The Western Fringe encompasses the broad area from Baja California to the western part of Mexico. This region has some variation in land formations. The Pacific coast of west Mexico and Baja California consists of lowlands, which only reach about 200m above sea level. In contrast, west Mexico has many active volcanoes and high mountains. The height of the Western Fringe region ranges from 1000 to 3000m above sea level.
The climate in the west is a typical, tropical highland climate. The area of Baja California and its periphery consists of a dry climate. The mean January temperature in the lowlands is 15 to 22° C or 22 to 26° C. In July, the mean temperature is less than 26° C. On the coastal side of the Western Fringe there is dry tropical scrub and thorn forest and mountain vegetation.
The plants and animals of the Western Fringe have much in common with the Veracruz region supporting maize, beans, sugar cane, coffee, rice, honey and various fruits. Cattle, pigs and coastal fishing are the predominant mainstays of the area.
In Latin America, including Veracruz and
Western Fringe, a large tropical forest spreads that is home to rubber trees, brazil
nuts, myrtle, laurels, acacias. bignonias, and palm trees. Interestingly, more
than 40 percent of the birds species of the world are found in the Western
Fringe region, which is over 2900 species. Monkeys, armadillos, frogs, and
brightly colored snakes also inhabit this environment.