One of the thirteen natural wonders of Mexico is
located near the town of Huasca de Ocampo, located north -east of Mexico City:
the
basalt columns of Santa Maria Regla .
Mexico - Huasca de Ocampo - Photo Jaschamps
The
walls of the Barranca de Alcholoya, a canyon located in the Eastern Mexican Volcanic Belt, are covered with basalt columns , hexagonal or pentagonal , high of 30 to 50 meters. These organs have been uncovered by erosion of the river Tulancingo .
Mexico -
Huasca de Ocampo - Photo culturacolectiva
These
formations currently see circulate water from the dam of San Antonio Regla, in a succession of waterfalls high of thirty meters. The lower waterfall is called Cascada de la Rosa . This portion of
the canyon is part of the Hacienda Santa Maria Regla, a residence of Pedro Romero de Terreros , the first Count of Regla, a tycoon and philanthropist of the 18th century. The hacienda has been transformed into a hotel in 1945.
Mexico - Huasca de Ocampo - cascada de la Rosa - Photo
Thelmadatter
Partial view of the Hacienda Santa Maria Regla and its chapel - photo Omar Eduardo / Flickr
This marvel was promoted by the German
explorer Alexander von Humboldt during his visit to Mexico from 1803 to 1804 .
It accurately described the geometrical aspect
of the columns, and made a drawing, preserved in the British Museum in London. Most of the columns are perpendicular
to the ground , some , close to the waterfall, however, are inclined at 45 °, others are horizontal. Each group seems to have followed in the time of its formation a " special
attraction " . Bonpland , the companion of von
Humboldt, observed in organs nucleus of olivine or peridot, which fascinate geologists.
"
Basaltic prisms in San Miguel Regla " by Humboldt and Bonpland / Views of the Cordilleras and Monuments of indigenous peoples of America / British Museum london.
The formation of these organs is related
to the Sierra Las Navajas , a volcano located north of the Eastern Mexican Volcanic Belt ( MVB ).
Its volcanic history is divided into four periods , each consisting of one or more lava flows.
Huasca de Ocampo - Peña del Aire - Photo Thelmadatter
The
organs are dated from 2.58 +/- 0.15 Ma ( K- Ar / UNAM) : a basalt flow, 30 meters thick, emitted by the volcano Sierra de Las Navajas, met waters of the Tulancingo river.
It is cooled uniformly and consistently ,
generating a process of volumetric shrinkage and developing prismation .
Simplified map of the region Huasca de
Ocampo
Source:
Geociencia - Geologia y de los petrogenesis prismas basalticos /
Santa Maria regla - by E.Sanchez & M.Osorio Pérez Rojas .
