Ixtlán del Río
Encyclopedia
Ixtlán del Río is both a municipality and municipal seat in the Mexican state of Nayarit
. In 1995 the population of the municipality was 26,137 (21,474 in the municipal seat) and the total area was 581.4 km².
The name of Ixtlán is of náhuatl
origin, composed of the words “Itz-ittztell” meaning obsidian
, and “Tlán”, meaning place where it is found. So the name means "place where obsidian is found", or "place of the obsidian knife."
Ixlán, as it is known to locals, is located 149 kilometers south of the state capital Tepic
and is connected to that city and Guadalajara
by both rail and highway connections. The important coastal highway Route 15
passes through the city, while a toll road passes to the east.
Ixlán has boundaries with the municipalities of La Yesca
and Jala
in the north; Amatlán de Cañas
and the state of Jalisco
in the south, Jalisco in the east and Ahuacatlán
in the west.
The land is mainly mountainous (60%) with some flat lands near the small rivers where the agricultural lands and settlements are located. The climate is hot and sub-humid with rains falling from March to July. The average annual temperature varies between 21°C and 25°C, with maximum lows of 0°C and highs of 48°C. The average annual rainfall is around 859.8 mm.
The economy is based on services, due to the town's location on the important Mexico-Nogales highway, small industries (brickworks, furniture, pottery), and agriculture. The main crops are maize
, sorghum
, beans, and green chile
. There were about 36,000 head of cattle
in 1995.
South of the city lies Toriles
, the most important archaeological site in northwestern Mexico. Here is found the temple of Quetzalcoaltl, from the Toltec
culture. The ceramic and gold jewelry extracted here can be seen in the Regional Museum of Ixtlán.
The important Río Grande de Santiago
(also called Rio Santiago) crosses the eastern edge of the municipality.
Nayarit
Nayarit officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Nayarit is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 20 municipalities and its capital city is Tepic.It is located in Western Mexico...
. In 1995 the population of the municipality was 26,137 (21,474 in the municipal seat) and the total area was 581.4 km².
The name of Ixtlán is of náhuatl
Nahuatl
Nahuatl is thought to mean "a good, clear sound" This language name has several spellings, among them náhuatl , Naoatl, Nauatl, Nahuatl, Nawatl. In a back formation from the name of the language, the ethnic group of Nahuatl speakers are called Nahua...
origin, composed of the words “Itz-ittztell” meaning obsidian
Obsidian
Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock.It is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimum crystal growth...
, and “Tlán”, meaning place where it is found. So the name means "place where obsidian is found", or "place of the obsidian knife."
Ixlán, as it is known to locals, is located 149 kilometers south of the state capital Tepic
Tepic
Tepic is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Nayarit.It is located in the central part of the state, at.It stands at an altitude above sea level of some 915 meters, on the banks of the Río Mololoa and the Río Tepic, approximately 225 kilometers north-west of Guadalajara, Jalisco....
and is connected to that city and Guadalajara
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara is the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of Jalisco in the western-pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,564,514 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality...
by both rail and highway connections. The important coastal highway Route 15
Mexican Federal Highway 15
Federal Highway 15 is a primary north-south highway in Mexico. The highway begins in the north at the United States-Mexico border at the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, Sonora, and terminates to the south in Mexico City...
passes through the city, while a toll road passes to the east.
Ixlán has boundaries with the municipalities of La Yesca
La Yesca
La Yesca is a municipality and the municipal seat of the same in the Mexican state of Nayarit. The population of the municipality was 12,025 in a total area of 2,218.5 km². The population of the town and municipal seat was 356 inhabitants in 2005...
and Jala
Jala, Nayarit
Jala is both a municipality and a town in the Mexican state of Nayarit. The population of the municipality was 16,071 in 2005, in a total area of 364.60 square kilometers...
in the north; Amatlán de Cañas
Amatlán de Cañas
Amatlán de Cañas is a municipality and municipal seat in the southwest of the Mexican state of Nayarit. The population in 2005 was 10,392 in a total area of 765 km², which made up 2.77% of the surface of the state. The municipal seat had a population of 3,275 in 2005...
and the state of Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
in the south, Jalisco in the east and Ahuacatlán
Ahuacatlán, Nayarit
Ahuacatlán is both a municipality and a municipal seat in the Mexican state of Nayarit. It is located in the southeastern part of the state and has boundaries with the following municipalities: in the north with San Pedro Lagunillas, Santa María del Oro and Jala; in the south with the state of...
in the west.
The land is mainly mountainous (60%) with some flat lands near the small rivers where the agricultural lands and settlements are located. The climate is hot and sub-humid with rains falling from March to July. The average annual temperature varies between 21°C and 25°C, with maximum lows of 0°C and highs of 48°C. The average annual rainfall is around 859.8 mm.
The economy is based on services, due to the town's location on the important Mexico-Nogales highway, small industries (brickworks, furniture, pottery), and agriculture. The main crops are maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
, beans, and green chile
Chili pepper
Chili pepper is the fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum, members of the nightshade family, Solanaceae. The term in British English and in Australia, New Zealand, India, Malaysia and other Asian countries is just chilli without pepper.Chili peppers originated in the Americas...
. There were about 36,000 head of cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
in 1995.
South of the city lies Toriles
Ixtlán del Rio (archaeological site)
Ixtlán del Rio is an archaeological site located in the Ixtlán del Rio municipality, on the south west region of the Nayarit State, Mexico. It is also known as “Los Toriles” and contains the only vestiges of the western cultures in Nayarit....
, the most important archaeological site in northwestern Mexico. Here is found the temple of Quetzalcoaltl, from the Toltec
Toltec
The Toltec culture is an archaeological Mesoamerican culture that dominated a state centered in Tula, Hidalgo in the early post-classic period of Mesoamerican chronology...
culture. The ceramic and gold jewelry extracted here can be seen in the Regional Museum of Ixtlán.
The important Río Grande de Santiago
Río Grande de Santiago
The Río Grande de Santiago is one of the longest rivers in Mexico, measuring up long. The river begins at Lake Chapala and continues roughly north-west through the Sierra Madre Occidental, receiving the Verde, Juchipila, Bolaños, and other tributaries...
(also called Rio Santiago) crosses the eastern edge of the municipality.