Tabasco
Encyclopedia
Tabasco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tabasco (Free and Sovereign State of Tabasco) is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District
, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico
. It is divided in 17 municipalities
and its capital city is Villahermosa
.
It is located in Southeastern Mexico, in the northern half of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec
. It is bordered by the states of Veracruz
to the west, Chiapas
to the south and Campeche
to the northeast. To the north, it has a significant share of coastline on the Gulf of Mexico
. To the east Tabasco borders the Republic of Guatemala.
In addition to the capital city, the state's largest cities include Cardenas
, Comalcalco
and Paraiso
.
s, which took place in the lands of Tabasco and particularly in the civic-spiritual compound of La Venta
.
With the downfall of the Olmec, the Maya
arrived to the state, and inhabited its territories until the 9th century AD. Nowadays, the major archeological sites containing traces and remains of this extensive period in Mesoamerican history are those of Comalcalco
and Pomona.
discovered Tabasco and the Grijalva River
, or Tabasco River. In 1519 Hernan Cortez invaded the current state of Tabasco, resulting in the subjugation of the natives in the battle of Centla
and the founding of the first village under Spanish rule, Santa Maria de la Victoria. The constant threat by European pirates, however, forced the inhabitants of Santa Maria to escape upriver into the new community of San Juan Bautista (now Villahermosa).
From 1530, Francisco Montejo "el Adelantado"
began his struggle towards conquering the Yucatán peninsula
, and populate Tabasco. Despite his best efforts, taking hold of Yucatán
turned out to be an overwhelming enterprise, and he decided to leave the political powers of the state of Tabasco to his son, Francisco de Montejo "el Mozo"
.
Because of its lack of precious minerals and its inhospitable climate Tabasco never really prospered under Spanish rule.
, and the fall on the Mexican Empire
, Tabasco was one of the 19 founder states of the new United Mexican States. During the fights between centralists and federalists that soon followed, an armed uprising in Campeche put the state under a centralist government, a fact that was quickly emulated by those in Tabasco. The year 1833 brought the cholera epidemic spreading death across the country, but nowhere so as in the state of Tabasco. This tragic episode was followed by the destruction of the capital city by U.S. warships in the Mexican-American War. In 1863 a French invasion force was defeated by the local Gregorio Mendez and his troops in the battle of El Jahuactal.
, which began an era of relative peace and stability, offered the state the time to rebuild its capital country and to begin real economic development. However, such growth and progress came along with the abuse and exploitation of the poorest sectors of the population, which eventually would lead to the Mexican Revolution
in 1910. With the founding of the Melchor Ocampo organization in 1902 and of the Gutierrista party by Ignacio Gutierrez Gomez in 1909 forces opposing the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz were becoming more and more powerful. During the revolution many bloodless battles between officials and non-rebel forces took place within the state borders.
(1923–1933), who was appointed as the governor of Tabasco by President Alvaro Obregon
, Tabasco experienced a profound transformation, not necessarily for the best, as Garrido strongly disliked religion and vicious habits and alcohol in particular, so he imposed strict rules against any celebrations which included any of those two elements. So, he not only destroyed symbols and traditions, changed religious festivities, renamed villages, and prohibited any ritual expression, but he also ruled Prohibition for alcoholic beverages in 1931. Some of these experiences are detailed in Graham Greene
's 1940 novel The Power and the Glory
. The end of this period known as the Garridismo in 1933, marked the beginning of modern life for the state of Tabasco.
of the southern part of the Gulf of Mexico
, which actually cover almost the whole state. Local landscape usually displays extensive plains with plentiful swamps, which turn into lagoons during the rainy season, although these can be shallow. Several peaks appear across the southern part of the state, which belong to the system known as the Chiapas and Guatemala Sierra, and which include a few low elevations such as the Sierra Tapijulapa at 1100 meters, Sierra Madrigal at 960 meters, Cerro La Pava at 880 meters, Cerro La Ventana and Sierra Poana, both at 560 meters above sea level.
Several rivers cross the state, like the Mezcalapa or Grijalva
, Tepetitan
or Chilapa River
, Pejelagarto
, San Pedro
, Bitzal, Tancochapa, Zanapa, Teapa, and Comoapa rivers, among others. A few lagoons are named El Carmen
, San Jose del Rio, Santa Anita, San Pedrito, Sabana Nueva, Machona, Canitzan, and El Viento.
