Michoacán

Mexican State

Area: 60,093sq.km/23,202sq.mi.

Population: 3,870,600

Michoacán is bordered on the north by the states of Guanajuato and Jalisco, on the west by Jalisco and Colima, on the south by the Pacific Ocean and Guerrero and on the east by the Estado de México and Querétaro. The lakes and volcanoes of the high plateaux are in strong contrast to the subtropical valleys with their rivers, waterfalls and ravines, and the undisturbed white beaches, all of which contribute to the particularly attractive landscape found here. The highest point of the mainly-forested Michoacán mountains is Pico de Tancítaro (3850 m (12,636 ft)). Michoacán is mainly populated by mestizos and Indians. Several pre-Columbian, predominantly Tarascan sites are to be found in the state of Michoacán. These include Tzintzuntzan, Ihuatzio, Zacapu, Tingambato and Los Alzati and Tres Cerritos.

History

Present-day Michoacán (Náhuatl: "place of the fishermen") was probably first settled in the 11th and 12th c. by Indians from the north-west. It later became known as Purépecha and following the Spanish Conquista was called Tarasken. Michoacán"s old-Indian and colonial history has close ties with its capital Morelia and the towns of Pátzcuaro and Tzintzuntzan.

Inhabitants of Michoacán such as Ignacio López Rayón, Gerdis Bocanegra and José María Morelos played important parts in Mexico"s War of Independence (1810-21). Morelos is also linked to the convening of the first legislative assembly and the publication of the constitution in Apatzingán on October 22nd 1814. Michoacán became a state of the Mexican republic in December 1821. Melchor Ocampo (1814-61), liberal co-author of the radical reform laws of 1859 under the presidency of Benito Juárez, was also a native of the state. The Mexican president General Lázaro Cárdenas (1895-1970), who dispossessed the foreign oil companies during his term in office (1934-40), came from Jiquilpan.

Economy

The cultivation of grain, vegetables, fruit and coffee plays an essential role in the economy, while forestry, cattle breeding and especially mining (gold, silver, lead, copper and iron ore) are also of importance. Hydro-electricity generation and the steel industry have recently developed rapidly. Trade, traditional crafts and tourism are additional mainstays of the economy. Communications have been greatly improved during the past decades. Lázaro Cárdenas is now one of Mexico's busiest ports.

Sights

In addition to the well-known places of interest and their surroundings, such as Morelia, Lake Pátcuaro, Tzintzuntzan and Uruapan, the following towns in the state of Michoacán should also be mentioned:

Zamora de Hidalgo (1600 m (5152 ft); population 123,000) with its 19th c. Neo-Classical cathedral; Apatzingán de la Constitución (680 m (2232 ft); population 79,000), home of the Museo de la Casa de la Constitución; Lázaro Cárdenas (population 290,000), a modern industrial port with a large steelworks and petro-chemical and fertiliser industries; La Piedad Cavadas (population 69,000); Jiquilpan de Juárez (1645 m (542 ft); population 29,000) with the San Francisco Church (17th c. portal), the Bibliothek Gabino Ortíz featuring murals by José Clemente Orozco and the Casa Museo del General Lázaro Cárdenas; Playa Azul (at sea-level; population 14,000), a fishing village and popular seaside resort. A few2mi north, a coast road, in parts very winding, passes lonely beaches and picturesque bays via Tecomán on the way to Manzanillo.