La Michilía Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 1977, in Mexico. La Michilía lies 75 km south of the city of Durango in the Sierra de Michis, a branch of the Sierra Madre Occidental. The Sierra de Michis consists of igneous rock from the Tertiary period. In the reserve, the topography shows a high degree of relief. There are several ephemeral streams and lagoons, as well as two permanent streams: the Laurel to the west and the Temascal to the south-east. Marshy meadows occur in the core area. Pine and holm oak forests cover most of the reserve. It covers 342,388 ha. Administratively, it spans the municipalities of Tlahualillo and Mapimí in the state of Durango, Jiménez in the state of Chihuahua, and Sierra Mojada in the state of Coahuila.