Yucatan natural resources

The land is mostly made up of undulating plains. The subsoil has been formed by calcareous sediments of marine origin, which has generated a predominantly surface soil of the leptosol type. They are low depth soils (approximately 20 cm), very hard and with a lot of Rocky stones or outcrops.

Soils have allowed the development of different economic activities. Until 2005, 74% of the use of productive soil was intended for livestock, especially poultry and swine and thirdly bovine. Then agriculture follows with 20%, with corn, bean and henequén crops, the latter was very successful for the capacity of the plant to grow in stony and aggregate soil conditions. Finally, a significantly lower percentage is destined for forest activity.

We tell you the importance of soils and types of soils and their main characteristics in the following posts of ecology.

The state of Yucatan No superficial riversso that the largest freshwater reserves for the supply of human societies and their activities are underground.

One of Yucatan’s most important natural resources are the Cenotes2,090 of them have been registered. They are natural formations that usually have a flooding system of galleries connected to each other. Being the soil formed by calcareous sediments, rainwater has been wearing the rocks little by little and has been infiltrating and preserving in large caverns or water deposits, finally, at some point the roof of the cave has collapsed by revealing the interior and forming what we know as cenote.

In addition to a fresh water shelterthese spaces serve as habitats for numerous plant and animal species. Throughout the territory we can also find ciénagas, estuaries, coastal and spring lagoons, the latter are freshwater tributaries where the underground rivers that connect the cenotes.

You may be interested in taking a look at the next post about what a cenote is and how it is formed.

In the state of Yucatan they have registered More than 1,500 species vegetablessome of them are endemic to the region, such as:

• Yucatecan Biznaga cacti (Mammillaria Columbiana SSP. Yucatanensis).
• The Chilitos Biznaga (Gauuuri Mammillary).
• The Kanzacam (Pterocereus Gaumeri).

The type of vegetation that stands out are Low jungleswith a stony and shallow floor. In 1976 the jungles represented 72% of the state, entity number has been reduced to 48% for 2006. In addition to the jungles, other plant communities that we can find are:

• Vegetation in coastal dunes
• Mangroves
• Bed sheets
• Petenes
• Hydrophilic communities

Within the native tree species we find the circuit (Cordia Dodecandra), the mahogany (Swietenia Macrophylla), the cedar (Cedrela Odorata), The Jabin (Piscipula Piscipula) and the mulatto stick (Simaruba Bursera) among others. Many of them are useful in Honey productionin the wood industry, in medicine, in use as construction materials and as food for wildlife.

The diversity of types of vegetation in the territory serves as habitats for numerous animal species, positioning Yucatan in Twenty -ups of states with the greatest biodiversity in Mexico.

For 2014 there have been 2,247 species of insects and 704 vertebrates, including 115 species of fish, 16 amphibians, 89 reptiles, 366 birds, and 118 mammals. Among the latter we can highlight:

• The ocelot (Leopardus Pardalis).
• The biggest ferret (Eira Barbara).
• The gray (Galictis Vittata).
• The howler monkey (Alouatta Pigra).
• The spider monkey (GEOFFROYI ATELES).
• The Yucateca de Cola Espinosa iguana (Cachryx Defender).

It also has the largest coral structure of the Gulf of Mexico that makes up the acquaintance Arrecife Alacranes. As we know these ecosystems provide refuge for infinities of marine animals, including fish, squid, sharks, stripes and even birds.

Within the fauna we have 9 endemic speciesof which four are sweet corustaceans that inhabit the cenotes.

Thanks to the geological conformation, the subsoil is rich in limestone rocks from marine sediments. The extraction and crushing of stone material, formed mainly by calcium carbonate (Calcita), is one of the activities carried out in the state of Yucatan. Mainly intended for the manufacture of construction productssuch as lime, cement, pre -chefic concrete, serious, beams and stone dust among others.

However, this activity has an important environmental impact, the soil is totally devoid of edaphic substrate, organic matter and vegetation, significantly altering the environment.

It is also worth mentioning as a natural resource of Yucatan, the Great coastlinewhich includes 378 km. Throughout it we can find 12 sea ports, destined not only for fishing but also to other commercial and tourist activities, including its beautiful beaches.

If you want to read more articles similar to Yucatan natural resourceswe recommend that you enter our category of other environment.