MEXICAN FIELD TRIP :

Discovering P. moranensis var. neovolcanica in wild.

Iztlaccihuatl – Popocatepetl National Park

(By Ruben and Marlene)

LOCATION :

The National Park Iztaccihuatl-Popocatépetl is situated at 83 km SE from Mexico City via federal highway 115, you get to the Cortez Pass, a place located right between the two snow covered twin volcanoes, Popocatépetl (17,890 ft/5,453 m), called “smoking mountain” and Iztaccihuatl (17,160ft/5,230 m), called “sleeping woman.”  

The peak of Popocatépetl, 55 mi/88 km SE of Mexico city, lies on the borders of the states of Mexico, Morelos, and Puebla. It is the 2d highest mountain in Mexico after Pico de Orizaba. The peak of Iztaccihuatl is 35 mi/55 km central Mexico, on the border between Puebla and Mexico state.

A saddle valley separates the 2 volcanoes. Cold climate. Rough terrain. It is a 2-day climb to the summit of these volcanoes. Iztaccihuatl, Ixtacihuatl, or Ixtaccihuatl (in Aztec means white woman but is popularly known as the Sleeping Woman).

The legend told that Iztaccihuatl was the daughter of an Aztec emperor in the Valley of Mexico. She had the misfortune of falling in love with one of her father's warriors. As soon as her father discovered their relationship, he sent her lover away to a war in Oaxaca. He told the young man that if he survived and returned he would give him Iztaccihuatl as his wife. The emperor never intended for the young warrior to return as he planned to marry Iztaccihuatl to another man. While her lover was away, Iztaccihuatl was told he was dead and she died of grief. Upon the young warrior's return, he took Iztaccihuatl's body in his arms and carried her to the mountains. He placed her down on the ground and knelt beside her, himself dying of grief. The gods took pity on them, covering them with a blanket of snow and transforming them into mountains. Iztaccihuatl today is known as the "Sleeping Woman", as the mountain appears to be a woman laying on her side. He became Popocatepetl, or "Smoking Mountain", the volcano that still rains down his revenge for the death of his lover.

 TEMPERATURE and PRECIPITATIONS :

Click on the graph to enlarge and see the graph of normal precipitation and normal average temperatures. Normal values are 30-year averages for the period 1961 to 1990. The weather stations are grouped by region (see map of weather stations).

MORE :

For more informations on the depicted species, you can read, after this article, the specific pages on Pinguicula moranensis var. neovolcanica  

 

PICTURES : 

Here are the pictures from the field trip of Marlene and Ruben.