Copper Canyon (Barrancas del Cobre)
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Photo
by Ron Mears (www.copper-canyon.us) |
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on the image for larger version |
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One of the most spectacular regions in Mexico is the Copper Canyon (Barrancas
del Cobre), four times larger and deeper than the Grand Canyon and located
on the steepest part of the western range of the Sierra Madre Occidental
mountain range in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua. Copper Canyon
is actually a series of six massive gorges covering 25,000 square miles
and featuring breathtaking waterfalls, lakes, rivers, impressive biodiversity
and indigenous groups, all of which spell endless possibilities for adventure
and cultural and ecotourism activities.
Contrary to its name, no copper has been found
in these canyons - the name actually refers to the copper-colored lichen
found on the canyon walls. Four of the six canyons are deeper than the
Grand Canyon and two of the most spectacular include La Barranca del Urique,
the deepest at 6,165 feet, and Sinforosa Canyon, known as the “Queen
of the Copper Canyon,” because it is the most dramatic in terms
of narrowness and verticality, resulting in one of the most challenging
hikes in the region. Sinforosa Canyon plunges 6,000 feet, with 300-foot
waterfalls pouring into the Verde River at the bottom. Mexico’s
highest waterfalls can be found at Copper Canyon: Piedra Volada at 1,486
feet is the fourth-tallest in the world and the tallest by far in Mexico;
and the Basaseachi at 807 feet is the fifth-tallest waterfall in North
America and the second-tallest in Mexico.
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Photo
by Ron Mears (www.copper-canyon.us) |
| Click
on the image for larger version |
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A terrific way to enjoy Copper Canyon without breaking
a sweat is to take a ride on the Pacific-Chihuahua Railway (also called
El Chepe). The journey is normally taken east, beginning in the coastal
town of Los Mochis in Sinaloa. Visitors traverse 86 tunnels and 39 bridges
through the Sierra Tarahumara, climbing to heights of 8000 feet above
sea level, and can make strategic stops in quaint towns and scenic points
along the way. Some of the towns include El Fuerte, built in 1564 by Spanish
Conquistador Don Francisco de Ibarra as a military post; Divisadero; and
Creel, a small logging town known as the doorway to the Tarahumara Indian
settlements featuring nearby Tarahumara caves, as well as lakes, waterfalls,
pine forests and strange rock formations. The Tarahumara Indians, who
call themselves Raramuri or the “light-footed ones,” are one
of the few remaining indigenous groups in the region.
Extreme sports are a major part of the action-packed trip
to Copper Canyon. From mountain-biking paths that wind through the forest
from the lumber town of Creel toward the canyons, to the rock-climbing
craggy peak of El Gigante in Candameña Canyon, the region offers
a variety of high-energy activities.
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