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THE SELVA MAYA
The Maya Biosphere Reserve
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A scant layer of soil covers the
ubiquitous limestone platform
of the Yucatan Peninsula.
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Topography, Climate, and Vegetation
A unique aspect of the Selva Maya is the conjunction of large areas of forested wild lands, an abundance of ancient maya archeological sites, and fascinating modern-day culture and social trends. These factors give the area
unique value as an ecotourism destination.
The Yucat�n Peninsula is a low, undulating, limestone platform that is still gradually emerging from the sea. While the portions around Tikal have been above sea level for perhaps 10 million years, the northern tip of the peninsula,
around M�rida, Yucat�n, was under the sea until perhaps a million years ago.
At 17� to 21� north latitude, the peninsula sits within the "outer tropics"--an area where rainfall is generally substantially less, and more seasonal, than in the truly wet equatorial rain belt. Rainfall at Tikal
is only about 1,350 mm per year--about 53 inches--comparable to the wetter portions of the eastern U.S., for example much of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and portions of Georgia. In
comparison, in some portions of the tropics, especially nearer the equator, many areas have annual rainfall of twice this magnitude or more, with annual rainfall up to 4 meters (150 inches) and more at some wet tropical sites.
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Corn is a dietary staple
throughout the Maya
cultural
region; skill at torilla-making
comes early.
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With this modest, highly seasonal rainfall, vegetation of most of the Yucat�n Peninsula is dryish tropical, broadleaf forest, rather than wet, evergreen rainforest. Rainfall is highest at the base of the peninsula and northward
along the eastern shore, diminishing greatly to the north and west. Hence, from 3 meters of rain yearly in some portions of Guatemala and Belize, rainfall drops to less than 1 meter in the dry northwest corner of the peninsula
near Merida, Yucat�n. The forest varies in concert, being tall, complex, and only partly deciduous in the wetter areas, and reducing in stature to a low, deciduous, thorn-forest in the peninsula's dry northwestern regions.
As is generally true in the tropics, rainfall in the Maya Forest follows the march of the sun, lagging behind somewhat, as it passes overhead twice yearly. There is a dramatic wet season/dry season cycle, with rains beginning
in May or June, peaking in September, and waning thereafter. A severe dry season holds sway from February through April.
In our main study site, Tikal, the forest is moderately tall, tropical broad-leaved forest with a modest proportion of tree species that lose their leaves during the dry season. Forest here has been called many things, including
tropical or subtropical dry forest, but we prefer tropical moist, semi-deciduous forest. Forests here are famous for their high densities of chicozapote or chicle trees (Manilkara zapota) and mahogany trees (Swietenia macrophylla),
both of which support important extractive industries.
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