Geography and environment Colima

view of volcanoes carrizalillos lake



la audiencia beach in manzanillo

the state covers territory of 5,455 km , fourth smallest federal entity after tlaxcala, morelos , federal district of mexico city, containing 0.3% of country s total territory. state in middle of mexico’s pacific coast, bordered pacific ocean , states of jalisco , michoacán.

colima’s territory includes revillagigedo islands—socorro, san benedicto, clarión, , roca partida. these under federal jurisdiction considered part of municipality of manzanillo.

politically, state divided ten municipalities. natural geography divides state northern , southern region. north has cooler climate due higher mountains. south hotter , includes pacific ocean coastline. revillagigedo islands, of volcanic origin, dispersed along 19° north parallel on area of 400 km—with total landmass of 205 km.

the altitude varies sea level 3,839 m (12,595 ft) @ crater of volcán de colima.

the state in offshoot of sierra madre occidental mountain range , geographically consists of 4 mountain systems. important of these cerro grande , related peaks of jurípicho-juluapan, los juanillos, la astilla, el ocote, el peón, el barrigón, san diego, , la media luna. second consists of mountain chains parallel coast between marabasco , armería rivers, include el espinazo del diablo, el escorpión, el tigre, el aguacate, el centinela, el tora , la vaca. third located between armería , salado rivers , includes alcomún y partida, san miguel y comala , san gabriel/callejones peaks. last between salado , naranjo or coahuayana rivers , contains small mountain chains such piscila, volcancillos, la palmera, el camichín , copales. 3 quarters of state covered mountains , hills.

at north of state, border marked 2 volcanoes. colima volcano, called volcán de fuego, active , nevado de colima not. nevado de colima taller @ 4,271 m (14,013 ft) , gives name national park surrounds it. colima volcano, 3825 m (12,549 ft), has pyramidal peak, in contrast other, has been leveled somewhat. last major eruptions of colima volcano occurred in 1998 , 1999.

the main rivers of state cihuatlán (also called chacala, marabasco, or paticajo—which forms state’s border jalisco on west; armería, descends sierra de cacoma , crosses state north-south pacific, , coahuayana river. salado important river, flows entirely within colima before emptying coahuayana. many of state’s streams , arroyos empty salado.

colima has relatively short coastline, @ 139 km (1.2% of mexico’s total). extends boca de apiza cerro de san francisco in front of barra de navidad, jalisco .

coastal lagoons include potrero grande in manzanillo along miramar , san pedrito. on tecomán municipality coast there lagoons of alcuzahua , amela, cuyutlán lagoon split between municipalities of armería , manzanillo. inland, there various fresh water lakes, larger ones near coast , smaller ones in valley of colima. valley lakes fed runoff colima volcano , include carrizalillo, las cuatas, el jabalí, el calaboso, la maría , la escondida.

the predominant climate hot , relatively moist, coast particularly moist. 1 exception tecomán municipality climate dry , hot. mildest climates in municipalities of comala , cuauhtémoc. on coast, average temperature varies between 24 , 26 c , inland, @ highest elevations, temperature averages between 20 , 22 c.

cropland covers 27% of state’s territory, 28% dedicated pasture. forest covers 35% rest composed of bodies of water , urban areas. wild vegetation in west of state consists of moderately deciduous rainforest of medium height. plants lose leaves in dry season. these include commercially important trees such red cedar, caobilla (couratara guianensis), parota (enterolobium cyclocarpum)—and trees locally known primavera, rosa morada, habillo, payolo, pelillo, barsino, , salatón. west of manzanillo , municipalities of armería , coquimatlán, there rainforest of medium height tree species such copal (bursera) , cuajilote (parmentiera aculeate), pines, holm oaks , salt friendly mangrove forests , scrub.

there great diversity of wildlife species although number of mammal species such ocelots, pumas, wild boar , deer disappearing. among state’s rodents xenomis nelson, small rare animal little known outside colima. bird species include wild turkeys, although these have disappeared, , bird called chachalaca. number of ducks , other migratory birds pass through. reptiles include crocodiles, nursery in tecomán dedicated survival.