Sierra Tarahumara

The Sierra Tarahumara, considered one of the most remote parts of North America, is at the deepest heart of the Mexican Sierra Madre Occidental, state of Chihuahua, in the northwest of Mexico. Furthermore, this region is also known by containing two of the highest waterfalls of Mexico, one of 1,494 feet and the other one with 812 feet.

Sierra Tarahumara covers an area of more than 26,000 square miles; its altitude varies considerably between 9000 feet and 1640 feet creating fantastic climatic differences with temperatures ranging from -20ºF to 113ºF.

According to the latitude there are many types of climates, such as:

• From 0 to 700 metres above the sea level: subtropical and hot climate reaching almost 104ºF during the summer with moderate rains; but, during the winter the weather is template, no less than 50ºF with limited rains.
• From 700 to 1300 metres above the sea level: template and less hot climate. During the summer, the temperature range from 59ºF to 95ºF with also moderate rains; and during the winter, the climate fluctuates among 32ºF to 64,4ºF with hardly none rain and occasionally snows.
• From 1300 to 1700 metres above the sea level: sub humid template climate. During the summer the temperature is variable because of the constants rains in June, July and August, reaching 700 milimetres per year and getting almost 95ºF as the highest. During the winter, from November to March, there is drizzle and the presence of cold is more sensitive generating snowfalls with 19,4ºF.
• From 1700 to 2200 metres above the sea level: a better climate with temperatures no more than 89,6ºF being humid in summer, but colder in winter. During the year there are moderate rains reaching the 700 milimetres, and with snowfalls and 5ºF of temperature in the winter.
• From 2200 to 2800 metres above the sea level: template but much colder climate. During the summer the temperatures ranging from 82,4ºF to 50ºF with abundant raining and storms from June to September. But, during the winter the temperature fluctuates from 46,4ºF to -4ºF with constants raining, abundant snowfalls and snowstorms.

Over the course of time, the geological evolution has taken place both creating new physiographic characteristics and giving the opportunity to the people to establish new homelands. When the Spaniards arrived in Mexico, in 1521, there were created many changes, and among them, many mixtures of races, such as mestizos, indios, etc.

So then, the Mexican ethnic composition is distributed all over the territory, however, there are also those that in some way maintain its ethnic characteristics, and between them, the huicholes, otomíes, purépechas, mayas, and tarahumaras.

The Tarahumaras are native people who have lived in these remote regions in the same way during the last thousands years. They are also known as Raramuri, which means “the ones that run”, being able to run long distances, so much so, that they can pursue a deer until it get down of exhaustion.

They also very known for gave the origin to the football soccer, or carrera de la bola, as they know it; in which is necessary a super physical ability for running with high levels of stamina.

During the spring, the Tarahumaras stay on the mountainsides planting their products, but, during the winter they must look for ravines to protect themselves from the cold; these both are the reasons why they are still considered as nomads. Among their principal activities, they are used to practice the agriculture, hunting, baskets and bedclothes production.