The close distance to the Gulf of Mexico
, the little elevation of the coastal plains and the state's location in a tropical zone, all result in hot temperatures, reported in 95% of the Tabasco territory. Not to forget the fact that Tabasco has the highest rainfall indicators in all of Mexico.
provides that the government
of Tabasco, like the government of every other state in Mexico, consists of three powers
: the executive
, the legislative
, and the judiciary
.
Executive power is vested in the office of the Governor
. The Governor is directly elected by the citizens, using a secret ballot, and serves a six-year term with no possibility of re-election. Legislative power resides in the Congress of Tabasco
, a unicameral legislature composed of 35 deputies. Judicial power rests with the Superior Court of Justice of Tabasco.
Local elections in Tabasco
were held on 15 October 2006.
), each of which falls into one of five geographic zones: the Chontalpa, the Center, the Sierra, the Bog and the River.
Average density reaches 76 people per km2., a fact that has to take into account that as much as 81% of the total population reside in just one municipality, Centro. As it has been mentioned, 45% of the inhabitants in the state of Tabasco live in rural areas, as would be expected in a state with a strong farming tradition.
Life expectancy for those born in the state reaches 71.3 years for men, and a much higher rate of 76.9 years of age for women.
Regarding cultural diversity, only 3% of Tabasco locals speak an indigenous dialect, mainly Chontal
. And finally, in terms of spiritual predilections, 70% of the state declares to follow the Catholic faith, rather low when compared to the national average.
Major crops in the Tabasco fields include cocoa, cassava
, maize
, sugar cane, plantain
, rice
, coconut
, and oranges
. However, this activity is facing serious challenges, due to a lack of credit policies which may in fact adapt to the needs of the sector, not to mention the poor standards regarding trade infrastructure.
With a livestock reaching some 2 million specimens, cattle raising is one of the major economic activities in the state, as 33,785 different entities take part in the activities related to products such as meat and dairy by-products, which largely contribute to the state economy. In fact, as much as 67% of the state territory is destined to the particular and primary activity of farming.
Regarded as the Logistic Center of the southeast, as it represents a corridor or trading route for the goods entering the Yucatan Peninsula
, Tabasco enjoys an optimal infrastructure in terms of road networks, railroad systems, and maritime ports.
In terms of the industry sector, it has not developed as was expected, and Tabasco is currently one of the states with the poorest indicators regarding development in this sector. This is due in part to the traditional dependency the state has had on the extraction of crude oil, an activity now suffering a rapid decline.
Tourist attractions include, along with many others, the Olmec
ruins of La Venta
, and the Mayan
ruins of Comalcalco
. The town of Puerto Ceiba in the municipality of Paraíso
is known for being the place where poet Carlos Pellicer Cámara
got inspiration for much of his work.
The state capital Villahermosa
is the primary lodging location for most tourists visiting the Mayan ruins in Palenque
in the adjacent state of Chiapas
.
Major educational institutions include
in late October and early November 2007, causing widespread flooding. There are estimates that approximately 80% of Tabasco's land area was under water, affecting over 1,000,000 residents.
"The situation is extraordinarily serious: This is one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the country," President
Felipe Calderón
said in a televised address on the night of 1 November 2007.
infrastructure. Tabasco’s hydropower resources could be more important than hydrocarbons if they are correctly used.
The volume of the annual rainfall is favorable for the development of mini hydroelectric projects. The National Commission for the Conservation of Energy (CONAE) estimates that the exploitation of mini hydroelectric power has reached 3,200 MW.
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of 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...
. It is divided in 17 municipalities
Municipalities of Tabasco
The Mexican state of Tabasco is made up of 17 municipalities ....
and its capital city is Villahermosa
Villahermosa
Like most of the Tabasco, Villahermosa has a tropical climate. The city specifically features a tropical monsoon climate. Temperatures during spring and summer seasons reach upwards of 40°C , with humidity levels hovering around 30% during the same period...
.
It is located in Southeastern Mexico, in the northern half of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec
Isthmus of Tehuantepec
The Isthmus of Tehuantepec is an isthmus in Mexico. It represents the shortest distance between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean, and prior to the opening of the Panama Canal was a major shipping route known simply as the Tehuantepec Route...
. It is bordered by the states of Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
to the west, Chiapas
Chiapas
Chiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
to the south and Campeche
Campeche
Campeche is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Located in Southeast Mexico, it is bordered by the states of Yucatán to the north east, Quintana Roo to the east, and Tabasco to the south west...
to the northeast. To the north, it has a significant share of coastline on the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
. To the east Tabasco borders the Republic of Guatemala.
