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Wikipedia

Michoacán

Michoacán, formally Michoacán de Ocampo (Spanish pronunciation: [mitʃoaˈkan de oˈkampo] (listen); Purépecha: Michoakani), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Michoacán de Ocampo (Spanish: Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo), is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia (formerly called Valladolid). The city was named after José María Morelos, a native of the city and one of the main heroes of the Mexican War of Independence.

Michoacán
Free and Sovereign State of Michoacán de Ocampo
Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo (Spanish)
Motto(s): 
Heredamos Libertad, Legaremos Justicia Social
(Spanish: We Inherited Freedom, We Will Bequeath Social Justice)
El alma de Mexico
(Spanish: The soul of Mexico)
State of Michoacán within Mexico
Coordinates: 19°10′N 101°54′W / 19.167°N 101.900°W / 19.167; -101.900Coordinates: 19°10′N 101°54′W / 19.167°N 101.900°W / 19.167; -101.900
CountryMexico
Capital and largest cityMorelia
Municipalities113
AdmissionDecember 22, 1823[1]
Order5th
Government
 • Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla
 • Senators[2]Cristóbal Arias Solís
Blanca Estela Piña Gudiño
Antonio García Conejo
 • Deputies[3]
Area
 • Total58,599 km2 (22,625 sq mi)
 Ranked 16th
Highest elevation3,840 m (12,600 ft)
Population
 (2020)[6]
 • Total4,748,846
 • Rank9th
 • Density81/km2 (210/sq mi)
  • Rank13th
DemonymMichoacano (a)
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Postal code
58–61
Area code
ISO 3166 codeMX-MIC
HDI 0.745 High Ranked 27th of 32
GDPUS$45,052.91 mil[a]
WebsiteOfficial Web Site
^ a. The state's GDP was 210,041,025 thousand pesos in 2008,[7] amount corresponding to 16,409,455.078 thousand dollars, being a dollar worth 12.80 pesos (value of June 3, 2010).[8]

Michoacán is located in western Mexico, and has a stretch of coastline on the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. It is bordered by the states of Colima and Jalisco to the west and northwest, Guanajuato to the north, Querétaro to the northeast, the State of México to the east, and Guerrero to the southeast.

The name Michoacán is from Nahuatl: Michhuahcān [mit͡ʃˈwaʔkaːn] from michhuah [ˈmit͡ʃwaʔ] ("possessor of fish") and -cān [kaːn] (place of) and means "place of the fishermen" referring to those who fish on Lake Pátzcuaro.[9] In pre-Hispanic times, the area was the home of the Purépecha Empire, which rivaled the Aztec Empire at the time of Spanish encounter. After the Spanish conquest, the empire became a separate province which became smaller over the colonial period. The state and its residents played a major role in the Mexican War of Independence.

Today, the state is still home to a sizable population of Purépecha people as well as minor populations of Otomi and Nahua. The economy is based on agriculture, ranching, fishing, mining, and the arts. The major tourism draw for the state is the Lake Pátzcuaro–Tzintzuntzan–Quiroga area, which was the center of the Purépecha Empire; as well as the location of the Tzintzuntzan yácata pyramids.[10] The national and state parks which include the winter grounds of the monarch butterflies (Mariposas Monarca) are located here. Michoacán is known for its Spanish colonial towns. In 1991, Morelia was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved colonial buildings, pink stone cathedral, historic center, and aqueduct.[11] Michoacán has eight Pueblos Mágicos; such as the towns of Tlalpujahua and Santa Clara del Cobre.[12]

Day of the Dead celebrations in some parts of Michoacán, such as the towns of Janitzio and Pátzcuaro, are often considered to be the most elaborate and famous in all of Mexico.[13] The famous Paricutín volcano, which is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, is located near the city of Uruapan. The state is known as "the soul of Mexico".[14]

Catholic priest and insurgent leader José María Morelos

History

 
Yacata pyramids of Tzintzuntzan

According to archaeological evidence, there has been human habitation within the territory of the Mexican state of Michoacán for at least 10,000 years.[15] In the pre-Hispanic period, there were waves of migration into the area, including the Pirinda, Nahua, Huetamo, Colima, Purépecha and other peoples.[16] There are sites of formal settlements from all Mesoamerican periods. Important sites include El Opeño and those in Curutarán, Tepalcatepec, Apatzingán, Zinapécuaro and Coalcomán. The territory has been inhabited by the Nahua, Otomi, Matlatzinca, Pirinda and Teco peoples as well as the Purépecha.[15]

 
Spanish-Tlaxcalan conquest of Michoacan under conquistador Nuño de Guzmán

The main pre-Hispanic civilization of the state is that of the Purépecha, which was centered in the Lake Pátzcuaro area.[15] Before the 13th century, both Nahua and Purépecha peoples were here, sustaining themselves by agriculture and fishing. The Purépecha are descendants of a late arrival of Chichimeca who came from the north. At Lake Patzcuaro, they came upon people with similar cultures to their own but who were more technological and socially advanced. The formation of the Purépechan state in the 13th century, when these people started their own dominion at Uayameo, today Santa Fé de la Laguna, and becoming dominant over the entire Lake Patzcuaro area by the 15th century. Conquest of neighboring tribes and territories occurred between 1401 and 1450, as they absorbed peoples with different cultures and languages into the empire. By the late 15th century, this state rivaled that of the Aztecs, having expanded their territory over much of what is now Michoacán and into part of Colima, Nayarit, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Guerrero and Jalisco. The Aztecs attempted to invade the Purépecha but were repelled. Because of this attack, the Purépecha later denied the Aztecs aid in their defense of Tenochtitlan against the Spanish and the Tlaxcala. The Purépechas are noted by historians to be one of the few rare instances in the Americas were the indigenous people had some experience with metallurgy prior to the arrival of the Europeans, especially coppersmithing and other metal ores located in their empire. Their descendants are still widely regarded for this today.[15][16]

 
Purépecha coyote statue

Prior to the arrival of any Spaniard in the territory, then-ruler Zuanga died of smallpox, presumably carried by one of the Aztec delegations seeking military aid. He was succeeded by Tanganxoan II. The first Spaniard to the area was Cristóbal de Olid. The Spanish destruction of Tenochtitlan and their promise to allow him to remain ruler convinced Tanganxoan II to submit to Spanish rule. But, Nuño de Guzmán reneged on this agreement and killed Tanganxoan II in 1530, a crime for which he was tried and exiled to Spain where he would die in prison.[15][17]

 
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud in Patzcuaro

During the first years of the Conquest, Michoacán was part of the "kingdom of Mexico" which included the current states of Mexico, Querétaro, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Oaxaca, Morelos, Guerrero, Veracruz, Tabasco, Michoacán, Guanajuato and parts of San Luis Potosí, Jalisco and Colima. These lands were divided into encomiendas among the conquistadors. The provinces with the largest populations were called Alcaldias Mayores, with Michoacán being one of these, with its capital initially at Tzintzuntzan. Soon after, it was moved to Patzcuaro and eventually settled in what is now Morelia. The provincial and later state capital was founded by viceroy Antonio de Mendoza in 1541. It became the political and ecclesiastical center of the province after the death of Vasco de Quiroga in 1565.[15]

Soon after the Spanish Conquest, evangelists from the Franciscan, Augustinian, Carmelite and other orders established monasteries all over the territory. Some of the best-known are Juan de Moya, Martín de la Coruña and Jacob the Dacian. As first governor, Nuño de Guzmán disrupted and devastated the social and economic order of the area. Vasco de Quiroga succeeded Guzman, bringing Franciscan and Augustinian friars to both evangelize and repair the area's broken economy and social institutions. Quiroga founded the Spanish city of Patzcuaro in 1538, calling it the Ciudad de Mechuacán.[15] For his efforts, Quiroga is still referred to in the Patzcuaro area as "Tata (grandfather) Vasco".[17] The diocese of Michoacán was established in 1536 by Pope Paul III, and its boundaries coincide with the old Purépecha kingdom. Its first bishop was Vasco de Quiroga.[18]

The Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo began as the Colegio de San Nicolas Obispo, founded by Vasco de Quiroga in Patzcuaro in 1540. It was originally a seminary for the training of evangelists. It was granted a royal seal in 1543 to become the Real Colegio de San Nicolás Obispo. The school was moved to Morelia in 1580 and was fused with the Colegio de San Miguel Guayangareo. In 1590, its name was changed to the Seminario Tridentino, afterwards to Seminario Conciliar in 1601. By the end of the 17th century, the name returned to Colegio de San Nicolás but its structure was profoundly changed, adding studies such as philosophy, civil law, and others. At the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries, a number of figures associated with the Mexican War of Independence, such as Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, José María Morelos and others were associated with this school. By the mid-19th century, the school had been secularized and renamed the Primitivo y Nacional Colegio de San Nicolás de Hidalgo adding studies such as chemistry, physics and other sciences. The current name and organization was adopted after the Mexican Revolution in 1917.[19]

