Sierra Madre del Sur

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Sierra Madre del Sur

mountain range, North America

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June 17, 2026

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The Sierra Madre del Sur is a mountain range located in southern Mexico, specifically in the states of Guerrero and Oaxaca, along the Pacific coast. This range is part of the larger Sierra Madre mountain system, which also includes the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental.12

The Sierra Madre del Sur is characterized by its deeply dissected terrain and steep slopes, with elevations reaching over 6,500 feet (2,000 meters) in many areas. It forms a significant part of the Southern Highlands of Mexico and is geologically complex, with a base of metamorphosed sedimentary rocks and intrusions. The climate varies with elevation, featuring hot, temperate, and cold zones, and the region receives substantial rainfall on its eastern slopes, influencing its plant and animal life.2

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Guerrero
…relief is defined by the Sierra Madre del Sur; the narrow river valleys between its spurs are mostly fertile and heavily forested but difficult to access. The principal river in the state is the Balsas, which is fed by numerous tributaries. The coast and lower river courses experience tropical downpours…
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…relief is defined by the Sierra Madre del Sur; the narrow river valleys between its spurs are mostly fertile and heavily forested but difficult to access. The principal river in the state is the Balsas, which is fed by numerous tributaries. The coast and lower river courses experience tropical downpours…
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Mexico
Physiographic regions
…ranges known collectively as the Sierra Madre del Sur. The crystalline mountains, which achieve elevations of 7,000–8,000 feet (2,100–2,400 metres), often reach the sea to create a rugged coastal margin, part of which is known as the Mexican Riviera. Several coastal sites, such as Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Acapulco, and Puerto Escondido, have…
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…ranges known collectively as the Sierra Madre del Sur. The crystalline mountains, which achieve elevations of 7,000–8,000 feet (2,100–2,400 metres), often reach the sea to create a rugged coastal margin, part of which is known as the Mexican Riviera. Several coastal sites, such as Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Acapulco, and Puerto Escondido, have…
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North America
The Cordilleras
To the south the Sierra Madre del Sur and the mountains of Guatemala and Honduras exhibit a west-east trend. This structural region includes a sweep of fold mountains of 4,000 to 6,000 feet (1,200 to 1,800 meters), with Caribbean extensions in Jamaica, southern Cuba, the island of Hispaniola, and…
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To the south the Sierra Madre del Sur and the mountains of Guatemala and Honduras exhibit a west-east trend. This structural region includes a sweep of fold mountains of 4,000 to 6,000 feet (1,200 to 1,800 meters), with Caribbean extensions in Jamaica, southern Cuba, the island of Hispaniola, and…
Read More

Sierra Madre
… (to the east), and the Sierra Madre del Sur (to the south). These ranges enclose the great central Mexican Plateau, which itself is a part of the system—although the northern portion of the plateau also is considered to be part of the Basin and Range Province in the United States—and…
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… (to the east), and the Sierra Madre del Sur (to the south). These ranges enclose the great central Mexican Plateau, which itself is a part of the system—although the northern portion of the plateau also is considered to be part of the Basin and Range Province in the United States—and…
Read More