In addition to the capital city, the state's largest cities include Cardenas
Cárdenas, Tabasco
Cárdenas is the second-largest city in the state of Tabasco, in southeastern Mexico. It lies in the northwestern part of the state, on the Gulf of Mexico coast, east of the city of Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz. The city is the municipal seat of Cárdenas Municipality. At the census of 2005 the city had a...
, Comalcalco
Comalcalco
Comalcalco is both a modern-day city located in Comalcalco Municipality about 45 miles northwest of Villahermosa in the Mexican state of Tabasco and a Pre-Columbian Maya archaeological site. The literal English translation of "Comalcalco" is "In the house of the comals"...
and Paraiso
Paraíso, Tabasco
Paraíso is a town in the Mexican state of Tabasco. It is located near the Grijalva River in the subregion of Chontalpa.Paraíso is 577.55 km², which corresponds to 1.5% of the entire country. It is the seventeenth largest territory in Mexico...
.
Pre-Colombian period
The year 800 BC witnessed the highest point in the development of the pre-Classical civilization of the OlmecOlmec
The Olmec were the first major Pre-Columbian civilization in Mexico. They lived in the tropical lowlands of south-central Mexico, in the modern-day states of Veracruz and Tabasco....
s, which took place in the lands of Tabasco and particularly in the civic-spiritual compound of La Venta
La Venta
La Venta is a pre-Columbian archaeological site of the Olmec civilization located in the present-day Mexican state of Tabasco. Some of the artifacts have been moved to the museum "Parque - Museo de La Venta", which is in Villahermosa, the capital of Tabasco....
.
With the downfall of the Olmec, the Maya
Maya civilization
The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, as well as for its art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems. Initially established during the Pre-Classic period The Maya is a Mesoamerican...
arrived to the state, and inhabited its territories until the 9th century AD. Nowadays, the major archeological sites containing traces and remains of this extensive period in Mesoamerican history are those of Comalcalco
Comalcalco
Comalcalco is both a modern-day city located in Comalcalco Municipality about 45 miles northwest of Villahermosa in the Mexican state of Tabasco and a Pre-Columbian Maya archaeological site. The literal English translation of "Comalcalco" is "In the house of the comals"...
and Pomona.
Conquistadores
In 1518, the Spanish expeditions of captain Juan de GrijalvaJuan de Grijalva
Juan de Grijalva was a Spanish conquistador. Some authors said he was from the same family as Diego Velázquez.He went to Hispaniola in 1508 and to Cuba in 1511....
discovered Tabasco and the Grijalva River
Grijalva River
Grijalva River, formerly known as Tabasco River. is a 480 km long river in southeastern Mexico. It is named after Juan de Grijalva who visited the area in 1518. The river rises in Chiapas highlands and flows from Chiapas to the state of Tabasco through the Sumidero Canyon into the Bay of...
, or Tabasco River. In 1519 Hernan Cortez invaded the current state of Tabasco, resulting in the subjugation of the natives in the battle of Centla
Centla
Centla is a municipality in Tabasco in south-eastern Mexico.-References:...
and the founding of the first village under Spanish rule, Santa Maria de la Victoria. The constant threat by European pirates, however, forced the inhabitants of Santa Maria to escape upriver into the new community of San Juan Bautista (now Villahermosa).
From 1530, Francisco Montejo "el Adelantado"
Francisco de Montejo
Francisco de Montejo y Alvarez was a Spanish conquistador in Mexico and Central America.Francisco de Montejo was born in Salamanca, Spain, in 1479 to Juan de Montejo and Catalina Alvarez de Tejeda. He left Spain in 1514, and arrived in Cuba in time to join Grijalva's expedition along the coast of...
began his struggle towards conquering the Yucatán peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
, and populate Tabasco. Despite his best efforts, taking hold of Yucatán
Yucatán
Yucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
turned out to be an overwhelming enterprise, and he decided to leave the political powers of the state of Tabasco to his son, Francisco de Montejo "el Mozo"
Francisco de Montejo (el Mozo)
Francisco de Montejo y León was a spanish conqueror, he was born in 1502. Founder in 1542 of the City of Mérida, capital of State of Yucatán, Mexico. Son of Francisco de Montejo...
.
Because of its lack of precious minerals and its inhospitable climate Tabasco never really prospered under Spanish rule.