 
La Calavera Catrina figure bought in Pátzcuaro

From the 16th to the 18th centuries, Augustinian, Franciscan and Carmelite missions were constructed in the territory as well as civil constructions, especially in the city now known as Morelia. Mining in areas such as Angangueo, Tlalpujahua and Inguaran had begun, as well as the establishment of agricultural and livestock haciendas. The first school of higher education, called the Primera Casa de Altos Estudios en América, was founded by Alonso de la Veracruz in Tiripetío.[17] Michoacán was made a separate province from "Mexico" in 1602. By the mid-17th century, the indigenous population had declined by half. In 1776, the territory of Michoacán was reduced to the area in which the modern states of Michoacán and Colima are now. Soon after, Colima split to join with the province of Guadalajara, leaving Michoacán roughly with the territory it has today.[15]

During the entire colonial period, the economy was concentrated in the hands of the Spanish-born, who held vast lands and haciendas. They also held the rights over minerals mined in places such as Tlalpujahua, Angangueo and Huetamo. Indigenous peoples were exploited for their work, and slavery was not uncommon. Education was restricted for only those born in Spain and their descendants and was controlled by the Church. The main educational institutions were the Colegio de San Nicolas, founded in the 16th century; and the Seminary of San Pedro and San Pablo, founded in the 18th century. These schools produced a number of distinguished men, but the best-known is Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla.[15] At the end of the 18th century, ideas from Europe began to infiltrate the upper classes of the state, especially in Valladolid (Morelia) and Zamora. These would eventually lead to the Mexican War of Independence in the early 18th century.[20] This war was foreshadowed by the 1809 conspiracy in Valladolid.[15]

One of the early and main protagonists of the war, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, was educated as a priest in the state and began to disseminate Enlightenment ideas here. Soon after Hidalgo performed the Grito de Dolores in Dolores (now Dolores Hidalgo), Guanajuato, a number of people influenced by his thought took up arms against the colonial government. These included Manuel de la Torre Lloreda, Gertrudis Bocanegra, José María Garcia Obeso and Ignacio López Rayón. During his campaign, Hidalgo returned to Valladolid, issuing a decree eliminating slavery.[20]

After Hidalgo's death, much of the insurgency and spies against the Spanish viceroy were located in Michoacán, with documents such as the "Primera Constitución o Decreto Constitucional para la Libertad de la América Mexicana" (First Constitution or Constitutional Decree for the Liberty of the Mexican America) and "Sentimentos de la Nacion", both of which would shape constitutions and governments in the years to come. The first Mexican Supreme Court was also founded here. The Mexican War of Independence was culminated by the army of Agustín de Iturbide, also a Michoacán native, who took Morelia in May 1821.[15]

After the war ended in 1821, the territory of Michoacán became the "Free and Sovereign State of Michoacán on January 31, 1824.[20] This state was initially divided into 4 departments and 22 portions (partidos) under the Ley Territorial of 1825, with the first constitution ratified in the same year. The name of the capital was changed from Valladolid to Morelia at the same time.[15]

In 1831, the state was reorganized into 61 municipalities and 207 locales (tenencias). Due to the struggle between centralists and federalists in Mexico in the 19th century, Michoacán's rights as an entity would change depending on who was in control. The state was declared a department in 1836 but became a more independent state again in 1846. Colima broke off from Michoacán to form its own state in this year. In 1849, the municipality of Coyuca was separated to form the state of Guerrero. In 1853, the state became a department again, regaining state status in 1856. In 1857, Contepec was separated from the state of Guanajuato and attached to Michoacán.[21] In 1863, the diocese of Michoacán was reduced in size, but its status was also elevated to archdiocese.[18]

During the French Intervention in Mexico, Morelia was taken by French forces in 1863. Since resistance to the French was particularly strong here, punitive acts were undertaken by the French in places like Zitácuaro, where much of the city was burned. One of the first victories against the French during the Intervention occurred in Zamora.[15]

 
Parícutin in 1997
 
Monarch butterfly sanctuary near the pueblo of Angangueo
 
Laguna Larga in Los Azufres
 
Green sea turtle swimming in the Mexican Pacific

In 1907, Michoacán's boundaries changed again with the addition of the communities of Pungarabato and Zirandaro added from Guerrero state to make the Balsas River a natural border.[15] The Mexican Revolution came to Michoacán in 1911, when those loyal to Francisco I. Madero proclaimed Santa Clara del Cobre as their territory, then went on to take towns around Lake Patzcuaro under the leadership of Salvador Escalante. The governor of the state, Aristeo Mendoza, resigned. Fighting among various factions would continue in parts of the state for the rest of the war. The state's current constitution was ratified in 1918.[15] In 1920, the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo was founded.[15]

Soon after the end of the Revolution, the Cristero War would affect the state, which affected agricultural production and distribution. In 1926, hostilities closed the seminaries in Morelia and Zamora. Near the end of the war, Lázaro Cárdenas was elected governor of the state and served until 1932; he became president of Mexico in 1934.[15]

Michoacán has been badly affected by the Mexican Drug War, due to its methamphetamine and marijuana production. That resulted in the start of an anti-drug trafficking campaign in 2006, an anti-narcotics operation since 2006, grenade attacks in 2008, a shootout in 2015 as well as a massacre and clashes in 2019.

Geography

 
View of Lake Patzcuaro from Tzintzuntzan

The state is located in the center west of the Mexican Republic, on the extreme southwest of the central highlands. It borders the states of Mexico, Querétaro, Guerrero, Guanajuato, Jalisco and Colima, with a 217-kilometre (135 mi) coastline on the Pacific Ocean. The state has a territory of 58,836.95 square kilometres (22,717.07 sq mi), making it the sixteenth-largest in Mexico (exactly at the midpoint among Mexican states in area). It also has 1,490 square kilometres (580 sq mi) of marine territory off its Pacific coast.[9][22]

The state is crossed by the Sierra Madre del Sur, the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and the Inter-mountain Valleys region. The Sierra Madre del Sur crosses the state northwest to southeast for approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi) in the southwest between the municipalities of Chinicuila and Arteaga along the Pacific Coast. It is considered to be a continuation of the Sierra Madre Occidental. Peaks in this range average about 2,900 metres (9,500 ft) above sea level, with the largest being the Cerro de las Canoas. The Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt crosses the state from west to east toward the Toluca Valley and Valley of Mexico. This mountain range is marked by appearance of many volcanoes, active, dormant, and extinct alike. This system is subdivided into regions such as the Sierra de Tancítaro, Sierra de Periban, Sierra de San Angel and others. The best-known volcano in this region is the Paricutín volcano.[22]

 
Parícutin 1943 eruption at night

The state has a large number of lakes, waterfalls, lagoons, hot springs, and a natural system of waterways, including parts of two of the country's largest rivers, the Lerma and the Balsas. These waterways are divided into three regions, called the North, Central and South. The North region includes the Lerma Basin. On the Lerma River is the Tepuxtepec Dam which has a capacity of 371 million m3. Rivers that empty into the Lerma in Michoacán include the Tlalpuhahua, Cachivi and Duero. Another river basin here is that of Lake Cuitzeo, which extends over an area of 3,618 square metres (38,940 sq ft). The two main rivers that feed this lake are the Grande de Morelia and Queréndaro.[22]

 
Sierra Madre del Sur along the Michoacán seacoast

The Central region is represented by lakes Pátzcuaro and Zirahuén. Lake Pátzcuaro has a surface area of 1,525 km2. This lake is fed by a number of surface and subterranean water flows with the principal rivers leading here including the San Gregorio and Chapultepec. This lake has five islands within it called Janitzio, Yunuén, La Pacanda, Tecuén, Jarácuaro, Urandén and Carián. Lake Zirahuén has an area of 615 square kilometres (237 sq mi) and is fed by streams such as Manzanilla and Zinamba. These two lakes are considered to be the main tourist attraction of the state.[22]

Most of the state's rivers and streams are located in the south region of the state, with the Balsas River being the most important. The most important tributaries of this river include the Cutzamala, Carácuaro and Tepalcatepec rivers. Within this region is the coastal watershed, which is the area between the Sierra Madre del Sur and the coastline. This area includes small rivers such as the Coahuayana, Aquila, Ostula, Motín del Oro, Coire, Cachán and Nexpa which flow directly into the Pacific.[22]

Much of the climate of the state is determined by altitude and other geographical features. Average temperatures vary from 13 °C (55 °F) to 29 °C (84 °F). Lower temperatures correspond with the highland areas in the north and east while the lower south and west, called La Costa (the coast) or Tierra Caliente (hot land) register higher temperatures. In the hotter lowlands, high temperatures regularly exceed 30 °C (86 °F) and have been known to reach over 40 °C (104 °F) in the summer. The lowest temperatures are registered in highland areas such as the Sierra de Coalcomán and the Sierra del Centro located near the border with the State of Mexico. Except for the Tierra Caliente, most of the state can experience freezing temperatures in the winter. Rainfall is also dependent on altitude with the lowlands receiving less rain than the mountain areas. There is a well-defined rainy season which extends from June to October over the entire state.[22]

