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the Degree Confluence Project
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Mexico : Querétaro de Arteaga

4.1 km (2.5 miles) NNE of Ojo de Agua, Querétaro, Mexico
Approx. altitude: 2421 m (7942 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 21°S 80°E

Accuracy: 1.1 km (1224 yd)
Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: Fog all around. Where is the mountain? Where is the top? The easiest route? #3: Our closer approach to N21 W100 #4: The Conde team at the mountain top #5: The humid side #6: The arid side

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  21°N 100°W (visit #1) (incomplete) 

#1: The confluence is somewhere in this hillside

(visited by Raul Conde, Adriel Conde and David Conde)

English

02-May-2004 -- Esta es una difícil. Para lograr esta confluencia tienes que estar dispuesto a caminar unos kilómetros en las empinadas laderas de la Sierra Gorda. Necesitas subir y bajar desniveles de unos 300 metros de una montaña. Por la altura (más de 2500 metros) puedes encontrar neblina espesa como nos pasó a nosotros: no se podía ver la cumbre, qué tan alto estaba ni cuál sería la mejor ruta.

Intentamos rodear la montaña pero resultó peor, demasiado lejos y abrupto. La niebla se fue, subimos a la cumbre y encontramos alambradas y muros de piedra (no hay casas, son sólo corrales; a falta de gente las vacas nos dieron permiso). Finalmente llegamos al otro lado a una distancia de sólo 1 kilómetro del punto, en el lado contrario de una cañada. Decidimos regresar otro día ya que varias horas más eran necesarias para alcanzar el punto y retornar, estabamos muy cansados y no había tiempo suficiente antes de la puesta del sol. Mientras íbamos al auto descubrimos la mejor ruta. Pronto regresaremos para cumplir la misión!

Lo mejor de todo fue admirar dos muy diferentes ecosistemas en la misma montaña. Mientras que el lado sur es seco, caliente y semiárido, el lado este es húmedo, frío y boscoso. En cuestión de metros se nota el cambio. Ve las fotos, digno de visitarse!

English

This is a tough one. To achieve this confluence you must be willing to walk some kilometers in the steep slopes of the Sierra Gorda. You have to ascend and descend about 300 meters of uneven ground in a mountain. Because of the altitude (more than 2500 meters) you may encounter thick fog as it happened to us: it was not possible to see the mountain top, how high it was nor which route was the best.

We tried to go around the mountain but it resulted worse, too far away and abrupt. Fog was gone, we climbed to the top and found barbed wire and stone walls (there are no houses, only pens; people lacking, the cows gave us permission). Finally we reached the other side at a distance of only 1 kilometer to the point, at the opposite side of a creek. We decided to stop and return other day as several more hours were needed to reach the point and get back, we were very tired and there was not enough time before sunset. While going back to the car we discovered the best route. We will be back soon to accomplish the mission!

The best of all was to admire two very different ecosystems in the same mountain. While the south side is dry, warm and semiarid, the east side is humid, cold and forested. In just meters you notice the change. See the pictures, it is worth to visit!


 All pictures
#1: The confluence is somewhere in this hillside
#2: Fog all around. Where is the mountain? Where is the top? The easiest route?
#3: Our closer approach to N21 W100
#4: The Conde team at the mountain top
#5: The humid side
#6: The arid side
#8: An 'Alebrije'
#9: Over there.
ALL: All pictures on one page