After Mexican independence
In 1824, after the struggle for independence from SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and the fall on the Mexican Empire
First Mexican Empire
The Mexican Empire was the official name of independent Mexico under a monarchical regime from 1821 to 1823. The territory of the Mexican Empire included the continental intendencies and provinces of New Spain proper...
, Tabasco was one of the 19 founder states of the new United Mexican States. During the fights between centralists and federalists that soon followed, an armed uprising in Campeche put the state under a centralist government, a fact that was quickly emulated by those in Tabasco. The year 1833 brought the cholera epidemic spreading death across the country, but nowhere so as in the state of Tabasco. This tragic episode was followed by the destruction of the capital city by U.S. warships in the Mexican-American War. In 1863 a French invasion force was defeated by the local Gregorio Mendez and his troops in the battle of El Jahuactal.
Porfiriato and the revolution
The coming to power of general Porfirio DiazPorfirio Díaz
José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican-American War volunteer and French intervention hero, an accomplished general and the President of Mexico continuously from 1876 to 1911, with the exception of a brief term in 1876 when he left Juan N...
, which began an era of relative peace and stability, offered the state the time to rebuild its capital country and to begin real economic development. However, such growth and progress came along with the abuse and exploitation of the poorest sectors of the population, which eventually would lead to the Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
in 1910. With the founding of the Melchor Ocampo organization in 1902 and of the Gutierrista party by Ignacio Gutierrez Gomez in 1909 forces opposing the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz were becoming more and more powerful. During the revolution many bloodless battles between officials and non-rebel forces took place within the state borders.
After the revolution
Under Tomás Garrido CanabalTomás Garrido Canabal
Tomás Garrido Canabal , was a Mexican politician and revolutionary. Garrido Canabal served as dictator and governor of the state of Tabasco from 1920 to 1924 and again from 1931 to 1934, and was particularly noted for his anti-Catholic persecution...
(1923–1933), who was appointed as the governor of Tabasco by President Alvaro Obregon
Álvaro Obregón
General Álvaro Obregón Salido was the President of Mexico from 1920 to 1924. He was assassinated in 1928, shortly after winning election to another presidential term....
, Tabasco experienced a profound transformation, not necessarily for the best, as Garrido strongly disliked religion and vicious habits and alcohol in particular, so he imposed strict rules against any celebrations which included any of those two elements. So, he not only destroyed symbols and traditions, changed religious festivities, renamed villages, and prohibited any ritual expression, but he also ruled Prohibition for alcoholic beverages in 1931. Some of these experiences are detailed in Graham Greene
Graham Greene
Henry Graham Greene, OM, CH was an English author, playwright and literary critic. His works explore the ambivalent moral and political issues of the modern world...
's 1940 novel The Power and the Glory
The Power and the Glory
The Power and the Glory is a novel by British author Graham Greene. The title is an allusion to the doxology often added to the end of the Lord's Prayer: "For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, now and forever , amen." This novel has also been published in the US under the name The...
. The end of this period known as the Garridismo in 1933, marked the beginning of modern life for the state of Tabasco.
Geography
Geographic features in Tabasco are shaped by the Gulf Coastal PlainGulf Coastal Plain
The Gulf Coastal Plain extends around the Gulf of Mexico in the Southern United States and eastern Mexico.The plain reaches from the western Florida Panhandle, the southwestern two thirds of Alabama, over most of Mississippi, some of western Tennessee and Kentucky, southwest Arkansas, the Florida...
of the southern part of the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
, which actually cover almost the whole state. Local landscape usually displays extensive plains with plentiful swamps, which turn into lagoons during the rainy season, although these can be shallow. Several peaks appear across the southern part of the state, which belong to the system known as the Chiapas and Guatemala Sierra, and which include a few low elevations such as the Sierra Tapijulapa at 1100 meters, Sierra Madrigal at 960 meters, Cerro La Pava at 880 meters, Cerro La Ventana and Sierra Poana, both at 560 meters above sea level.
Several rivers cross the state, like the Mezcalapa or Grijalva
Grijalva River
Grijalva River, formerly known as Tabasco River. is a 480 km long river in southeastern Mexico. It is named after Juan de Grijalva who visited the area in 1518. The river rises in Chiapas highlands and flows from Chiapas to the state of Tabasco through the Sumidero Canyon into the Bay of...