Flora

Ecosystems vary by altitude. Between 2,600 and 3,500 metres (8,500 and 11,500 ft) above sea level, most of the vegetation are conifer forests. Between 1,000 and 2,600 metres (3,300 and 8,500 ft), there are mixed forests and below this are broadleaf or tropical forests. Tree species include oak, cedar, and pine. Mango trees can be found in the eastern and western regions.[23]

Fauna

Animal types vary from region to region but among mammals these can be found: skunks, raccoons, cacomistle, coyotes, lynxes, rabbits, bats, deer, armadillos, mountain lions, foxes, and jaguars. The latter is an important symbol in Purépecha culture.[24] Numerous bird species can be found including water fowl such as ducks, storks and seabirds along the coast. Eagles, parrots, and hawks are found in the tropical and mountainous regions. Both owls and hummingbirds are important cultural symbols to the Purépecha.[25] It is also one of three Mexican states where the tarantula species Brachypelma hamorii is found, the other two being Jalisco and Colima. Tiger sharks, thresher sharks, and porpoises can be found in coastal waters.[26] Reptiles including crocodiles, sea turtles, iguanas, snakes, and caimans can be found in the waterways and along the coastal regions.[27][22] Michoacán includes critical over-wintering habitat for most of the monarch butterflies from eastern North America. To the Purépechas, the monarch butterfly symbolizes the spirits of the dead as they journey from the afterlife.[28][29]

Protected areas

Protected areas in Michoacán include Barranca del Cupatitzio, Bosencheve, Cerro de Garnica, Insurgente José María Morelos, Lago de Camécuaro, and Rayón national parks, Monarch Butterfly and Zicuirán-Infiernillo biosphere reserves, and Pico de Tancítaro Flora and Fauna Protection Area. Lake Pátzcuaro and Zacapu Lagoon are Ramsar Sites, designated wetlands of international importance.

Economy

 
Famed guitar town of Paracho

The economy of the state is based on agriculture, ranching, forest products, fishing and crafts.[9] Most of the population is employed in three sectors: agriculture (34%), mining and manufacturing (23%), and commerce (37%).

Agriculture

Agriculture occupies over a million hectares of land in the state or 20% of the land area. Three-fifths of this agriculture occurs only during the rainy season. Irrigation farming is restricted to areas such as the Apatzingán Valley, the Bajío area of Michoacán, the Zamora Valley and some others. Principal crops include corn, sorghum, avocados, strawberries, peaches, wheat, limes, sugar cane and mangos. While corn accounts for 43% of the crops harvested, Michoacán is the largest producer of avocados in Mexico and in the world. Forty three percent of farmland in the territory is dedicated to the raising of livestock, including cattle, domestic fowl, sheep, goats and pigs. In 2007, the state's production of meat, dairy and eggs was valued at over four billion pesos.[30]

Forestry

Sixty percent of the state is covered in forest, with the most economically important of these located in the higher elevations at the eastern side. These forests mostly produce lumber and resin. These areas are estimated at 2,160,000 hectares, over half of which is pine forest. The most productive forests are located in the central and eastern portions of the state. Rainforest areas are estimated at 460,500 hectares. One problem facing the forested areas of the state is unsustainable logging. In addition to exploitable forest, there are also ecological reserves with tourist importance, especially the various monarch butterfly sanctuaries in the extreme east of the state.[22]

Fishing

 
Fishermen in Lake Pátzcuaro

Michoacán's lakes, rivers and coastline make it an important producer of fish and seafood, both caught in the wild and farmed. The most important commercial fishing is for tilapia and carp.[30]

Mining and minerals

Mining is an important economic activity in the state, which is mostly concentrated on the eastern side near the Mexico State border. However, iron is mined in the Lázaro Cárdenas area near the coast. Both metallic and non-metallic minerals are mined in the state. These include silver, gold, zinc, cadmium, lead, iron, copper, fill dirt, sand, gravel, lime, limestone, marble, and others. There are thirteen principal mining areas: Tlalpujahua, Angangueo, Los Azufres, Real de Otzumatlán, Tzitzio, Tiámaro, El Bastán, San Diego Curucupacéo, Inguarán, Las Truchas, and La Minita de Coalcomán. Michoacán is the second-largest producer of coke and third-largest producer of iron, which are essential to the steel industry, in Mexico. While there remains significant metallic deposits, their mining only contributes 1.64% to the economy.[22][30]

Manufacturing

Most industrial activity is concentrated in the central region of the state, near the capital, where a number of industrial parks are located, such as Ciudad Industrial Morelia. However. there are other areas with industry, such as Apatzingán, Zamora, Jiquilpan and Sahuayo, as well as in the Lázaro Cárdenas area. Major production areas are iron and steel (34.27%), bottling (10.43%) and paper products (8.36%).[30] Most people in the state are employed in service and commerce, and this sector contributes 19.07% to the overall economy. Most sales are in foodstuffs, drinks and tobacco.[citation needed]

Infrastructure

Transport

The state contains more than 12,804 kilometres (7,956 mi) of federal, state and local roads. Major highways in the state include Federal Highway 15 and the Morelia-Patzcuaro highway. Intercity and interstate buses provide connections to places within the state and the rest of Mexico. About 91% of these bus lines are second class while just under nine percent are first class. Most rail lines are limited to the north and center of the state, providing freight service to Mexico City and Guadalajara. The state's main port is the city of Lázaro Cárdenas which contains 2,926 meters (9,600 ft) of dock space. The dock is used mostly for the shipping of minerals and grains.[31][32] There are two major international airports, Morelia International Airport and Uruapan International Airport. Smaller facilities exist in Zamora and Lázaro Cárdenas. The state has abundant hydroelectrical production due to dams on the Balsas River, the Lerma River and the Tepalcatepec River.[9]

Media

One notable actress from Santa Elena, Michoacán is Elpidia Carrillo. She is best known for starring in the 1987 science fiction horror film Predator alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger.[33]

As of 1995, the state had eight television stations, with seven out of operation. There is a system of educational television with 528 broadcast antennas.[31]

Newspapers and news sites of Michoacán de Ocampo include: La Opinión de Apatzingán, a. m. de La Piedad, Diario ABC de Michoacán, El Diario Grande de Michoacán Provincia, El Sol de Morelia, El Sol de Zamora, Frecuencia Informativa Escrita , La Jornada Michoacán, La Opinión de Michoacán, La Voz de Michoacán.[34][35]

Education

The state provides public education from preschool level to high school. "Formal preschool" is offered in communities which have twenty five or more qualified students. Less formal preschools are operated in smaller communities. As of 1996, there were 5,433 primary schools serving 705,694 students with 25,485 teachers. There is a failure rate from grade to grade of about 9.7% with just under five percent leaving school permanently before finishing primary studies. The most common reason for departure is poverty. At the secondary level there are 174,354 students, which represent 22% of these eligible to attend. High school level studies are mostly geared to vocational studies and many attend via distance education. There are 24 public and private institutions of higher learning offering 49 different majors. Eight are technical colleges, four for teachers, the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, the Instituto Michoacano de Ciencias de la Educación and ten private institutions.[31]

The Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo is located in Morelia.[19] Its historical predecessor was founded in 1540, making it one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the Americas.[36]

Tourism

 
Danza de los Viejitos (Traditional folk dance of the Purépecha)

Carnitas are originally from Michoacán. Other traditional foods include cotija cheese, guacamole, morisqueta, tamales, pozole, enchiladas, mole sauce, and various sweets such as pan de muerto and chocolate champurrado (during the Day of the Dead celebrations), ice cream, churros, and ate, a kind of Mexican jelly made of many typical fruits.[37]

The state ministry of tourism has divided the state into regions, mostly based on the major cities of Morelia, Uruapan, Lázaro Cárdenas, Patzcuaro, Zamora and Zitácuaro.[38] The state contains a large number of potential attractions, most of which are classified as suitable for ecotourism. However, only 6.2% of these sites are visited by international tourists. Most visitors to sites are from within the state.[30]

The Morelia region stresses its cultural and artistic heritage, especially its colonial architecture . The most important colonial structures are in Morelia and built in the 18th century. These include the cathedral, finished in 1744 and the main aqueduct finished at the end of the century. This architecture has made the city a World Heritage Site. In addition to the state capital, the region includes towns such as Charo, Capula, Tiripetio, Cuitzeo and Huandacareo, which contain archaeological sites, water parks and traditional cuisine. The rural areas of this zone contain more than 400 thermal springs, many of which have been turned into recreational areas and parks. These include Reino de Atzimba, Cointzio, Huandacareo and El Ejido.[39] Morelia holds the annual Festival Internacional de Música de Morelia. The festival consists of more than forty concerts with over 500 artists from Michoacán and from around the world.[40] Other festivals include the popular SalsaMich that features a 3-day Salsa dance competition.[41] The Festival Internacional de Cine de Morelia is celebrated annually that is dedicated to Mexican cinema. The Plaza Monumental de Morelia was established in 1951, which was destined exclusively for bullfights. Nowadays, the ring also hosts concerts, lucha libre, and weddings.[42]

