Editing Durango (section)

===Ecological regions===
Ecologically, the state is divided into four regions: La Quebrada, the Sierra, the Valleys and the Semi-desert.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" />
[[File:Tortuga del bolsón.jpg|thumb|Desert tortoise in the Mapimí Biosphere Reserve]]
The '''Semi-desert''' (sometimes called the [[Bolsón de Mapimí]]) is located in the northeast of the state and includes the municipalities of [[Hidalgo Municipality, Durango|Hidalgo]], [[Mapimí Municipality|Mapimí]] (including the ''[[Mapimí Silent Zone|Silent Zone]]'', [[Tlahualilo Municipality|Tlahualilo]], [[San Pedro del Gallo Municipality|San Pedro del Gallo]], [[San Luis del Cordero Municipality|San Luis del Cordero]], [[Nazas Municipality|Nazas]], [[Lerdo Municipality|Lerdo]], [[Gómez Palacio Municipality|Gómez Palacio]], [[Cuencamé Municipality|Cuencamé]], [[Santa Clara Municipality, Durango|Santa Clara]], [[General Simón Bolívar Municipality|General Simón Bolívar]] and [[San Juan de Guadalupe Municipality|San Juan de Guadalupe]]. Most of the terrain here is flat and its climate is dry. Temperatures are cold in the winter and hot in the summer.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" /> These municipalities are classified as either part of the [[Chihuahua Desert]] or in the transition zone.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sanchez|first=Jaime|date=November 2014|title=Diversidad cactoflorística de la zona árida y semiárida de Durango, México|journal=Interciencia|volume=39}}</ref>  The area is relatively flat with some mountain ranges and a slight incline towards the interior of the country. The area was at one time under the sea, but today the vegetation consists of scrub, [[nopal]] cactus, [[maguey]] plants, [[barrel cactus]] and other arid zone plants.  It is defined by two rivers:  the [[Nazas River|Nazas]] and the [[Aguanaval River|Aguanaval]].  The region has two reservoirs: the [[:es:Presa Lázaro Cárdenas|Lázaro Cárdenas]] (Palmito) and the [[:es:Presa Francisco Zarco|Francisco Zarco]] (Tórtolas), located between the Cuencamé and Lerdo municipalities. Animals that can be found here include [[coyote]]s, ''gavilanes'' ([[sparrowhawk]]s), various [[snake]]s, [[owl]]s, [[chameleon]]s, [[tarantula]]s and [[scorpion]]s. Most of the economically important natural resources come from mining, including deposits of [[gold]], [[silver]], [[iron]] and [[mercury (element)|mercury]]. There are also large deposits of marble.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" />

The La Laguna is short for ''La Comarca de la Laguna'' (the region of the lake) or [[Comarca Lagunera]] (region of lakes), an arid and semi-arid region that covers a significant portion of northeastern Durango and southeastern Coahuila. The area was created by sediments from torrential river flows deposited over large valleys. These river flows also created lagoons which served to recharge underground aquifers or remain as intermittent surface waters.  Originally, the rivers supported habitat for native grasses, rush and ditch reed which provided habitat for various water birds and fish.<ref name=mwolfe>{{cite thesis |last=Wolfe |first=Mikael  |date=August 2009 |title=Water and Revolution: The politics, ecology and technology of agrarian reform in 'La Laguna,' Mexico  |type=PhD |publisher=The University of Chicago }}</ref>

The area is home to Durango's only caverns. The Rosario Caves (grutas) are located near [[Ciudad Lerdo]], as well as the [[Mapimí Biosphere Reserve|Mapimí Biosphere]], noted for various plants and the desert tortoise. It is a highly protected area centering on where the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila and Durango meet.<ref name=":0" />
[[File:El Picacho desde la entrada - panoramio.jpg|thumb|El Picacho in the Valleys region of the state]]
The '''Valleys''' are located in the center of the state and include the municipalities of [[Nombre de Dios Municipality|Nombre de Dios]], [[Durango Municipality|Durango]], [[Nuevo Ideal Municipality|Nuevo Ideal]], [[Canatlán Municipality|Canatlán]], [[Guadalupe Victoria Municipality, Durango|Guadalupe Victoria]], [[Pánuco de Coronado Municipality|Pánuco de Coronado]], [[Poanas Municipality|Poanas]], [[Súchil Municipality|Súchil]], [[Vicente Guerrero Municipality, Durango|Vicente Guerrero]], [[Ocampo Municipality, Durango|Ocampo]], [[San Bernardo Municipality, Durango|San Bernardo]], [[Indé Municipality|Indé]], [[Coneto de Comonfort Municipality|Coneto de Comonfort]], [[El Oro Municipality, Durango|El Oro]], [[Rodeo Municipality|Rodeo]], [[San Juan del Río Municipality, Durango|San Juan del Río]] and [[Peñón Blanco Municipality|Peñón Blanco]]. The region consists principally of river valleys and plains located among small mountain ranges. The main peaks in this area include the San Jacinto in the Silla Mountains and Peñon Blanco, which many schoolchildren in the area take trips to. Other major geographical formations in the Valleys Region include cliffs called Las Catedrales, along with those called Malpaís and La Breña, which were formed by lava flows over 250,000 hectares. The area is also home to the Cerro de Mercado which is important for its large deposit of [[iron]].<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" />

