Juquila District, Oaxaca
Encyclopedia
Juquila District is located in the center of the Costa Region
of the State of Oaxaca
, Mexico
, on the Pacific coast.
It has an area of 5,055 km2.
As of 2005 it had a total population of 134,365 of whom 33,106 spoke an indigenous language.
Economic activities include agriculture and tourism.
The Santuario (Sanctuary) de Juquila is a major attraction.
.
The coastal climate is hot and humid, while inland the climate is warm and humid.
The western part of the district includes the Lagunas de Chacahua National Park
, which includes the lagoons of Chacahua, La Pastoria, Las Salinas.
Tourism is important in the coastal region, particularly in Puerto Escondido.
The town of Santa Catarina Juquila
is known for the Santuario (Sanctuary) de Juquila, which houses a 30 cm statue of the Virgin Mary, which has been venerated since the 16th century. In 1633, it survived, completely intact, a fire that destroyed the village in which it was originally located. At the beginning of the 18th century, it was moved to its current location where the sanctuary was built for it. Thousands visit this Virgin from across the state of Oaxaca, other parts of Mexico and abroad.
people before the Spanish arrived, a group with close cultural and linguistic ties with the Zapotec people.
The Chatino language
is still widely spoken in inland communities such as San Miguel Panixtlahuaca
, Santa María Temaxcaltepec
and Santiago Yaitepec
.
The ruins of the capital of the Chatino state are preserved near Santos Reyes Nopala
, and include large stone buildings, ball courts and pyramids.
The area in the west of Villa de Tututepec de Melchor Ocampo
was occupied by a small Mixtec
kingdom established in 357 AD.
Costa Region, Oaxaca
The Costa Region or Costa Chica lies on the Pacific coast of the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, below the more mountainous Sierra Sur inland from the coast...
of the State of Oaxaca
Oaxaca
Oaxaca , , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca is one of the 31 states which, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 571 municipalities; of which 418 are governed by the system of customs and traditions...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, on the Pacific coast.
It has an area of 5,055 km2.
As of 2005 it had a total population of 134,365 of whom 33,106 spoke an indigenous language.
Economic activities include agriculture and tourism.
The Santuario (Sanctuary) de Juquila is a major attraction.
Environment
The district lies on the Pacific coast of southwestern Oaxaca, with generally hilly land rising to the southern edge of the Sierra Madre del SurSierra Madre del Sur
The Sierra Madre del Sur is a mountain range in southern Mexico, extending from southern Michoacán east through Guerrero, to the Istmo de Tehuantepec in eastern Oaxaca.-Geography:...
.
The coastal climate is hot and humid, while inland the climate is warm and humid.
The western part of the district includes the Lagunas de Chacahua National Park
Lagunas de Chacahua National Park
The Lagunas de Chacahua National Park , created in 1937,is a national park located in the Municipality of Villa de Tututepec de Melchor Ocampo in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, about 54 km west of Puerto Escondido, near a village called Zapotalito. It can be reach via Federal Highway 200 or by boat...
, which includes the lagoons of Chacahua, La Pastoria, Las Salinas.
Economy
The most important economic activity is agriculture, including cultivation of maize, beans and vegetables for personal consumption. The people practice animal husbandry on a small scale, and some also hunt and fish. Coffee is grown inland, and various types of fruit near the coast.Tourism is important in the coastal region, particularly in Puerto Escondido.
The town of Santa Catarina Juquila
Santa Catarina Juquila
Santa Catarina Juquila is a town in the State of Oaxaca, Mexico, and is the seat of the municipality also called Santa Catarina Juquila.It is part of the Juquila District in the center of the Costa Region....
is known for the Santuario (Sanctuary) de Juquila, which houses a 30 cm statue of the Virgin Mary, which has been venerated since the 16th century. In 1633, it survived, completely intact, a fire that destroyed the village in which it was originally located. At the beginning of the 18th century, it was moved to its current location where the sanctuary was built for it. Thousands visit this Virgin from across the state of Oaxaca, other parts of Mexico and abroad.
Indigenous people
The district roughly coincides with the area occupied by the ChatinoChatino
Chatino is the Spanish name of an indigenous people of southern central Mexico, and also of their language, the Chatino language. Chatino communities are located in the southeastern region of the state of Oaxaca. Speakers of Chatino are numbered around 23,000 , but ethnic Chatinos may number many...
people before the Spanish arrived, a group with close cultural and linguistic ties with the Zapotec people.