The Uruapan region stresses its cultural and natural heritage. The city is one of the oldest settlements in the state, which was initially settled by the Meseta Purépecha. This city contains a number of attractions such as La Huatápera, colonial era hospital founded by Vasco de Quiroga, the Temple of San Francisco and the Eduardo Ruiz Municipal Museum. One other attraction is the narrowest house in the world as documented by the Guinness Book of World Records. Other important cities in the region are Apatzingán and Caracha.[43] Uruapan is surrounded by hundreds of hectares of forests and by fertile fields growing fruits and flowers, many of which only grow here. Some of the natural attractions of the zone include the Santa Catarina Dam and the La Tzaráacua and La Tzararacuita waterfalls. Smaller towns and villages in this region are known for their religious and popular festivals, many of which occur in the summer. Examples of these are the feasts of Señor del Calvario in Quinceo, of San Mateo Ahuiran in Paracho and the National Guitar Festival in Paracho. The best-known town in the region is San Juan Nuevo Parangaricutiro, which was founded due to the destruction of its original namesake by the eruption of the Paricutín volcano.[43] The pre-Hispanic sites of Tingambato and Taretan are in this zone as well, which were important Purépecha cities.[43]

The town of Paracho is well known throughout both Mexico and elsewhere in the world as a hub of lutherie. This is because the town's craftsmen are reputed to making the best sounding guitars and vihuelas in all of Mexico. The town is full of music shops that sell ten-string mandolins, armadillo-backed guitars (concheras), acoustic bass guitars; as well as regular classical guitars and mandolins, bajo sextos, vihuelas, guitarrones and many others. Many of the stores and workshops allow visitors to watch the guitar-making process directly.[44]

 
Noche de Muertos decorations

The Lázaro Cárdenas region is named after Michoacán's largest port and oceanside city. Here the state stresses the kilometres of beaches and other natural areas in which to practice ecotourism and extreme sports. Beaches include Maruata, Faro de Bucerías, the Pichi Estuary, La Laguna de Mezcala, La Ticla and Nexpa, with the last two considered suitable for surfing, with their regular two-three-meter waves. A number of these beaches are protected areas, due to being a breeding ground for sea turtles.[45]

The Patzcuaro region is extremely important to the state due to its history of having been the center of the Purépecha Empire as well as the first capital of the colonial province of Michoacán. Its pre-Hispanic heritage is evident by the Tzintzuntzan and Ihuatizo sites as well as the large number of people who still speak the Purépecha language and maintain pre-Hispanic customs. Vasco de Quiroga established the first capital at Patzcuaro and was instrumental to building the colonial era economy of the Lake Patzcuaro area. The lake is surrounded by mountains and forests as well as the towns of Cuanajo, Tupátaro, Eronguícuaro and Quiroga. These towns are noted for their crafts and popular religious festivals such as the feast of the Señor del Rescate in Tzintzuntzan, Holy Week, and especially Noche de Muertos or Night of the Dead. This area is the most important to the state with the most visited town, Patzcuaro with its basilica and museums.[46]

 
Jardin de las Rosas Garden and Park in Morelia
 
Street and Cathedral of Morelia
 
Traditional charro outfit

One of the largest tourist events in the state is Noche de Muertos or Night of the Dead. This is celebrated on the dates around November 2. Essentially, these are Day of the Dead celebrations, which are celebrated all over Mexico, but with unique variations. The events of these days show a blending of both pre-Hispanic and Catholic beliefs and traditions. Noche de Muertos is celebrated most strongly in the towns and villages around Lake Patzcuaro such as Tzintzuntzan, Ihuatzio, Janitzio, as well as Patzcuaro itself, which was the center of the Purépecha Empire. As in other parts of Mexico, altars to the dead, both in homes and on graves are erected and covered with offerings such as bread, fruit and other items. One aspect which is unique to the event here is the lighting and floating of hundreds of small candles and flowers on Lake Patzcuaro on the night between November 1 and 2. It is also believed that on this night the ghosts of Mintzita, the daughter of Purépecha king Tzintzicha, and Itzihuapa arise. Their story is similar to that of Romeo and Juliet as they were never able to marry due to the Spanish invasion of their lands. Today, it is said that the two rise up and head toward a specific cemetery to receive visitors. There are a number of other rituals performed on these days such as the Terescuan y Campaneri, a kind of treasure hunt for hidden harvest items.[47]

 
Gertrudis Bocanegra Plaza and the San Agustin Library in Zitacuaro
 
Cascada Parque Nacional in Uruapan

The Zamora region is center of the city of the same name in an area known as the Purépecha Mesa. Pre-Hispanic language and customs are preserved here as well as a large number of crafts such as the pottery of Ptamban and the embroidery of Tarecuato. The region is part of an area of Mexico known as the Bajío and has extensive agriculture, livestock and some industry. Regional dishes such as pigs' feet, breads baked in wood fired ovens, tamales, pozole and dishes made with avocados and corn are promoted here. Important towns outside of Zamora include Camécuaro, Orandiro, La Estancia and La Alberca. The city of Zamora is home to one of the oldest cultures in the west of Mexico which dates to about 1750 BCE, known as the Opeño. The Spanish city was founded as a military garrison.[48]

The Zitacuaro region contains approximately a half million hectares of conifer forests, but is best known as being part of the wintering grounds of the monarch butterfly. The area is filled with old mining towns as well as an important archaeological site. The region is home to the Mazahua and Otomi peoples, many of whom produce crafts such as blankets, rebozos and ceramics. The city of Zitacuaro is the site of an important battle during the French Intervention in Mexico, which gives it the title of "Heroic City". Other important communities include Añgangueo, San Matias and Ciudad Hidalgo. The most important places to see monarch butterflies in the winter are in municipalities of Angangeo and Ocampo. The butterfly sanctuaries are called El Rosario, Cerro Campanario, Sierra Chincua and El Llanno de las Papas.[49] In 2008, UNESCO declared this region part of a Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve.[28]

Crime

Due to crime, the United States Bureau of Consular Affairs advises not to travel to Michoacán (April 2021). During the COVID-19 pandemic, while the Mexican government was occupied, cartels took advantage as an opportunity to gain more power.[50][51] Tancítaro has assembled the CUSEPT, civilian gunmen funded by local avocado growers, to protect against organized crime.[52][53][54] Such non-governmental police groups have been formed because local police are sometimes seen as unhelpful or complicit.[55][54] Turf disputes happen too.[56][57]

Killings

Homicide happens frequently in Michoacán.[57][56][55] On 26–28 October 2019, 9 people and 4 police were killed in a firefight from a search warrant.[58] 9 people, 3 of whom were children, were killed in a video game arcade on February 3, 2020.[59]

Kidnappings and Ransoms

There have been aggressive disputes in the area,[60][61][62][63][64]such as those over avocados.[65]

Drug Cartels

La Familia Michoacana, Jalisco New Generation Cartel,[66] Los Zetas,[57] Beltrán-Leyva Organization,[57] the Knights Templar Cartel[57] and Cárteles Unidos[66] operate in Michoacán.

Police and Militia

Operation Michoacán takes place in Michoacán. There are militias in Michoacán.[67][68]

Demographics

Michoacán is the seventh most populated state in Mexico and the average resident has a life expectancy of 73.3 years. It is estimated that each year about 40,000 people immigrate to the state while 78,000 leave, leading to population loss. Of those who leave, about one third go to other places in Mexico and the rest to other countries, principally the United States. The cities with the densest populations are Morelia, Uruapan and Zamora.[70] The majority of the population are mestizos; meaning that they are part indigenous, part European (mainly from Spain), and some African.[71] Michoacán is one of the most Catholic regions in Mexico.

Charreada is an important sport in the state. It celebrates the mestizo culture and heritage of Michoacán; in which the Spaniards employed the indigenous people as vaqueros or ranchers to herd cattle. During the Mexican Revolution, both sides used charros as soldiers. They were also used to maintain order against bandits. The typical Michoacán charro outfit consists of tight, embroidered pants and jacket, dress shirt, chaps, a cloak-like sarape, and a sombrero.[72]

Michoacán has a history of European immigrants including: Italians, Spaniards, and the French. There are small Italian communities found throughout the state including the cities of Nueva Italia, Michoacán and Lombardia in Michoacán, both founded by Dante Cusi from Gambar in Brescia.[73] During the Spanish Civil War, 456 children from Spain arrived in Morelia as refugees. Most of them stayed even after the war concluded.[74]

The indigenous population is estimated at just over seven percent of the total, with most living in 29 municipalities. Many are Purépecha, which are located in the Meseta-Cañada, Patzcuaro Lake, Zirahuén Lake, and Zacapu regions. In the east of the state, in the municipalities of Ocampo, Anguangueo, Tuxpan, Hidalgo, Maravatío and Zitácuaro, there is a mix of Mazahua, Otomi and Purépecha. On the coast can be found the Aquila, Chinicuila and Coahuayana peoples.[70] The Purépecha are seen as Michoacán's most devoted Catholics; as well as mixing traditional indigenous elements such as Noche de Muertos.

