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Mexico: Teotihuacan and monarch migration

At Teotihuacan, a rerouted river crosses the main avenue; in Mexico’s mountain forests, monarch butterflies winter.

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Wide Avenue of the Dead at Teotihuacan on a hazy day, with the Pyramid of the Sun at left and low stepped platforms along the avenue
The Avenue of the Dead and the Pyramid of the Sun, seen from the Pyramid of the Moon at Teotihuacan, State of Mexico; photographed on 15 April 2015.Photograph: Arian Zwegers

At a glance

Teotihuacan
State of Mexico; Mexico City lies about 50 km southwest of it[1]
Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve
56,259 ha across Michoacán and the State of Mexico[3][4]
Teotihuacan’s name
INAH attributes it to Mexica use about six centuries after abandonment[2]

A place worth remembering

A river crossing Teotihuacan’s main avenue

Teotihuacan’s main avenue forms a north–south line. UNESCO says the San Juan River was rerouted across it; INAH describes the river channels as the city’s east–west axis. That geometry ties the right-angle plan to the valley’s natural rises.[1][2]

Monarchs winter in Mexico’s mountain forests

Winter clusters form in small patches of forest. UNESCO lists 14 overwintering colonies in central Mexico, eight within the World Heritage property. The migration to eastern Canada and back lasts about eight months and spans four generations.[3]

Teotihuacan’s name came centuries later

INAH attributes the name used for Teotihuacan to the Mexica, about six centuries after the city was abandoned.[2]

Good to know

A few clear answers before you explore.

Who gave Teotihuacan its name?

INAH attributes the name to the Mexica about six centuries after the city was abandoned; it connects the word’s meaning with the creation of the gods.[2]

How many monarch overwintering colonies are within the World Heritage property?

UNESCO lists 14 colonies in central Mexico, eight of them within the inscribed property.[3]

How long does the monarch migration cycle take?

UNESCO describes the journey to eastern Canada and back as lasting about eight months; four successive generations take part in the cycle.[3]

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