In the country of the Tarahumare, that is to say, the State of Chihuahua, there are three very large barrancas.

They are designated as Barranca de Cobre, Barranca de Batopilas, and Barranca de San Carlos.

The Sierra Madre del Norte runs at an altitude of from 7,000 to 8,000 feet, at some points reaching even as high as 9,000 feet.

It rises so gradually in the east, for instance, when entered from the direction of the city of Chihuahua, that one is surprised to be suddenly almost on top of it.

The western side, however, falls off more or less abruptly, and presents the appearance of a towering, ragged wall.