According to the 2020 Census, 1.55% of Michoacán's population identified as Black, Afro-Mexican, or of African descent.[75]

Municipalities

Michoacán, as all states of Mexico, is divided into municipalities (municipios), creating 113 municipalities of Michoacán.

Major communities

See also

References

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External links

michoacán, ocampo, redirects, here, town, mexicali, baja, california, ocampo, baja, california, formally, ocampo, spanish, pronunciation, mitʃoaˈkan, oˈkampo, listen, purépecha, michoakani, officially, free, sovereign, state, ocampo, spanish, estado, libre, so. Michoacan de Ocampo redirects here For the town in Mexicali Baja California see Michoacan de Ocampo Baja California Michoacan formally Michoacan de Ocampo Spanish pronunciation mitʃoaˈkan de oˈkampo listen Purepecha Michoakani officially the Free and Sovereign State of Michoacan de Ocampo Spanish Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacan de Ocampo is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico The state is divided into 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia formerly called Valladolid The city was named after Jose Maria Morelos a native of the city and one of the main heroes of the Mexican War of Independence MichoacanStateFree and Sovereign State of Michoacan de Ocampo Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacan de Ocampo Spanish Coat of armsMotto s Heredamos Libertad Legaremos Justicia Social Spanish We Inherited Freedom We Will Bequeath Social Justice El alma de Mexico Spanish The soul of Mexico State of Michoacan within MexicoCoordinates 19 10 N 101 54 W 19 167 N 101 900 W 19 167 101 900 Coordinates 19 10 N 101 54 W 19 167 N 101 900 W 19 167 101 900CountryMexicoCapital and largest cityMoreliaMunicipalities113AdmissionDecember 22 1823 1 Order5thGovernment GovernorAlfredo Ramirez Bedolla Senators 2 Cristobal Arias Solis Blanca Estela Pina Gudino Antonio Garcia Conejo Deputies 3 Federal Deputies 14 3 2 1 1Area 4 Total58 599 km2 22 625 sq mi Ranked 16thHighest elevation 5 3 840 m 12 600 ft Population 2020 6 Total4 748 846 Rank9th Density81 km2 210 sq mi Rank13thDemonymMichoacano a Time zoneUTC 6 CST Summer DST UTC 5 CDT Postal code58 61Area codeArea codes 1 2 3ISO 3166 codeMX MICHDI0 745 High Ranked 27th of 32GDPUS 45 052 91 mil a WebsiteOfficial Web Site a The state s GDP was 210 041 025 thousand pesos in 2008 7 amount corresponding to 16 409 455 078 thousand dollars being a dollar worth 12 80 pesos value of June 3 2010 8 Michoacan is located in western Mexico and has a stretch of coastline on the Pacific Ocean to the southwest It is bordered by the states of Colima and Jalisco to the west and northwest Guanajuato to the north Queretaro to the northeast the State of Mexico to the east and Guerrero to the southeast The name Michoacan is from Nahuatl Michhuahcan mit ʃˈwaʔkaːn from michhuah ˈmit ʃwaʔ possessor of fish and can kaːn place of and means place of the fishermen referring to those who fish on Lake Patzcuaro 9 In pre Hispanic times the area was the home of the Purepecha Empire which rivaled the Aztec Empire at the time of Spanish encounter After the Spanish conquest the empire became a separate province which became smaller over the colonial period The state and its residents played a major role in the Mexican War of Independence Today the state is still home to a sizable population of Purepecha people as well as minor populations of Otomi and Nahua The economy is based on agriculture ranching fishing mining and the arts The major tourism draw for the state is the Lake Patzcuaro Tzintzuntzan Quiroga area which was the center of the Purepecha Empire as well as the location of the Tzintzuntzan yacata pyramids 10 The national and state parks which include the winter grounds of the monarch butterflies Mariposas Monarca are located here Michoacan is known for its Spanish colonial towns In 1991 Morelia was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well preserved colonial buildings pink stone cathedral historic center and aqueduct 11 Michoacan has eight Pueblos Magicos such as the towns of Tlalpujahua and Santa Clara del Cobre 12 Day of the Dead celebrations in some parts of Michoacan such as the towns of Janitzio and Patzcuaro are often considered to be the most elaborate and famous in all of Mexico 13 The famous Paricutin volcano which is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World is located near the city of Uruapan The state is known as the soul of Mexico 14 Catholic priest and insurgent leader Jose Maria Morelos Contents 1 History 2 Geography 2 1 Flora 2 2 Fauna 2 3 Protected areas 3 Economy 3 1 Agriculture 3 2 Forestry 3 3 Fishing 3 4 Mining and minerals 3 5 Manufacturing 4 Infrastructure 4 1 Transport 4 2 Media 5 Education 6 Tourism 7 Crime 7 1 Killings 7 2 Kidnappings and Ransoms 7 3 Drug Cartels 7 4 Police and Militia 8 Demographics 9 Municipalities 9 1 Major communities 10 See also 11 References 12 External linksHistory Edit Yacata pyramids of Tzintzuntzan According to archaeological evidence there has been human habitation within the territory of the Mexican state of Michoacan for at least 10 000 years 15 In the pre Hispanic period there were waves of migration into the area including the Pirinda Nahua Huetamo Colima Purepecha and other peoples 16 There are sites of formal settlements from all Mesoamerican periods Important sites include El Openo and those in Curutaran Tepalcatepec Apatzingan Zinapecuaro and Coalcoman The territory has been inhabited by the Nahua Otomi Matlatzinca Pirinda and Teco peoples as well as the Purepecha 15 Spanish Tlaxcalan conquest of Michoacan under conquistador Nuno de Guzman The main pre Hispanic civilization of the state is that of the Purepecha which was centered in the Lake Patzcuaro area 15 Before the 13th century both Nahua and Purepecha peoples were here sustaining themselves by agriculture and fishing The Purepecha are descendants of a late arrival of Chichimeca who came from the north At Lake Patzcuaro they came upon people with similar cultures to their own but who were more technological and socially advanced The formation of the Purepechan state in the 13th century when these people started their own dominion at Uayameo today Santa Fe de la Laguna and becoming dominant over the entire Lake Patzcuaro area by the 15th century Conquest of neighboring tribes and territories occurred between 1401 and 1450 as they absorbed peoples with different cultures and languages into the empire By the late 15th century this state rivaled that of the Aztecs having expanded their territory over much of what is now Michoacan and into part of Colima Nayarit Queretaro Guanajuato Guerrero and Jalisco The Aztecs attempted to invade the Purepecha but were repelled Because of this attack the Purepecha later denied the Aztecs aid in their defense of Tenochtitlan against the Spanish and the Tlaxcala The Purepechas are noted by historians to be one of the few rare instances in the Americas were the indigenous people had some experience with metallurgy prior to the arrival of the Europeans especially coppersmithing and other metal ores located in their empire Their descendants are still widely regarded for this today 15 16 Purepecha coyote statue Prior to the arrival of any Spaniard in the territory then ruler Zuanga died of smallpox presumably carried by one of the Aztec delegations seeking military aid He was succeeded by Tanganxoan II The first Spaniard to the area was Cristobal de Olid The Spanish destruction of Tenochtitlan and their promise to allow him to remain ruler convinced Tanganxoan II to submit to Spanish rule But Nuno de Guzman reneged on this agreement and killed Tanganxoan II in 1530 a crime for which he was tried and exiled to Spain where he would die in prison 15 17 Basilica of Nuestra Senora de la Salud in Patzcuaro During the first years of the Conquest Michoacan was part of the kingdom of Mexico which included the current states of Mexico Queretaro Hidalgo Tlaxcala Oaxaca Morelos Guerrero Veracruz Tabasco Michoacan Guanajuato and parts of San Luis Potosi Jalisco and Colima These lands were divided into encomiendas among the conquistadors The provinces with the largest populations were called Alcaldias Mayores with Michoacan being one of these with its capital initially at Tzintzuntzan Soon after it was moved to Patzcuaro and eventually settled in what is now Morelia The provincial and later state capital was founded by viceroy Antonio de Mendoza in 1541 It became the political and ecclesiastical center of the province after the death of Vasco de Quiroga in 1565 15 Soon after the Spanish Conquest evangelists from the Franciscan Augustinian Carmelite and other orders established monasteries all over the territory Some of the best known are Juan de Moya Martin de la Coruna and Jacob the Dacian As first governor Nuno de Guzman disrupted and devastated the social and economic order of the area Vasco de Quiroga succeeded Guzman bringing Franciscan and Augustinian friars to both evangelize and repair the area s broken economy and social institutions Quiroga founded the Spanish city of Patzcuaro in 1538 calling it the Ciudad de Mechuacan 15 For his efforts Quiroga is still referred to in the Patzcuaro area as Tata grandfather Vasco 17 The diocese of Michoacan was established in 1536 by Pope Paul III and its boundaries coincide with the old Purepecha kingdom Its first bishop was Vasco de Quiroga 18 The Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo began as the Colegio de San Nicolas Obispo founded by Vasco de Quiroga in Patzcuaro in 1540 It was originally a seminary for the training of evangelists It was granted a royal seal in 1543 to become the Real Colegio de San Nicolas Obispo The school was moved to Morelia in 1580 and was fused with the Colegio de San Miguel Guayangareo In 1590 its name was changed to the Seminario Tridentino afterwards to Seminario Conciliar in 1601 By the end of the 17th century the name returned to Colegio de San Nicolas but its structure was profoundly changed adding studies such as philosophy civil law and others At the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries a number of figures associated with the Mexican War of Independence