The Basaltic Prisms of Santa María Regla are tall
columnar joints of
basalt rock near
Huasca de Ocampo
Huasca de Ocampo () is a town and municipalities of Mexico, municipality of the state of Hidalgo (state), Hidalgo in central Mexico. It is located 34 km from Pachuca and 16 km from Real del Monte in the Pachuca Mountains. While the town ...
in the
Mexican
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Mexico and its culture
*Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America
** People
*** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants
*** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...
state of
Hidalgo,
that line a ravine through which water runs from the San Antonio Dam. This ravine area was part of the Santa María Regla Hacienda and was first promoted by
Alexander von Humboldt in 1803.
The canyon walls, called the Barranca de Santa María Regla, are lined by polygonal columns between high, with five or six sides each.
The basalt columns were created by the slow cooling of volcanic
lava. The visible columns are backed by even more polygonal basalt columns. There are two waterfalls. The higher one has its water supplemented by diversions from nearby dams.
The lower one is called the Cascada de la Rosa.
The natural canyon has been modified by the addition of stairs, walkways and hanging bridges for easier access.
See also
*
Columnar jointing
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Basaltic Prisms of Santa Maria Regla
Landforms of Hidalgo (state)
Waterfalls of Mexico
Rock formations of Mexico
Columnar basalts