Natural wonders in Mexico

Explore the diverse geological and hydrological landscape of the Valley of Mexico. This selection features the ancient canal systems of Xochimilco and the Tláhuac wetlands, the last remnants of the region's pre-Hispanic lakes. It also documents the volcanic history of the southern highlands, including the massive Ajusco lava dome and Xitle, the volcano responsible for the Pedregal lava fields. From the extinct craters of the Sierra de Santa Catarina to volcanic caves, these sites represent the city's unique natural heritage.

Mexico's Natural Wonders — Map

A

Xochimilco

A UNESCO World Heritage site featuring an ancient network of canals and chinampas, or artificial islands. These pre-Hispanic floating gardens remain a center for traditional agriculture and local biodiversity.

Tlatuani / CC BY-SA 4.0

B

Peñón de los baños

A prominent rock formation historically known for its thermal medicinal springs. It served as a retreat for Aztec royalty and remains a site for traditional baths near the city center.

C

Volcán Guadalupe

Also known as El Elefante, this extinct volcano is the highest peak in the Sierra de Santa Catarina. Its slopes are part of a protected natural area used for reforestation efforts.

D

La Caldera

An extinct cinder cone volcano in the Sierra de Santa Catarina, notable for its well-preserved double crater structure visible from the surrounding plains.

E

Volcán Pelado

A high-altitude extinct volcano reaching approximately 3,600 meters. It is part of the Ajusco-Chichinauhtzin range and features alpine grasslands and pine forests.

F

Ajusco

A massive lava dome volcano and the highest point in Mexico City. Located within a national park, its jagged peaks, including Pico de Águila, dominate the southern skyline.

G

Volcán Xitle

A monogenetic volcano whose eruption around 1,600 years ago covered the southern valley in lava, creating the Pedregal ecosystem and burying the ancient city of Cuicuilco.

H

Lago de los Reyes

A preserved section of the ancient lake system in Tláhuac. It maintains traditional chinampa farming methods and serves as a habitat for endemic aquatic species.

I

Humedales de Tláhuac

Significant wetland area in the south of the city that serves as a sanctuary for migratory birds and a catchment area for local groundwater.

J

Cuevas las Tronaderas

A series of natural caves and tunnels formed by ancient volcanic activity and cooling lava flows in the southern highlands.

K

Teuhtli

An extinct shield volcano that marks the geographical boundary between Xochimilco, Tláhuac, and Milpa Alta. It features a wide, shallow crater accessible via hiking trails.

L

Tuxtepec

An extinct volcanic cone located within the Chichinauhtzin volcanic field, contributing to the rugged mountainous terrain of the city's southern conservation zone.

M

Volcán Texoxocol

A small volcanic peak situated in the high-altitude forests of the southern volcanic belt.

N

Volcán Tesoyo

A volcanic elevation in the southern highlands, part of the Chichinauhtzin range which separates the Valley of Mexico from the Cuernavaca valley.

O

Volcán Malacatepetl

An extinct volcano in the Milpa Alta region, characterized by its conical shape and surrounding agricultural lands.

P

Volcán Xistune

A volcanic formation in the southeast of Mexico City, part of the complex of cinder cones defining the local topography.

Q

Volcán Ocusacayo

A volcanic peak located near the border of Milpa Alta and Xochimilco, contributing to the region's high-altitude forest ecosystem.

R

La Comalera

A volcanic hill and crater located in the southern volcanic field, surrounded by oak and pine forests.

S

Volcán San Bartolo

A small extinct volcano in the southern rural sector of the city, representative of the monogenetic volcanic field.

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