The Chatino language
Chatino language
The Chatino language is an indigenous Mesoamerican language, which is classified under the Zapotecan branch of the Oto-Manguean language family...
is still widely spoken in inland communities such as San Miguel Panixtlahuaca
San Miguel Panixtlahuaca
San Miguel Panixtlahuaca is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico.It is part of the Juquila District in the center of the Costa Region.The name "Panixtlahuatl" in the Nahuatl language means "Plain of the Bridge".-Environment:...
, Santa María Temaxcaltepec
Santa María Temaxcaltepec
Santa María Temaxcaltepec is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico.It is part of the Juquila District in the center of the Costa Region....
and Santiago Yaitepec
Santiago Yaitepec
Santiago Yaitepec is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico, two kilometers southeast of Santa Catarina Juquila.It is part of the Juquila District in the center of the Costa Region.The name "Yaitepec" means means "Three hills"....
.
The ruins of the capital of the Chatino state are preserved near Santos Reyes Nopala
Santos Reyes Nopala
Santos Reyes Nopala is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico.It is part of the Juquila District in the center of the Costa Region.The name Nopala is derived from the Nahuatl word for cactus.-Environment:...
, and include large stone buildings, ball courts and pyramids.
The area in the west of Villa de Tututepec de Melchor Ocampo
Villa de Tututepec de Melchor Ocampo
Villa de Tututepec de Melchor Ocampo is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico.It is part of the Juquila District in the center of the Costa Region.The name "Tututepec" means "Bird Mountain"....
was occupied by a small Mixtec
Mixtec
The Mixtec are indigenous Mesoamerican peoples inhabiting the Mexican states of Oaxaca, Guerrero and Puebla in a region known as La Mixteca. The Mixtecan languages form an important branch of the Otomanguean language family....
kingdom established in 357 AD.
Municipalities
The district includes the following municipalities:| Municipality | Area (km2) | Total population |
Indigenous population |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Gabriel Mixtepec San Gabriel Mixtepec San Gabriel Mixtepec is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico.It is part of the Juquila District in the center of the Costa Region.The name "Mixtepec" means "Hill of clouds".... |
1,302 | 3,930 | 87 |
| San Juan Lachao San Juan Lachao San Juan Lachao is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico.It is part of the Juquila District in the center of the Costa Region.The municipality covers 190.1 km² of hilly land... |
190 | 3,936 | 1,825 |
| San Juan Quiahije San Juan Quiahije San Juan Quiahije is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico.It is part of the Juquila District in the center of the Costa Region.Quiahije means "Stone Forest" in the Zapotec language.... |
92 | 4,154 | 3,517 |
| San Miguel Panixtlahuaca San Miguel Panixtlahuaca San Miguel Panixtlahuaca is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico.It is part of the Juquila District in the center of the Costa Region.The name "Panixtlahuatl" in the Nahuatl language means "Plain of the Bridge".-Environment:... |
264 | 5,724 | 4,903 |
| San Pedro Juchatengo San Pedro Juchatengo San Pedro Juchatengo is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico.It is part of the Juquila District in the center of the Costa Region.The name comes from "Xochiatengo", which means "Flowers on the waters edge".... |
108 | 1,618 | 8 |
| San Pedro Mixtepec, Juquila | 332 | 33,682 | 919 |
| Santa Catarina Juquila Santa Catarina Juquila Santa Catarina Juquila is a town in the State of Oaxaca, Mexico, and is the seat of the municipality also called Santa Catarina Juquila.It is part of the Juquila District in the center of the Costa Region.... |
811 | 14,380 | 4,168 |
| Santa María Temaxcaltepec Santa María Temaxcaltepec Santa María Temaxcaltepec is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico.It is part of the Juquila District in the center of the Costa Region.... |
87 | 2,628 | 2,081 |
| Santiago Yaitepec Santiago Yaitepec Santiago Yaitepec is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico, two kilometers southeast of Santa Catarina Juquila.It is part of the Juquila District in the center of the Costa Region.The name "Yaitepec" means means "Three hills".... |
54 | 3,665 | 3,137 |
| Santos Reyes Nopala Santos Reyes Nopala Santos Reyes Nopala is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico.It is part of the Juquila District in the center of the Costa Region.The name Nopala is derived from the Nahuatl word for cactus.-Environment:... |
196 | 14,504 | 7,475 |
| Tataltepec de Valdés Tataltepec de Valdés Tataltepec de Valdés is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico.It is part of the Juquila District in the center of the Costa Region.The town was established around 400-300 BC... |
370 | 5,377 | 2,842 |
| Villa de Tututepec de Melchor Ocampo Villa de Tututepec de Melchor Ocampo Villa de Tututepec de Melchor Ocampo is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico.It is part of the Juquila District in the center of the Costa Region.The name "Tututepec" means "Bird Mountain".... |
1,249 | 40,767 | 2,144 |