, Tepetitan
Tepetitán
Tepetitán is a municipality in the San Vicente department of El Salvador....
or Chilapa River
Chilapa River
-References:*Atlas of Mexico, 1975 .*The Prentice Hall American World Atlas, 1984.*Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993....
, Pejelagarto
Pejelagarto
Pejelagarto is the Spanish name for the large freshwater gar very common in the Mexican Southeast and particularly in the state of Tabasco. They are notable for their primitive appearance, and the family to which they belong, the Lepisosteidae, appeared during the Cretaceous and have survived to...
, San Pedro
San Pedro River (Guatemala)
The Río San Pedro is a river of Guatemala and Mexico. Its sources are located in the Guatemalan department of El Petén. at . The river flows westwards until it reaches the Mexican border and crosses into the state of Tabasco at . From there it continues northwest and joins the Usumacinta River...
, Bitzal, Tancochapa, Zanapa, Teapa, and Comoapa rivers, among others. A few lagoons are named El Carmen
El Carmen
-Colombia:*El Carmen, Santander a municipality in the Santander Department*El Carmen de Atrato, a municipality in the Chocó Department*El Carmen, Norte de Santander, a municipality in the Norte de Santander Department...
, San Jose del Rio, Santa Anita, San Pedrito, Sabana Nueva, Machona, Canitzan, and El Viento.
The close distance to the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
, the little elevation of the coastal plains and the state's location in a tropical zone, all result in hot temperatures, reported in 95% of the Tabasco territory. Not to forget the fact that Tabasco has the highest rainfall indicators in all of Mexico.
Government and politics
The Constitution of the State of TabascoConstitution of the State of Tabasco
The Constitution of the State of Tabasco is the document that describes the structure and function of the government of the State of Tabasco. The 1919 constitution, which took effect on 5 April 1919, is the current constitution of Tabasco.-External links:...
provides that the government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
of Tabasco, like the government of every other state in Mexico, consists of three powers
Political power
Political power is a type of power held by a group in a society which allows administration of some or all of public resources, including labour, and wealth. There are many ways to obtain possession of such power. At the nation-state level political legitimacy for political power is held by the...
: the executive
Executive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
, the legislative
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
, and the judiciary
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
.
Executive power is vested in the office of the Governor
Governor of Tabasco
List of governors of the Mexican state of Tabasco* Víctor Manuel Barceló served as a governor temporarily when Roberto Madrazo requested license-Source:*...
. The Governor is directly elected by the citizens, using a secret ballot, and serves a six-year term with no possibility of re-election. Legislative power resides in the Congress of Tabasco
Congress of Tabasco
The Congress of the State of Tabasco is the legislative branch of the government of the State of Tabasco. The Congress is the governmental deliberative body of Tabasco, which is equal to, and independent of, the executive...
, a unicameral legislature composed of 35 deputies. Judicial power rests with the Superior Court of Justice of Tabasco.
Local elections in Tabasco
Tabasco state election, 2006
A local election was held in the Mexican state of Tabasco on Sunday, 15 October 2006. Voters went to the polls to elect, on the local level:*A new Governor of Tabasco to serve for a six-year term.*17 municipal presidents to serve for a three-year term....
were held on 15 October 2006.
Municipalities
Tabasco is subdivided into 17 municipios (municipalitiesMunicipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
), each of which falls into one of five geographic zones: the Chontalpa, the Center, the Sierra, the Bog and the River.
Major communities
- Balancán
- CárdenasCárdenas, TabascoCárdenas is the second-largest city in the state of Tabasco, in southeastern Mexico. It lies in the northwestern part of the state, on the Gulf of Mexico coast, east of the city of Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz. The city is the municipal seat of Cárdenas Municipality. At the census of 2005 the city had a...
- ComalcalcoComalcalcoComalcalco is both a modern-day city located in Comalcalco Municipality about 45 miles northwest of Villahermosa in the Mexican state of Tabasco and a Pre-Columbian Maya archaeological site. The literal English translation of "Comalcalco" is "In the house of the comals"...
- CentlaCentlaCentla is a municipality in Tabasco in south-eastern Mexico.-References:...
- CentroCentrOCentrO is part of a large commercial development in Oberhausen, Germany, called the "Neue Mitte" or "new center". A large steel production plant used to occupy the site until the late 1980s. Besides the CentrO shopping mall the area today houses attractions such as a children's theme park and a...
