Zona del Silencio
The Silent Zone
In the central part of the Bolson de Mapimí the Silent Zone is located. The enigmatic name is worthy of many of myths that have arisen around the zone. The Bolson de Mapimí, is located in the central-north part of the country, about 180 km to the northwest of La Laguna that has as main cities: Torreon-Gomez Palacio-and Lerdo, that comprises the Chihuahuense Desert.
The Silent Zone is located between Durango, Chihuahua, and Coahuila, between parallels 26 and 28, in the place called: Trino Vertex. The Silent Zone is designated as such because radio waves cannot be transmitted in a normal way, this occurs only in some small sections of the area because magnetic fields exist.
A long time ago, this great piece of earth was underwater in the Sea of Thetis, this explains the marine fossil existence in the Zone. Also in the Silent Zone, there are areas with great meteorite fragment concentration, as well as endemic species. Some of these unique animal specimen that can be found are the turtles of the desert, msny unique reptiles that cannot be foundanywhere else in the world. There is also an abundance of purple cactus which their color is likened to the ozone layer that protects us from solar rays, but have been worn away by the solar wind. Also there is the governor plant, the sabaneta can be found, pastizales, ocotillos, cactaceous magueyales and, some of them endemic, yuccas, candelilla, cactusplants, and mezquite trees. As well, hares and rabbits, mice and rats, kangaroo, foxes, coyotes, and owls. Like the vegetation, the animals undergo special adaptations that allow them to live in the adverse conditions of this hostile region.
The Silent Zone frequently is compared to the Bermuda Triangle, the Egyptian Pyramids, the Sacred Cities of Tibet, Cabo Cañaveral, all being located between parallels 26 and 28 (Hunt 1984). Another version of the Silent Zone was discovered on the other side of the world, in some part of Tíbet or Nepal, a zone with the same characterÌstics existed. The reason why it was considered the a special zone is because it was discovered to be like a pole where the terrestrial energy is concentrated. In 1978, the Reserve of the Biosphere of Mapimí, supported by the program "the Man and the Biosphere" of UNESCO was created, along with the Institute of Ecology, CONACYT and other organizations. The Institute of Ecology gives four simple recommendations to take care of of the Silent Zone:
- Avoid the extraction of plants, animals, fossils, archaeological arrowheads or other special items
- Avoid any type of disturbance to the atmosphere, so as not to ignite fires
- Don´t litter on or around the site. If you take cans and food, pick up any waste and take it with you.
- To keep the gates closed of the fences of the corrals of farms.