PRISMAS BASÁLTICOS DE SAN MIGUEL TLAXPAN TEXCOCO

Do you know Las Muelitas, home to Monarch Butterflies and Fireflies? Few people know about the riches hidden in the mountains of Texcoco. State of Mexico / 07/31/2021 4:55:05 PM Amidst mountains and two rivers, a volcano erupted more than 600 years ago in the municipality of Texcoco. The water flowing in the Magdalena and Coxcacoaco Rivers cooled the lava that emanated from this colossus and transformed it into enormous stones with almost perfect symmetry, now known as Basaltic Prisms. The site belongs to the federal government; however, one of the roads leading to it is private property, and the Espinoza family has preserved the area to maintain and protect it. They created "Don Manuel's Sanctuary," a place that, thanks to their environmental stewardship, has become a breeding ground for fireflies and monarch butterflies. "These two rivers began to cool the lava, and depending on how quickly it cools, it can turn into crystal or rock. As we can see here, they are rocks, and because of their shape, they are called basalt prisms," explained Juan Manuel Espinoza, who manages Don Manuel's Sanctuary. Few people know about the richness hidden in the mountains of Texcoco. The prisms are called "the little teeth" because of their shape, but many are unaware of the history that this volcano bequeathed to them. “Most people don’t know about them, they’re unaware of their existence. Texcoco has a wealth of natural resources, but unfortunately, they aren’t cared for or protected, neither by the authorities nor by the residents, who are the ones who should be protecting them and demanding their safeguarding. A clear example is the neglect of the Tetzcotzinco archaeological zone,” he added. Fireflies and Monarchs Choose It for Their Reproduction On the hectares belonging to Don Manuel, they fertilize frequently and plant various fruits, plants, and trees that allow them to preserve the green area. With the help of researchers from the Autonomous University of Chapingo, Don Manuel and his family have improved the environment, and a project that began out of love for nature has yielded inexplicable results. Three years ago, they noticed the arrival of monarch butterflies, and later, fireflies, two endangered animals that seek specific areas to reproduce. “There were practically no fireflies left in this area, and Mr. Manuel started working on this project three years ago. Last year, we finally had our first significant sighting,” he added. It is estimated that there are 2,000 species of fireflies worldwide, 200 of which are found in Mexico. One of the largest species has been observed at Don Manuel's Sanctuary. “Right now, they lay their eggs, they're there practically all winter, and in March they begin to hatch and start feeding. In June, when they begin to reproduce, all they do is reproduce. They don't eat, they don't need water, and they don't need anything else but reproduce,” he explained. How to get there? This incomparable place is located less than 30 minutes from downtown Texcoco. Upon arriving at the Sanctuary, visitors have to walk approximately 100 meters to admire the monarch butterfly and fireflies, depending on the season. In addition, the site has viewpoints from which it is possible to observe the prisms, and another 300 meters away, you can reach the center of what was once a volcanic crater. For only 50 pesos, guides offer a guided tour with explanations. The area is delimited, and although it is not well known, it has also received visitors from other countries. Lately, we have had visitors from Colombia, Peru, Chile, Venezuela—all of South America—and also from France, Italy, and Indonesia. These are very important people who leave very grateful for seeing this. Night Shoot 06/14/2026 Information 55, 31, 16, 76, 53 and 56, 46, 31, 59, 60 Second Video ------------------