- CunduacánCunduacánCunduacán is a municipality in the central portion of the state of Tabasco, in Mexico. It is located at about 18°4'0"North, 93°10'0"West.It is located in the Grijalva River Region, Chontalpa subregion. Its name originates from the Mayan cum-ua-cán, which means "place of corn and serpents", which is...
- Emiliano ZapataEmiliano ZapataEmiliano Zapata Salazar was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution, which broke out in 1910, and which was initially directed against the president Porfirio Díaz. He formed and commanded an important revolutionary force, the Liberation Army of the South, during the Mexican Revolution...
- Huimanguillo
- JalapaJalapa* Xalapa, Veracruz* Jalapa, Baja California* Jalapa, Guerrero* In the state of Oaxaca:** Santa María Jalapa del Marqués** San Felipe Jalapa de Díaz** Jalapa del Valle* Jalapa, Tabasco...
- Jalpa de Méndez
- Jonuta
- MacuspanaMacuspanaMacuspana is a city in Macuspana Municipality in the south-central part of the state of Tabasco in southeastern Mexico. The city of Macuspana had a 2005 census population of 30,661 and is the fifth-largest city in the state...
- Nacajuca
- ParaísoParaísoParaíso, the Spanish and Portuguese word for paradise, or paraiso, the Tagalog equivalent, may refer to:-Places:Belize*Paraiso, Belize; see Districts of BelizeBrazil*Paraíso, Santa Catarina*Paraíso, São PauloCosta Rica*Paraíso, Costa Rica...
- Tacotalpa
- Teapa
- TenosiqueTenosiqueTenosique is a town located in Tenosique Municipality in the southeastern corner of the state of Tabasco, in Mexico. Its official name is Tenosique de Pino Suárez. The town had a 2005 census population of 31,392 inhabitants , while the municipality had a population of 55,601...
Demographics
According to the last population census run across Mexico in 2005, Tabasco reports a little less than 2 million inhabitants, 60% of which are younger than 30 years of age.Average density reaches 76 people per km2., a fact that has to take into account that as much as 81% of the total population reside in just one municipality, Centro. As it has been mentioned, 45% of the inhabitants in the state of Tabasco live in rural areas, as would be expected in a state with a strong farming tradition.
Life expectancy for those born in the state reaches 71.3 years for men, and a much higher rate of 76.9 years of age for women.
Regarding cultural diversity, only 3% of Tabasco locals speak an indigenous dialect, mainly Chontal
Chontal Maya language
Yoko ochoco, also known as Chontal Maya, and Acalan, is a Maya language of the Cholan family spoken by the Chontal Maya people of the Mexican state of Tabasco. There are at least three dialects, identified as Tamulté de las Sábanas Chontal, Buena Vista Chontal, and Miramar...
. And finally, in terms of spiritual predilections, 70% of the state declares to follow the Catholic faith, rather low when compared to the national average.
Economy
Tabasco has a fundamental vocation towards agriculture. The geographic conditions of the state's territories provide the ideal conditions for the development of primary activities, as most of the land consists of fertile soils with numerous sources of fresh water. According to statistics revealed by local authorities, by the end of 2006, 96% of the economically active population was employed, 20% of which was placed in the agricultural, cattle raising, fishing or forestry sectors.Major crops in the Tabasco fields include cocoa, cassava
Cassava
Cassava , also called yuca or manioc, a woody shrub of the Euphorbiaceae native to South America, is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates...
, 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...
, sugar cane, plantain
Plantain
Plantain is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa. The fruit they produce is generally used for cooking, in contrast to the soft, sweet banana...
, rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
, coconut
Coconut
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
, and oranges
Orange (fruit)
An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
. However, this activity is facing serious challenges, due to a lack of credit policies which may in fact adapt to the needs of the sector, not to mention the poor standards regarding trade infrastructure.
With a livestock reaching some 2 million specimens, cattle raising is one of the major economic activities in the state, as 33,785 different entities take part in the activities related to products such as meat and dairy by-products, which largely contribute to the state economy. In fact, as much as 67% of the state territory is destined to the particular and primary activity of farming.
Regarded as the Logistic Center of the southeast, as it represents a corridor or trading route for the goods entering the Yucatan Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
, Tabasco enjoys an optimal infrastructure in terms of road networks, railroad systems, and maritime ports.
In terms of the industry sector, it has not developed as was expected, and Tabasco is currently one of the states with the poorest indicators regarding development in this sector. This is due in part to the traditional dependency the state has had on the extraction of crude oil, an activity now suffering a rapid decline.