The valleys proper are flat and suitable for farming, with irrigation from the [[Nazas River|Nazas]], Florido and Tunal Rivers. Reservoirs for this purpose include the Santiaguillo, Guatimapé and Refugio Salcido.<ref name=":3" /> It has large areas with grass, [[:es:Huizache|huizache]], [[:es:Taxodium huegelii|sabinos]] and [[poplar tree]]s. There is a shallow wetland area called the Guatimapé, or Santiguillo.  It provides vital habitat for flocks of migrating birds in winter, especially [[Crane (bird)|cranes]], [[geese]] and [[duck]]s. Around this lake, there are [[Mennonite]] communities who are noted for their cheeses and cured meats. The region also provides habitat for coyotes, rabbits, squirrels, foxes, geese and ducks. The rivers contain fish such as catfish, bass, carp and tilapia. The area also has hot springs due to tectonic activity. The best known springs are the Zape, Atotonilco and the Hervideros. The area is home to the state capital of [[Durango City|Durango]] and many former haciendas that attest to the area's agricultural history.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" />

The '''Sierra''' region is in the west of the state. It includes the municipalities of [[Guanaceví Municipality|Guanaceví]], [[Tepehuanes]], and parts of [[Santiago Papasquiaro Municipality|Santiago Papasquiaro]], [[Topia Municipality|Topia]], [[Canelas Municipality|Canelas]], [[Otáez Municipality|Otáez]], [[Tamazula Municipality|Tamazula]], [[San Dimas Municipality|San Dimas]], [[Pueblo Nuevo Municipality, Durango|Pueblo Nuevo]], [[Mezquital Municipality|Mezquital]], [[Durango Municipality|Durango]], [[Ocampo Municipality, Durango|Ocampo]] and [[San Bernardo Municipality, Durango|San Bernardo]]. The terrain is rugged with freezing temperatures in the winter and snow in the higher elevations. There is also a rainy season in the summer. The vegetation in the Sierra region is mostly [[Sierra Madre Occidental pine–oak forests|pine–oak forest]], consisting of [[pine]]s, [[oak]], [[Mexican white cedar|cedar]], and [[Arbutus|strawberry tree]]s as well as [[grassland]]s. The fauna includes [[deer]], [[puma (genus)|puma]]s, [[coyote]]s, [[fox]]es, [[badger]]s and [[wild turkey]]s. Fish such as [[Bass (fish)|bass]] and [[catfish]] are found in the rivers, along with various species of birds and reptiles. Most of the state's rivers originate in the mountains of this region.<ref name=":3" />

'''Las Quebradas''' is found in the far west of the state, including parts of [[Mezquital Municipality|Mezquital]], [[Pueblo Nuevo Municipality, Durango|Pueblo Nuevo]], [[San Dimas Municipality|San Dimas]], [[Otáez Municipality|Otáez]], [[Santiago Papasquiaro Municipality|Santiago Papasquiaro]], [[Tamazula Municipality|Tamazula]], [[Topia Municipality|Topia]], [[Canelas Municipality|Canelas]] and [[Tepehuanes]].<ref name=":3" /> The region is subdivided by the rugged, western flank of the Sierra Madre. The terrain features deep ravines, canyons and fast-flowing rivers. The [[Humaya River|Humaya]], [[Tamazula River|Tamazula]], Los Remedios, [[Piaxtla River|Piaxtla]], [[Presidio River|Presidio]], and [[Baluarte River|Baluarte]] rivers flow west to the Pacific through the state of Sinaloa. Further south, the [[Acaponeta River|Acaponeta]], [[San Pedro Mezquital River|San Pedro Mezquital]], and [[Huaynamota River|Huaynamota]] rivers flow southwest through the state of Nayarit. The region, especially its ravines and canyons, is hot and humid. It receives the most rainfall in the state.  There is greater diversity of flora and fauna in its rainforests compared to the desert regions of the state.  Animal species include pumas, white-tailed deer, armadillos, badgers, iguanas and a large number of bird species. At higher elevations, between 600 and 1200 meters, the vegetation changes to pine forests and the climate is more temperate. This area has had the most human habitation and agriculture.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" />

When the Jesuits arrived to the Quebradas, they introduced the grazing of cattle and large-scale farming of corn, sugar cane and fruit trees. In the hotter and wetter areas, they introduced bananas, cherimoyas, [[guava]]s, zapotes, plums, avocados, oranges and other types of citrus. However, the difficulty of crossing the mountains to the more prosperous Valleys region limited the economy here.<ref name=":0" />

Las Quebradas has mineral deposits, principally silver with some gold. Most of these deposits are found in an area that extends from the Humaya River to San Diego. During the 18th century, a number of royal mines were in operation here. They have been worked intermittently since them, with the last major activity in the late 19th and early 20th century.  The deposits attracted Europeans, displacing the native [[Acaxee|Acaxes]], [[Xiximes]] and other indigenous groups, whose numbers fell with the introduction of European diseases. Many of the towns in this area including Félix de Tamazula, Valle de Topia, Santa Veracruz de Topia, Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Siánori, Santa María de Otáez and San José de Canelas began as mining towns.<ref name=":0" />

The mountains over 3,000 meters above sea level are dominated by dramatic landscapes, including waterfalls, old-growth pine forests and ravines, such as the Basís Quebrada on the Presidio River. The sinkholes and rock formations, such as the El [[Espinazo del Diablo]], are visible from the old highway to Mazatlan. It is one of the most representative landscapes of northwest Mexico. Cerro Gordo is the highest point in the state and is considered sacred to both the [[Tepehuanes]] and the [[Huichol]] people. This area is home to the [[La Michilía Biosphere Reserve]], which is a pioneer for the reintroduction of the [[critically endangered]] [[Mexican wolf|Mexican grey wolf]].<ref name=":0" />

The Tecuan National Forest is in the Quebradas.<ref name=":0" />