The Benito Juárez National Park is in the Valles Centrales Region of

Oaxaca Oaxaca ( , also , , from nci, Huāxyacac ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca), is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of Mexico. It is ...

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

, and includes parts of the municipalities of San Felipe Tejalapam and San Andres Huayapan. The southern boundary of the park is about 5 kilometers north of the City of

. The park was established in 1937 during the presidency of General Lazaro Cardenas del Rio, and is named after President

Benito Juárez Benito Pablo Juárez García (; 21 March 1806 – 18 July 1872) was a Liberalism in Mexico, Mexican liberal politician and lawyer who served as the 26th president of Mexico from 1858 until his death in office in 1872. As a Zapotec peoples, Zapo ...

, who was a native of Oaxaca.

Description

The park ranges from 1,650 to 3,050 meters above sea level. The climate is Coastal sub-humid and Temperate sub-humid. The main rivers that cross the park are the Huayapan and San Felipe rivers. Most of their water is piped to supply the city of Oaxaca. The park covers 2,737 hectares, including the 3,111 meter high Cerro San Felipe, part of the

Sierra Madre de Oaxaca The Sierra Madre de Oaxaca is a mountain range in southern Mexico. It is primarily in the state of Oaxaca, and extends north into the states of Puebla and Veracruz. Geography The mountain range begins at Pico de Orizaba, and extends in a southeas ...

. There are pine and oak forests in the upper reaches of the mountain. Lower down there are scrub oaks, and tropical deciduous forest in the canyons.

Concerns

The park is the main home of the

dwarf jay The dwarf jay (''Cyanolyca nanus'') is a species of bird in the family Corvidae. It is endemic to Mexico. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, specifically comprising an oak-pine mix. As its name would imply, this ...

(''Cyanolyca nana''), considered a vulnerable species. The boundaries of the park are not well delimited. The park is threatened by livestock encroachment,

illegal logging Illegal logging is the harvest, transportation, purchase or sale of timber in violation of laws. The harvesting procedure itself may be illegal, including using corrupt means to gain access to forests; extraction without permission, or from a pro ...

, forest fires and hunting. The pine-oak forests are being attacked by mistletoe, especially in the area adjacent to San Andrés Huayapan. The sport of

downhill cycling Downhill mountain biking (DH) is a style of mountain biking practiced on steep, rough terrain that often features Glossary of cycling#gap jump, jumps, Glossary of cycling#drop, drops, Glossary of cycling#rock garden, rock gardens and other obst ...

is popular within the park.

Gallery of flora

File:Rhynchostele cervantesii ssp. membranacea.JPG, ''Rhynchostele cervantesii ssp. membranacea'' an endemic orchid in Oaxaca File:Dahlia coccinea.jpg, Dalia, national flower of Mexico Image:Govenia.jpg, Orquídea de Tierra (''Govenia lilacea'') Image:Pericon.JPG, Pericón (''

Tagetes lucida ''Tagetes lucida'' is a perennial plant native to Mexico and Central America. It is used as a medicinal plant and as a culinary herb. The leaves have a tarragon-like scent, with hints of anise, and it has entered the nursery trade in North ...

'') Image:Cerro 020.jpg, ''Pinguicula stolonifera'', carnivorous plant Image:Cerro 013.jpg, Another species of

Pinguicula ''Pinguicula'', commonly known as the butterworts, is a genus of carnivorous flowering plants in the family Lentibulariaceae. They use sticky, glandular leaves to lure, trap, and digest insects in order to supplement the poor mineral nutrition ...

(''Pinguicula moranensis'') Image:Reforetacion2_008.jpg, Passiflora (''Passiflora holosericea'') Image:Rhynchostele galeottiana, Cerro San Felipe.jpg, ''Rhynchostele galeottiana'' a species of orchid in danger of extinction

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Benito Juarez National Park National parks of Mexico Natural history of Oaxaca Protected areas established in 1937 Protected areas of Oaxaca Sierra Madre de Oaxaca