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Like the Sierra Madre Oriental, the Cuatro Ciénegas Valley emerged from the sea millions of years ago, but water has not been completely removed. To this day, a complex system of lagoons, underground rivers, springs, lakes and marshes survives which, due to the geographical features of the site (the valley is surrounded by a mountainous system whose altitude exceeds 3,000 meters), has managed to preserve over 70 ecosystem. endemic species, ie found only at this site.



This valley was declared in 1994 Protected Natural Area and today constitutes one of the country's great biodiversity sanctuaries.

Among the most interesting species discovered in this valley are the golden lizard, the white turtle and the water hinge. The Cuatro Ciénegas mojarras are also very particular. Two species stand out, one black, carnivorous and fish-eating, and another white snail-eating mojarra known as Cuatro Ciénegas mojarra.



It is located 82 km west of Monclova, on Highway 30, which goes from this city to San Pedro de las Colonias.

Cuatro Ciénegas is located deep in a basin surrounded by the Menchaca, La Fragua, Madera, San Marcos and Pinos Mountains, which are part of the Sierra Madre Oriental. This peculiar geographical situation has favored for thousands of years the isolation and protection of flora and fauna, which make Cuatro Ciénegas a unique place in the world.



How to get:



Poza Azul's information center is located 8 km from Cuatro Ciénegas, on the same road and towards San Pedro de las Colonias. From there begins the pool area and then the plaster dunes. It is best to request a map from the information center.







One of the main attractions of this place is that it is a paradise for biological diversity, because there are species of animals that only inhabit the region thanks to the minimum amount of phosphorus that exists in the water, unlike other places, and this allows animals called " stromatolites "exist. Cuatro Ciénegas is the only place on the planet where these animals still serve as food for snails and fish in the area; A beautiful picture of prehistory. Scientists regard this place as the only window to the past; so much so that NASA keeps an eye on this majestic natural wonder.

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