What most Americans refer to as "Copper Canyon" is really a vast series of canyons (of which the Barranca del Cobre, or Copper Canyon, is just one) that cut through the Sierra Tarahumara range of the Sierra Madres in north central Mexico. Formed by a spiderweb of tributaries of the Urique River, the Copper Canyon system is deeper than the Grand Canyon, over four times as large, and steeper from rim to floor.

Visitors to the region might at first notice many similarities to the geology, flora, and fauna of the American west, but one quickly realizes that the similarities end there. For the Sierra Tarahumara, unlike the highlands of the U.S., is still home to a thriving aboriginal population. The Tarahumara people, namesake of the mountains which they call home, farm and ranch the land in and around the canyons, practicing ways which have remained largely unchanged for thousands of years. After the fall harvest, the Tarahumara descend into the canyons for warmth, inhabiting gravity-defying stone structures which cling to the canyon walls in much the same manner as the ancient Anasazi dwellings of Colorado and New Mexico. During the summer, they ascend to the canyon rim and inhabit simple huts scattered throughout the valleys and meadows of the highlands. The Tarahumara are a non-materialistic and peaceful people. Their religion, which blends ancient beliefs with elements of Christianity, holds that the only truly important things in life are one's relationship with others, with one's ancestors, and with nature.

One other notable difference between the Copper Canyon system and the open spaces of the American west is its inaccessibility. A far cry from the improved trails and interpretive guides to which we have become accustomed, the only way to really see the interior of the Copper Canyon system is to backpack along steep, narrow paths which the Tarahumara have worn into the canyon walls after years of use. Even without having met a Tarahumara face to face, one can easily deduce from the nature of their trails that they must be in excellent physical shape and also lacking any fear of heights.

Mexico is a country of cultural richness and diversity comparable to if not in excess of the U.S., and as a whole it cannot be readily categorized. But in general, my first impression of the Mexican culture is one of hard work, innovation, and frugality born out of necessity, a stark contrast to the culture of the U.S., which can seem at times overly focused on disposability and convenience. Mexico lacks the rampant wealth that exists here, but rampant poverty also seems to be notably absent. People get by on what they have, they depend on each other and pool their resources, and they welcome you with open arms, even if your mastery of their language is not perfect. But if you do decide to visit, take my advice and learn the difference between "agua" and "agua potable."