Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-11
CRATER LAKES Of MEXICO
BEAUTY OF THOSE NEAR VALE
DE SANTIAGO.
Recesses in the Earth Formed Ages
Ago by Explcsions-Water Deep,
Green and Placid.


The mere words "crater lake" carry
with them charm and mystery that are
akin to romance. But Mexico with ali
her romance. has never given abroad any
description of some of the most beauti
full crater lakes in the world. Vale de
Santiago, little town of the state of
Guiana juato. boasts four of the most per-
feet and beautiful of such lakes.
The village nestles among eleven era
tiers. all formed in some past age by sud
den explosions from the interior of the
earth. explosions that blew out a great
amount of earth, formed low cones and
subsidized without flow of lava or other
demonstration than the single explosion.
They are what are known to science as
lex ploSion craters' The valley Of San
tiago Is reached by the Mexican National
railroad. on it's little branch down Sala-
manca. on the Mexican Central. and it is
in every sense valley. for it lies in the
midst of high mountains. a great chain
of serrated peaks the highest of which.
on the east. is known as the Cerro de
Culiacan. In severe wet seasons the val
ley is partially covered with water from
the Lerma river. which waters. in its
length. from above Santiago to the fair
city Of Toluca. near the capital. one of
the richest sections of the republic.
The town itself is not unlike a hun
dred others of like size. Its popula-
ton is about 1000, by statistics, and its
little horse car line, it's streets Of one
story houses and the little theater are
common features over all Mexico. Its
people are comfortable and more or less
prosperous. for it is in the midst of a
rich agricultural country, and there is
good work for all.
In the old days the town, which is an
ancient one, was called the Town of the
which surround it. The eleven craters
mentioned by scientists are not we'll de-
fined. some having come up within the
others, at later periods resulting in but
seven well defined hills.
La Alberca and Zintora.
The four craters which contain the
lakes are all within a few miles of the
city, but two, La Alberca and Zintora,
are within easy walking distance. The
whole valley is extensively cultivated.
and up to the very rim of the craters
one walks or rides through cultivated
fields of maize.
La Alberca is one Of the lowest OF the
craters, and on one side a portion of the
crater wall has fallen away, so that the
approach is very easy A snort cnmD,
and as one rises over the edge one of the
most beautiful views in Mexico Is spread
out Half a mile across Is the low line
Of the crater wall, and down below 1t Is
the greenest of lakes. calm as plate
of glass, and perhaps the tiny boat which
plies the lake is on the opposite side,
close below the walls OF site which rim
it, These walls. which rise nearly num-
dred feet above the surface of the lake.
are part Of the native rock, which was
blown of like the cork of a bottle when
the crater was formed. 1t rises sheer
and erect above the lake on every SIDE
The columns of basalt give truly noun
famous, almost Alpine touch to the scene
Climbing down the stee2 road to the
level of the lake. the visitor has oocor-
tunties to drink in real beauty. whlch
here is more dignified and more like the
old world than almost anything IN Mex
leo. The tropics are far distant and mere
in the higher lands. where verdure IS
calm and beauty a thing of gentle touch
The other crater lake which one can
visit conveniently is the Zintora. when
is approached after long climb no It's
high sides: the lake glistens deep at tne
bottom, with sloping sides covered with
green leading down to it. A tiny oeach
of sand is seen on one side, and on this
ruined mountain hut brings announcer
Swiss touch to the scene. The background
of towering peak, one of the Seven
Candles. rises short distance away. ana
in the great hollow Of the crater crowds
OF hundreds can be lost, and not muir
muir but the echo CT ones own voice from
across the crater nearly a mile away Is
heard.
Calm of the Lake.
The calm restfulness Of crater lake is
unlike anything in the world. One finds
lakes and solitary pools In forests or
mountain Businesses. and the calm there
is akin to witchery, but they are stirred
sometimes by passing breezes and the
trees will wave above in the wind. But
in a crater lake there is not a breath
that will stir it. and even stone cast
into its bosom creates ripples that seem
as though they would be swallowed ere
they are born. Peace is word without
meaning until one lies silent on the
slope of such a crater with such lake
at his feet.
The most famous crater lakes in the
world are a. the Eifsl, in Germany, and
at Nemi. in Italy. but here In Mexico
there is Vale de Santiago. which rivals
both these, as Mexico has SO many beau
ties that equal or suroass the gems of
Europe or the Rockies.
No effort has ever been made to direct
tourist travel to this tourist paradise.
The through trains do not run convenient
ly, but it would be very easy to make the
trip. with special arrangements, and it is
to be hoped that the railroads active
publicity agents may arrange for han
ding parties there.