User:NoAmGeogSoc/Sandbox27

The Septentrion is a large river of Mexico. The Septentrion and its tributaries arise in the Sierra Madre Occidental in the state of Chihuahua, and then flow through through canyons into the state of Sinaloa until it finally joins the Chinipas River, and then within a short distance the Chinipas River joins the main trunk of the Fuerte River in the western foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental. The Fuerte River then flows westward over the western coastal plain of Sonora to the Pacific Ocean, emerging very near the port of Topolobampo.

The Septentrion river is part of the El Fuerte river basin, whose tributaries flow out of a series of canyons in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains. Six of the deepest of these canyons collectively make up the Copper Canyon region. Topographically the Copper Canyon region is a very rugged and remote area with few towns and few roads. (Need to clarify that some Rivers have multiple "canyon" areas)

The Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico (Chihuahua-Pacific Railway, also known as El Chepe from its reporting mark CHP) crosses the Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains passing through part of the Copper Canyon region. The railroad connects Los Mochis, Sinaloa, near the Pacific port of Topolobampo, with the inland town of Chihuahua City, Chihuahua. After following the El Fuerte River across the Pacific Coast plains from Los Mochis and passing through El Fuerte, the railroad crosses the Chinipas River near its junction with the Septentrion River, and then runs up the Septentrion canyon into the Sierra Madre Mountains until the railroad grade reaches a plateau area (?check this out before final), after which it continues passing through San Rafael, Chihuahua and reaching the crest of the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains at Divisidero Station.

Going upstream from the mouth of the Septentrion the town of Temoris (add population), may be reached (provide miles) in a side canyon from Temoris station, on the railroad. Further up the Septendrion River, and along its tributary, the Cerocahui River is the town of Cerocahui (add population)(may note that this town is reached from Bahuichevo). Along the Septentrion followed by the railroad grade are the towns of Bahuichivo, and Cuiteco. (add population to these entries -- are these towns big enough to note). After passing the headwaters of the Septentrion, the railroad then reaches Divisdero and its highest elevation (check this out).

(Try to find if there is any measurement of the depth of the Septentrion) canyons on this route).

Over the last 20 to 30 years, this general area in the Sierra Madre Occidental, along with other areas in the neighboring Mexican states of Sonora, Sinaloa and Durango, have been used extensively for the cultivation of various illegal drugs. The general north south area of the Sierra Madre mountains are used as a corridor in which illegal drugs are transhipped north to the Mexican–American border. These activities, and the ongoing violent conflicts among the groups competing to control drug trafficking, have made this area increasingly dangerous for travel. (may try other drafts of this paragraph)

Despite this, travel for railroad passengers who remain on or near the Chepe Railroad has been generally uneventful. (but there are armed guards on the train, find a cite for this).

The drainage basin area of the canyons of the Fuerte River and its tributaries is incised into the high plateau of the Sierra Madre Occidental. The entire road system in the Sierra Madre Occidental is minimal and undeveloped (should note outside of the towns along the RR serviced by the RR), but the Septentrion River system may be accessed by two access routes. The town of Temoris may be accessed by a road coming from Creel and Divisadero on the crest of the mountains, passing through San Rafael. Temoris is also reached by a road going from the Septentrion canyon over the divide into the Chinipas drainage and down to the town of Chinipas, Chihuahua, from which there are other routes to reach other larger road systems. (There may be a road over into the Urique canyon as well) The quality of these roads can vary, depending on rock slides, washouts and weather conditions, and inquiries should be made locally before travel.