Desierto de los
Leones (Desert of the Lions) National Park is located in
the Sierra de las Cruces mountain
range west of the city center with an area of 1,867 hectares,
representing fifteen percent of the entire Valley of Mexico. The area was used
as a retreat for a religious group, thus the name Desierto (Desert) means not
"arid place", but not populated. The "Leones" part of the
name does not refer to the animals, but rather to the original landlord's
lastname.
The park's altitude
varies between 2,600 and 3,700 meters above sea level, giving the area a
relatively cold and damp climate. It is a forested area primarily with
pines, oyamel firs and holm oaks with
many brooks, ravines and waterfalls. The park is considered to be the oldest
protected biosphere in Mexico.
The park's name,
Desierto de los Leones, is largely due to the Carmelite monastery situated
just north of its center. Carmelite monks called their residences “deserts”. But
the exact origin of “de los Leones” is not known. The first monastery complex
was constructed between 1606 and 1611. By 1711, this structure had deteriorated
greatly. It was demolished and a new one was built in its place adjoining just
south of the original complex.
By the end of the
18th century, the cold, damp weather and increasingly frequent visitors forced
the monks to move their monastery to Tenancingo in 1801. The monastery was
declared a national monument on 16 May 1937. The 18th-century structure has a
number of areas that have been restored and opened to the public. In addition
to the old monastery, the park attracts visitors for the nature that surrounds
the complex. The park offers activities such as day camping, overnight camping,
hiking, and mountain biking. [Wiki]
