Parque Nacional Cañón del Sumidero. 02/02/04; Chiapas; 21,789 ha. 16°52'N 093°07'W. National Park. The Grijalva River cuts a canyon landscape of chalk and basalt rockwalls up to 1000 meters in height, partially flooded by the Chicoasén Dam. Threatened species like the Great Curassow Crax rubra, the Spider Monkey Ateles geoffroyi, the American Crocodile Crocodylus acutus and the ocelot Leopardus wiedii find refuge in the park. Vegetation types range from deciduous forest to oak-pine forest, crasicaule (plants growing on the canyon walls), grasslands and agricultural areas. The canyon is the symbol in the coat of arms of Chiapas, whose capital, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, is close to the south border of the park. Besides power generation, the main human activities in the park are coffee planting at low scale. Rapid population growth is posing threats to the park as more areas are destined to agriculture and grazing in steep zones subject to wind erosion and soil loss. Nearly 300,000 tourists visit the site every year, and sport activities such as rappeling, mountain biking, kayaking and swimming are done regularly. A management plan is being reviewed for implementation. Ramsar site no. 1344. Most recent RIS information: 2004.

Chiapas