North Mexico is run by a large desert stretch that extends from west to east: the deserts of Chihuahua and Coahuila. They are rocky arid areas with low vegetation of thorny plants and large variations in temperature between day and night. The Cuatro Cienegas region is part of the state of Coahuila and is a valley surrounded by limestone mountains and dotted with lakes and springs of underground water, often hot and mineralized. In the mountains around the valley there are ancient lead and zinc mines abandoned in the 1960s along with the villages where thousands of miners lived. There are also many caves. The area is very little inhabited and there are large extents without a human trace, if not some trails lying in the desert. All these elements create an absolutely extraordinary landscape. Our knowledge of the site is very deep in having participated in geological and speleological research.
Progetti collegati
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Logistics and transports
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ropes
All MB team members and their collaborators, as well as being skilled speleologists and mountaineers, are regularly licensed to work on ropes in natural and artificial locations (such as IRATA). In addition, MB provides its own technicians and customers with tools and materials for rope progression, carefully chosen and revised. ropes -
tent
Base camp: the base camp arranged by the MB team is generally composed of a «base camp» tent equipped as a kitchen, a «bell tent» for material storage and for charging electronic equipment; personal tents for 2/3 people; electricity generator; gas and camping stoves; fresh and/or lyophilised food; boxes for materials and food storage; medical backpack; VHF radio equipment; satellite phone and possible satellite internet. tent -
jeep
Pickup or 4X4 will be used to allow access to the location. MB only uses revised vehicles and in good condition. jeep -
animals
To facilitate the transport of materials, in specific locations, MB will use mules or horses, paying the utmost care and attention to the animals involved. animals
Points of interest
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Lakes and Ponds: in the protected area of Cuatro Cienegas there are over 200 lakes and pools of warm and crystalline water in the middle of the desert. Some puddles are the subject of exobiology studies on extremophilic organisms by NASA and various US and Mexican Universities.
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Mines: there are several untouched mines that seem to be just abandoned, with long horizontal labyrinth tracts and deep wells.
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Ghost Village: the village where thousands of miners lived was still partially preserved. In addition to the suggestion of the location there are so many stories to tell from the local elders.
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Desert: the desert of stones and cactus is huge and rich in charm; there are innumerable species of cactus including the rare candelilla, used to produce cosmetic wax. The rattlesnake is one of the locals.
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Mountains: some slopes allow you to climb the mountain, over 2,500 meters altitude, where there are coniferous forests and a very different climate. The view is spectacular.
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Caves: many caves have been explored, allowing you to enter the underground world of Cuatro Cienegas.
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Local population: old miners, rancheros and even grape growers can meet (here one of the first wines of Mexico was born).
Accessibility
From Monterrey airport you arrive in the area in about 3 hours. To reach the mines, two more hours and off-road vehicles are needed.