such as Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Jose Maria Morelos and others were associated with this school By the mid 19th century the school had been secularized and renamed the Primitivo y Nacional Colegio de San Nicolas de Hidalgo adding studies such as chemistry physics and other sciences The current name and organization was adopted after the Mexican Revolution in 1917 19 La Calavera Catrina figure bought in Patzcuaro From the 16th to the 18th centuries Augustinian Franciscan and Carmelite missions were constructed in the territory as well as civil constructions especially in the city now known as Morelia Mining in areas such as Angangueo Tlalpujahua and Inguaran had begun as well as the establishment of agricultural and livestock haciendas The first school of higher education called the Primera Casa de Altos Estudios en America was founded by Alonso de la Veracruz in Tiripetio 17 Michoacan was made a separate province from Mexico in 1602 By the mid 17th century the indigenous population had declined by half In 1776 the territory of Michoacan was reduced to the area in which the modern states of Michoacan and Colima are now Soon after Colima split to join with the province of Guadalajara leaving Michoacan roughly with the territory it has today 15 During the entire colonial period the economy was concentrated in the hands of the Spanish born who held vast lands and haciendas They also held the rights over minerals mined in places such as Tlalpujahua Angangueo and Huetamo Indigenous peoples were exploited for their work and slavery was not uncommon Education was restricted for only those born in Spain and their descendants and was controlled by the Church The main educational institutions were the Colegio de San Nicolas founded in the 16th century and the Seminary of San Pedro and San Pablo founded in the 18th century These schools produced a number of distinguished men but the best known is Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla 15 At the end of the 18th century ideas from Europe began to infiltrate the upper classes of the state especially in Valladolid Morelia and Zamora These would eventually lead to the Mexican War of Independence in the early 18th century 20 This war was foreshadowed by the 1809 conspiracy in Valladolid 15 One of the early and main protagonists of the war Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was educated as a priest in the state and began to disseminate Enlightenment ideas here Soon after Hidalgo performed the Grito de Dolores in Dolores now Dolores Hidalgo Guanajuato a number of people influenced by his thought took up arms against the colonial government These included Manuel de la Torre Lloreda Gertrudis Bocanegra Jose Maria Garcia Obeso and Ignacio Lopez Rayon During his campaign Hidalgo returned to Valladolid issuing a decree eliminating slavery 20 After Hidalgo s death much of the insurgency and spies against the Spanish viceroy were located in Michoacan with documents such as the Primera Constitucion o Decreto Constitucional para la Libertad de la America Mexicana First Constitution or Constitutional Decree for the Liberty of the Mexican America and Sentimentos de la Nacion both of which would shape constitutions and governments in the years to come The first Mexican Supreme Court was also founded here The Mexican War of Independence was culminated by the army of Agustin de Iturbide also a Michoacan native who took Morelia in May 1821 15 After the war ended in 1821 the territory of Michoacan became the Free and Sovereign State of Michoacan on January 31 1824 20 This state was initially divided into 4 departments and 22 portions partidos under the Ley Territorial of 1825 with the first constitution ratified in the same year The name of the capital was changed from Valladolid to Morelia at the same time 15 In 1831 the state was reorganized into 61 municipalities and 207 locales tenencias Due to the struggle between centralists and federalists in Mexico in the 19th century Michoacan s rights as an entity would change depending on who was in control The state was declared a department in 1836 but became a more independent state again in 1846 Colima broke off from Michoacan to form its own state in this year In 1849 the municipality of Coyuca was separated to form the state of Guerrero In 1853 the state became a department again regaining state status in 1856 In 1857 Contepec was separated from the state of Guanajuato and attached to Michoacan 21 In 1863 the diocese of Michoacan was reduced in size but its status was also elevated to archdiocese 18 During the French Intervention in Mexico Morelia was taken by French forces in 1863 Since resistance to the French was particularly strong here punitive acts were undertaken by the French in places like Zitacuaro where much of the city was burned One of the first victories against the French during the Intervention occurred in Zamora 15 Paricutin in 1997 Monarch butterfly sanctuary near the pueblo of Angangueo Laguna Larga in Los Azufres Green sea turtle swimming in the Mexican Pacific In 1907 Michoacan s boundaries changed again with the addition of the communities of Pungarabato and Zirandaro added from Guerrero state to make the Balsas River a natural border 15 The Mexican Revolution came to Michoacan in 1911 when those loyal to Francisco I Madero proclaimed Santa Clara del Cobre as their territory then went on to take towns around Lake Patzcuaro under the leadership of Salvador Escalante The governor of the state Aristeo Mendoza resigned Fighting among various factions would continue in parts of the state for the rest of the war The state s current constitution was ratified in 1918 15 In 1920 the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo was founded 15 Soon after the end of the Revolution the Cristero War would affect the state which affected agricultural production and distribution In 1926 hostilities closed the seminaries in Morelia and Zamora Near the end of the war Lazaro Cardenas was elected governor of the state and served until 1932 he became president of Mexico in 1934 15 Michoacan has been badly affected by the Mexican Drug War due to its methamphetamine and marijuana production That resulted in the start of an anti drug trafficking campaign in 2006 an anti narcotics operation since 2006 grenade attacks in 2008 a shootout in 2015 as well as a massacre and clashes in 2019 Geography Edit View of Lake Patzcuaro from Tzintzuntzan The state is located in the center west of the Mexican Republic on the extreme southwest of the central highlands It borders the states of Mexico Queretaro Guerrero Guanajuato Jalisco and Colima with a 217 kilometre 135 mi coastline on the Pacific Ocean The state has a territory of 58 836 95 square kilometres 22 717 07 sq mi making it the sixteenth largest in Mexico exactly at the midpoint among Mexican states in area It also has 1 490 square kilometres 580 sq mi of marine territory off its Pacific coast 9 22 The state is crossed by the Sierra Madre del Sur the Trans Mexican Volcanic Belt and the Inter mountain Valleys region The Sierra Madre del Sur crosses the state northwest to southeast for approximately 200 kilometres 120 mi in the southwest between the municipalities of Chinicuila and Arteaga along the Pacific Coast It is considered to be a continuation of the Sierra Madre Occidental Peaks in this range average about 2 900 metres 9 500 ft above sea level with the largest being the Cerro de las Canoas The Trans Mexican Volcanic Belt crosses the state from west to east toward the Toluca Valley and Valley of Mexico This mountain range is marked by appearance of many volcanoes active dormant and extinct alike This system is subdivided into regions such as the Sierra de Tancitaro Sierra de Periban Sierra de San Angel and others The best known volcano in this region is the Paricutin volcano 22 Paricutin 1943 eruption at night The state has a large number of lakes waterfalls lagoons hot springs and a natural system of waterways including parts of two of the country s largest rivers the Lerma and the Balsas These waterways are divided into three regions called the North Central and South The North region includes the Lerma Basin On the Lerma River is the Tepuxtepec Dam which has a capacity of 371 million m3 Rivers that empty into the Lerma in Michoacan include the Tlalpuhahua Cachivi and Duero Another river basin here is that of Lake Cuitzeo which extends over an area of 3 618 square metres 38 940 sq ft The two main rivers that feed this lake are the Grande de Morelia and Querendaro 22 Sierra Madre del Sur along the Michoacan seacoast The Central region is represented by lakes Patzcuaro and Zirahuen Lake Patzcuaro has a surface area of 1 525 km2 This lake is fed by a number of surface and subterranean water flows with the principal rivers leading here including the San Gregorio and Chapultepec This lake has five islands within it called Janitzio Yunuen La Pacanda Tecuen Jaracuaro Uranden and Carian Lake Zirahuen has an area of 615 square kilometres 237 sq mi and is fed by streams such as Manzanilla and Zinamba These two lakes are considered to be the main tourist attraction of the state 22 Most of the state s rivers and streams are located in the south region of the state with the Balsas River being the most important The most important tributaries of this river include the Cutzamala Caracuaro and Tepalcatepec rivers Within this region is the coastal watershed which is the area between the Sierra Madre del Sur and the coastline This area includes small rivers such as the Coahuayana Aquila Ostula Motin del Oro Coire Cachan and Nexpa which flow directly into the Pacific 22 Much of the climate of the state is determined by altitude and other geographical features Average temperatures vary from 13 C 55 F to 29 C 84 F Lower temperatures correspond with the highland areas in the north and east while the lower south and west called La Costa the coast or Tierra Caliente hot land register higher temperatures In the hotter lowlands high temperatures regularly exceed 30 C 86 F and have been known to reach over 40 C 104 F in the summer The lowest temperatures are registered in highland areas such as the Sierra de Coalcoman and the Sierra del Centro located near the border