert, also called Desierto de Altar, is an arid region covering 120,000 sq mi. This North American desert ecoregion covers large parts of northwestern Mexico in Sonora, Baja California and Baja California Sur, as well as parts of the southwestern United States.