🇲🇽  Sumidero Canyon Cañón del Sumidero is a deep natural canyon located just north of the city of Chiapa de Corzo in the state of Chiapas, in southern Mexico. The canyon’s creation began around the same time as the Grand Canyon in the U.S. state of Arizona, by a crack in the area’s crust and subsequent erosion by the Grijalva River, which still runs through it.

Sumidero Canyon

Sumidero Canyon has vertical walls which reach 3,300 ft with the river turning up to 90 degrees during the 13-kilometre (8.1 mi) length of the narrow passage.

 

Sumidero Canyon

The canyon is surrounded by the Sumidero Canyon National Park, a federally protected natural area of Mexico which extends 53.000 acres.

 

waterfall

At the north end of the canyon is the Chicoasén Dam opened in 1980
and its artificial reservoir, one of several on the Grijalva River, which is important for water storage and the generation of hydroelectric power in the region.

The dam’s power plant, officially named for Manuel Moreno Torres, contains 5 x 300 MW, 3 x 310 MW Francis turbine-generators.

Chicoasén Dam

The canyon and national park is the second most important tourist site in Chiapas. The park borders Tuxtla Gutiérrez the regional capital city, which has caused problems with human encroachment and settlement on park land.

LOCATION

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