with the State of Mexico Except for the Tierra Caliente most of the state can experience freezing temperatures in the winter Rainfall is also dependent on altitude with the lowlands receiving less rain than the mountain areas There is a well defined rainy season which extends from June to October over the entire state 22 Flora Edit Ecosystems vary by altitude Between 2 600 and 3 500 metres 8 500 and 11 500 ft above sea level most of the vegetation are conifer forests Between 1 000 and 2 600 metres 3 300 and 8 500 ft there are mixed forests and below this are broadleaf or tropical forests Tree species include oak cedar and pine Mango trees can be found in the eastern and western regions 23 Fauna Edit Animal types vary from region to region but among mammals these can be found skunks raccoons cacomistle coyotes lynxes rabbits bats deer armadillos mountain lions foxes and jaguars The latter is an important symbol in Purepecha culture 24 Numerous bird species can be found including water fowl such as ducks storks and seabirds along the coast Eagles parrots and hawks are found in the tropical and mountainous regions Both owls and hummingbirds are important cultural symbols to the Purepecha 25 It is also one of three Mexican states where the tarantula species Brachypelma hamorii is found the other two being Jalisco and Colima Tiger sharks thresher sharks and porpoises can be found in coastal waters 26 Reptiles including crocodiles sea turtles iguanas snakes and caimans can be found in the waterways and along the coastal regions 27 22 Michoacan includes critical over wintering habitat for most of the monarch butterflies from eastern North America To the Purepechas the monarch butterfly symbolizes the spirits of the dead as they journey from the afterlife 28 29 Flora and fauna of Michoacan Aquila chrysaetos Ctenosaura pectinata Monarch butterfly Jaguar Brachypelma auratum Galeocerdo cuvier Ghost owl Hummingbird White nosed coati Caiman Tagetes Taxodium mucronatum Dahlia coccinea Abies religiosa Sabal pumos Protected areas Edit Protected areas in Michoacan include Barranca del Cupatitzio Bosencheve Cerro de Garnica Insurgente Jose Maria Morelos Lago de Camecuaro and Rayon national parks Monarch Butterfly and Zicuiran Infiernillo biosphere reserves and Pico de Tancitaro Flora and Fauna Protection Area Lake Patzcuaro and Zacapu Lagoon are Ramsar Sites designated wetlands of international importance Economy Edit Famed guitar town of Paracho The economy of the state is based on agriculture ranching forest products fishing and crafts 9 Most of the population is employed in three sectors agriculture 34 mining and manufacturing 23 and commerce 37 Agriculture Edit Agriculture occupies over a million hectares of land in the state or 20 of the land area Three fifths of this agriculture occurs only during the rainy season Irrigation farming is restricted to areas such as the Apatzingan Valley the Bajio area of Michoacan the Zamora Valley and some others Principal crops include corn sorghum avocados strawberries peaches wheat limes sugar cane and mangos While corn accounts for 43 of the crops harvested Michoacan is the largest producer of avocados in Mexico and in the world Forty three percent of farmland in the territory is dedicated to the raising of livestock including cattle domestic fowl sheep goats and pigs In 2007 the state s production of meat dairy and eggs was valued at over four billion pesos 30 Forestry Edit Sixty percent of the state is covered in forest with the most economically important of these located in the higher elevations at the eastern side These forests mostly produce lumber and resin These areas are estimated at 2 160 000 hectares over half of which is pine forest The most productive forests are located in the central and eastern portions of the state Rainforest areas are estimated at 460 500 hectares One problem facing the forested areas of the state is unsustainable logging In addition to exploitable forest there are also ecological reserves with tourist importance especially the various monarch butterfly sanctuaries in the extreme east of the state 22 Fishing Edit Fishermen in Lake Patzcuaro Michoacan s lakes rivers and coastline make it an important producer of fish and seafood both caught in the wild and farmed The most important commercial fishing is for tilapia and carp 30 Mining and minerals Edit Mining is an important economic activity in the state which is mostly concentrated on the eastern side near the Mexico State border However iron is mined in the Lazaro Cardenas area near the coast Both metallic and non metallic minerals are mined in the state These include silver gold zinc cadmium lead iron copper fill dirt sand gravel lime limestone marble and others There are thirteen principal mining areas Tlalpujahua Angangueo Los Azufres Real de Otzumatlan Tzitzio Tiamaro El Bastan San Diego Curucupaceo Inguaran Las Truchas and La Minita de Coalcoman Michoacan is the second largest producer of coke and third largest producer of iron which are essential to the steel industry in Mexico While there remains significant metallic deposits their mining only contributes 1 64 to the economy 22 30 Manufacturing Edit Most industrial activity is concentrated in the central region of the state near the capital where a number of industrial parks are located such as Ciudad Industrial Morelia However there are other areas with industry such as Apatzingan Zamora Jiquilpan and Sahuayo as well as in the Lazaro Cardenas area Major production areas are iron and steel 34 27 bottling 10 43 and paper products 8 36 30 Most people in the state are employed in service and commerce and this sector contributes 19 07 to the overall economy Most sales are in foodstuffs drinks and tobacco citation needed Infrastructure Edit Statue of Jose Maria Morelos in Janitzio Transport Edit The state contains more than 12 804 kilometres 7 956 mi of federal state and local roads Major highways in the state include Federal Highway 15 and the Morelia Patzcuaro highway Intercity and interstate buses provide connections to places within the state and the rest of Mexico About 91 of these bus lines are second class while just under nine percent are first class Most rail lines are limited to the north and center of the state providing freight service to Mexico City and Guadalajara The state s main port is the city of Lazaro Cardenas which contains 2 926 meters 9 600 ft of dock space The dock is used mostly for the shipping of minerals and grains 31 32 There are two major international airports Morelia International Airport and Uruapan International Airport Smaller facilities exist in Zamora and Lazaro Cardenas The state has abundant hydroelectrical production due to dams on the Balsas River the Lerma River and the Tepalcatepec River 9 Media Edit One notable actress from Santa Elena Michoacan is Elpidia Carrillo She is best known for starring in the 1987 science fiction horror film Predator alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger 33 As of 1995 the state had eight television stations with seven out of operation There is a system of educational television with 528 broadcast antennas 31 Newspapers and news sites of Michoacan de Ocampo include La Opinion de Apatzingan a m de La Piedad Diario ABC de Michoacan El Diario Grande de Michoacan Provincia El Sol de Morelia El Sol de Zamora Frecuencia Informativa Escrita La Jornada Michoacan La Opinion de Michoacan La Voz de Michoacan 34 35 Education EditThe state provides public education from preschool level to high school Formal preschool is offered in communities which have twenty five or more qualified students Less formal preschools are operated in smaller communities As of 1996 there were 5 433 primary schools serving 705 694 students with 25 485 teachers There is a failure rate from grade to grade of about 9 7 with just under five percent leaving school permanently before finishing primary studies The most common reason for departure is poverty At the secondary level there are 174 354 students which represent 22 of these eligible to attend High school level studies are mostly geared to vocational studies and many attend via distance education There are 24 public and private institutions of higher learning offering 49 different majors Eight are technical colleges four for teachers the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo the Instituto Michoacano de Ciencias de la Educacion and ten private institutions 31 The Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo is located in Morelia 19 Its historical predecessor was founded in 1540 making it one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the Americas 36 Tourism Edit Danza de los Viejitos Traditional folk dance of the Purepecha Carnitas are originally from Michoacan Other traditional foods include cotija cheese guacamole morisqueta tamales pozole enchiladas mole sauce and various sweets such as pan de muerto and chocolate champurrado during the Day of the Dead celebrations ice cream churros and ate a kind of Mexican jelly made of many typical fruits 37 The state ministry of tourism has divided the state into regions mostly based on the major cities of Morelia Uruapan Lazaro Cardenas Patzcuaro Zamora and Zitacuaro 38 The state contains a large number of potential attractions most of which are classified as suitable for ecotourism However only 6 2 of these sites are visited by international tourists Most visitors to sites are from within the state 30 The Morelia region stresses its cultural and artistic heritage especially its colonial architecture The most important colonial structures are in Morelia and built in the 18th century These include the cathedral finished in 1744 and the main aqueduct finished at the end of the century This architecture has made the city a World Heritage Site In addition to the state capital the region includes towns such as Charo Capula Tiripetio Cuitzeo and Huandacareo which contain archaeological sites water parks and traditional cuisine The rural areas of this zone contain more than 400 thermal springs many of which have been turned into recreational areas and parks These include Reino de Atzimba Cointzio Huandacareo and El Ejido 39 Morelia holds the annual Festival Internacional de Musica