Tourist attractions
Olmec
The Olmec were the first major Pre-Columbian civilization in Mexico. They lived in the tropical lowlands of south-central Mexico, in the modern-day states of Veracruz and Tabasco....
ruins of La Venta
La Venta
La Venta is a pre-Columbian archaeological site of the Olmec civilization located in the present-day Mexican state of Tabasco. Some of the artifacts have been moved to the museum "Parque - Museo de La Venta", which is in Villahermosa, the capital of Tabasco....
, and the Mayan
Maya civilization
The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, as well as for its art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems. Initially established during the Pre-Classic period The Maya is a Mesoamerican...
ruins of Comalcalco
Comalcalco
Comalcalco is both a modern-day city located in Comalcalco Municipality about 45 miles northwest of Villahermosa in the Mexican state of Tabasco and a Pre-Columbian Maya archaeological site. The literal English translation of "Comalcalco" is "In the house of the comals"...
. The town of Puerto Ceiba in the municipality of Paraíso
Paraíso, Tabasco
Paraíso is a town in the Mexican state of Tabasco. It is located near the Grijalva River in the subregion of Chontalpa.Paraíso is 577.55 km², which corresponds to 1.5% of the entire country. It is the seventeenth largest territory in Mexico...
is known for being the place where poet Carlos Pellicer Cámara
Carlos Pellicer
Carlos Pellicer Cámara , born in Villahermosa, Tabasco, was part of the first wave of modernist Mexican poets and was heavily active in the promotion of Mexican art and literature...
got inspiration for much of his work.
The state capital Villahermosa
Villahermosa
Like most of the Tabasco, Villahermosa has a tropical climate. The city specifically features a tropical monsoon climate. Temperatures during spring and summer seasons reach upwards of 40°C , with humidity levels hovering around 30% during the same period...
is the primary lodging location for most tourists visiting the Mayan ruins in Palenque
Palenque
Palenque was a Maya city state in southern Mexico that flourished in the 7th century. The Palenque ruins date back to 100 BC to its fall around 800 AD...
in the adjacent state of Chiapas
Chiapas
Chiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
.
Education
Average schooling for those over 15 years of age reaches 8 years, but illiteracy rates are not as promising since it is currently as high as 8%, while another 4% of those under 15 years of age have never been to school.Major educational institutions include
- Universidad Juarez Autonoma de TabascoUniversidad Juárez Autónoma de TabascoUniversidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco is a public institution of higher learning located in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico...
- Instituto Tecnologico de VillahermosaInstituto Tecnológico de VillahermosaThe Villahermosa Institute of Technology is Mexican public university located in Villahermosa, Tabasco, in the Gulf of Mexico.- History :The Institute was founded on September 12, 1974...
- Universidad Popular de la ChontalpaUniversidad Popular de la ChontalpaThe Popular University of Chontalpa , popularly known as UPCh, is a public, coeducational university located in the city of Cárdenas, Tabasco, Mexico. It was founded on August 24, 1995, by the municipal government of the city of Cárdenas, thus becoming the first municipal university of the country...
- Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, Campus Tabasco
Flooding
Tabasco was subject to heavy rainRain
Rain is liquid precipitation, as opposed to non-liquid kinds of precipitation such as snow, hail and sleet. Rain requires the presence of a thick layer of the atmosphere to have temperatures above the melting point of water near and above the Earth's surface...
in late October and early November 2007, causing widespread flooding. There are estimates that approximately 80% of Tabasco's land area was under water, affecting over 1,000,000 residents.
"The situation is extraordinarily serious: This is one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the country," President
President of Mexico
The President of the United Mexican States is the head of state and government of Mexico. Under the Constitution, the president is also the Supreme Commander of the Mexican armed forces...
Felipe Calderón
Felipe Calderón
Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa is the current President of Mexico. He assumed office on December 1, 2006, and was elected for a single six-year term through 2012...
said in a televised address on the night of 1 November 2007.
Planned hydropower infrastructure
Tabasco is contemplating construction of a hydropowerHydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
infrastructure. Tabasco’s hydropower resources could be more important than hydrocarbons if they are correctly used.
The volume of the annual rainfall is favorable for the development of mini hydroelectric projects. The National Commission for the Conservation of Energy (CONAE) estimates that the exploitation of mini hydroelectric power has reached 3,200 MW.
See also
- Political divisions of Mexico