Sierra Negra is overshadowed by nearby Pico de Orizaba (5,610 m/18,406 ft).

The mountain is the site for two of the world's premier astronomical instruments, the Large Millimeter Telescope and the High Altitude Water Cherenkov Observatory.

[4] As listed by the Mexican geographical institute INEGI, the official name for the Sierra Negra ("Black Mountains") is Cerro La Negra ("Black Lady Hill"), although the latter is largely unused in common speech.

The Nahuatl names Tliltépetl ("Black Mountain") or Atlitzin ("Our Lord (or Lady) of the Waters") are sometimes attached.

The mountain range to the east of the city of Tehuacán (south of but still in sight of the Pico de Orizaba), with such principal towns as Zoquitlán and Coyomeapan, is also known as the "Sierra Negra", which (unsurprisingly) can cause confusion.