Sierra de las Minas, Protected nature reserve in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala.
The Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve is a large protected area featuring mountain forests and numerous water sources that supply major river systems across the region. The landscape spans different elevations and supports diverse plant and animal life throughout its boundaries.
The area received protected status in 1990 through UNESCO's Man and Biosphere program, marking an important moment for environmental conservation in Guatemala. This international recognition helped secure the preservation of the region's forests and water sources.
Local communities have shaped this landscape through generations of living and working here, maintaining practices that respect the forest and its resources. You can see how this relationship between people and nature continues to define the place today.
Access to the reserve is typically through hiking trails across the mountainous terrain, where elevation changes can make walks physically demanding. It's wise to bring sturdy footwear and weather-appropriate clothing, since conditions vary with the season and altitude.
The reserve is home to a rare lizard species known locally as 'Niño Dormido', found almost nowhere else in the world. This creature exemplifies why protecting undisturbed mountain ecosystems is essential for species that have adapted to nowhere else.
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