de Morelia The festival consists of more than forty concerts with over 500 artists from Michoacan and from around the world 40 Other festivals include the popular SalsaMich that features a 3 day Salsa dance competition 41 The Festival Internacional de Cine de Morelia is celebrated annually that is dedicated to Mexican cinema The Plaza Monumental de Morelia was established in 1951 which was destined exclusively for bullfights Nowadays the ring also hosts concerts lucha libre and weddings 42 The Uruapan region stresses its cultural and natural heritage The city is one of the oldest settlements in the state which was initially settled by the Meseta Purepecha This city contains a number of attractions such as La Huatapera colonial era hospital founded by Vasco de Quiroga the Temple of San Francisco and the Eduardo Ruiz Municipal Museum One other attraction is the narrowest house in the world as documented by the Guinness Book of World Records Other important cities in the region are Apatzingan and Caracha 43 Uruapan is surrounded by hundreds of hectares of forests and by fertile fields growing fruits and flowers many of which only grow here Some of the natural attractions of the zone include the Santa Catarina Dam and the La Tzaraacua and La Tzararacuita waterfalls Smaller towns and villages in this region are known for their religious and popular festivals many of which occur in the summer Examples of these are the feasts of Senor del Calvario in Quinceo of San Mateo Ahuiran in Paracho and the National Guitar Festival in Paracho The best known town in the region is San Juan Nuevo Parangaricutiro which was founded due to the destruction of its original namesake by the eruption of the Paricutin volcano 43 The pre Hispanic sites of Tingambato and Taretan are in this zone as well which were important Purepecha cities 43 The town of Paracho is well known throughout both Mexico and elsewhere in the world as a hub of lutherie This is because the town s craftsmen are reputed to making the best sounding guitars and vihuelas in all of Mexico The town is full of music shops that sell ten string mandolins armadillo backed guitars concheras acoustic bass guitars as well as regular classical guitars and mandolins bajo sextos vihuelas guitarrones and many others Many of the stores and workshops allow visitors to watch the guitar making process directly 44 Noche de Muertos decorations The Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Zamora de Hidalgo The Lazaro Cardenas region is named after Michoacan s largest port and oceanside city Here the state stresses the kilometres of beaches and other natural areas in which to practice ecotourism and extreme sports Beaches include Maruata Faro de Bucerias the Pichi Estuary La Laguna de Mezcala La Ticla and Nexpa with the last two considered suitable for surfing with their regular two three meter waves A number of these beaches are protected areas due to being a breeding ground for sea turtles 45 The Patzcuaro region is extremely important to the state due to its history of having been the center of the Purepecha Empire as well as the first capital of the colonial province of Michoacan Its pre Hispanic heritage is evident by the Tzintzuntzan and Ihuatizo sites as well as the large number of people who still speak the Purepecha language and maintain pre Hispanic customs Vasco de Quiroga established the first capital at Patzcuaro and was instrumental to building the colonial era economy of the Lake Patzcuaro area The lake is surrounded by mountains and forests as well as the towns of Cuanajo Tupataro Eronguicuaro and Quiroga These towns are noted for their crafts and popular religious festivals such as the feast of the Senor del Rescate in Tzintzuntzan Holy Week and especially Noche de Muertos or Night of the Dead This area is the most important to the state with the most visited town Patzcuaro with its basilica and museums 46 Jardin de las Rosas Garden and Park in Morelia Street and Cathedral of Morelia Traditional charro outfit One of the largest tourist events in the state is Noche de Muertos or Night of the Dead This is celebrated on the dates around November 2 Essentially these are Day of the Dead celebrations which are celebrated all over Mexico but with unique variations The events of these days show a blending of both pre Hispanic and Catholic beliefs and traditions Noche de Muertos is celebrated most strongly in the towns and villages around Lake Patzcuaro such as Tzintzuntzan Ihuatzio Janitzio as well as Patzcuaro itself which was the center of the Purepecha Empire As in other parts of Mexico altars to the dead both in homes and on graves are erected and covered with offerings such as bread fruit and other items One aspect which is unique to the event here is the lighting and floating of hundreds of small candles and flowers on Lake Patzcuaro on the night between November 1 and 2 It is also believed that on this night the ghosts of Mintzita the daughter of Purepecha king Tzintzicha and Itzihuapa arise Their story is similar to that of Romeo and Juliet as they were never able to marry due to the Spanish invasion of their lands Today it is said that the two rise up and head toward a specific cemetery to receive visitors There are a number of other rituals performed on these days such as the Terescuan y Campaneri a kind of treasure hunt for hidden harvest items 47 Gertrudis Bocanegra Plaza and the San Agustin Library in Zitacuaro Cascada Parque Nacional in Uruapan The Zamora region is center of the city of the same name in an area known as the Purepecha Mesa Pre Hispanic language and customs are preserved here as well as a large number of crafts such as the pottery of Ptamban and the embroidery of Tarecuato The region is part of an area of Mexico known as the Bajio and has extensive agriculture livestock and some industry Regional dishes such as pigs feet breads baked in wood fired ovens tamales pozole and dishes made with avocados and corn are promoted here Important towns outside of Zamora include Camecuaro Orandiro La Estancia and La Alberca The city of Zamora is home to one of the oldest cultures in the west of Mexico which dates to about 1750 BCE known as the Openo The Spanish city was founded as a military garrison 48 The Zitacuaro region contains approximately a half million hectares of conifer forests but is best known as being part of the wintering grounds of the monarch butterfly The area is filled with old mining towns as well as an important archaeological site The region is home to the Mazahua and Otomi peoples many of whom produce crafts such as blankets rebozos and ceramics The city of Zitacuaro is the site of an important battle during the French Intervention in Mexico which gives it the title of Heroic City Other important communities include Angangueo San Matias and Ciudad Hidalgo The most important places to see monarch butterflies in the winter are in municipalities of Angangeo and Ocampo The butterfly sanctuaries are called El Rosario Cerro Campanario Sierra Chincua and El Llanno de las Papas 49 In 2008 UNESCO declared this region part of a Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve 28 Crime EditDue to crime the United States Bureau of Consular Affairs advises not to travel to Michoacan April 2021 During the COVID 19 pandemic while the Mexican government was occupied cartels took advantage as an opportunity to gain more power 50 51 Tancitaro has assembled the CUSEPT civilian gunmen funded by local avocado growers to protect against organized crime 52 53 54 Such non governmental police groups have been formed because local police are sometimes seen as unhelpful or complicit 55 54 Turf disputes happen too 56 57 Killings Edit Homicide happens frequently in Michoacan 57 56 55 On 26 28 October 2019 9 people and 4 police were killed in a firefight from a search warrant 58 9 people 3 of whom were children were killed in a video game arcade on February 3 2020 59 Kidnappings and Ransoms Edit There have been aggressive disputes in the area 60 61 62 63 64 such as those over avocados 65 Drug Cartels Edit La Familia Michoacana Jalisco New Generation Cartel 66 Los Zetas 57 Beltran Leyva Organization 57 the Knights Templar Cartel 57 and Carteles Unidos 66 operate in Michoacan Police and Militia Edit Operation Michoacan takes place in Michoacan There are militias in Michoacan 67 68 Demographics EditHistorical populationYearPop 1895 69 898 809 1900935 808 4 1 1910991 880 6 0 1921939 849 5 2 19301 048 381 11 5 19401 182 003 12 7 19501 422 717 20 4 19601 851 876 30 2 19702 324 226 25 5 19802 868 824 23 4 19903 548 199 23 7 19953 870 604 9 1 20003 985 667 3 0 20053 966 073 0 5 20104 351 037 9 7 20154 584 471 5 4 2020 6 4 748 846 3 6 Michoacan is the seventh most populated state in Mexico and the average resident has a life expectancy of 73 3 years It is estimated that each year about 40 000 people immigrate to the state while 78 000 leave leading to population loss Of those who leave about one third go to other places in Mexico and the rest to other countries principally the United States The cities with the densest populations are Morelia Uruapan and Zamora 70 The majority of the population are mestizos meaning that they are part indigenous part European mainly from Spain and some African 71 Michoacan is one of the most Catholic regions in Mexico Charreada is an important sport in the state It celebrates the mestizo culture and heritage of Michoacan in which the Spaniards employed the indigenous people as vaqueros or ranchers to herd cattle During the Mexican Revolution both sides used charros as soldiers They were also used to maintain order against bandits The typical Michoacan charro outfit consists of tight embroidered pants and jacket dress shirt chaps a cloak like sarape and a sombrero 72 Michoacan has a history of European immigrants including Italians Spaniards and the French There are small Italian communities found throughout the state including the cities of Nueva Italia Michoacan and Lombardia in Michoacan both founded by Dante Cusi from Gambar in Brescia 73 During the Spanish Civil War 456 children from Spain arrived in Morelia as refugees Most of them stayed even after the war concluded 74 The indigenous population is estimated at just over seven percent of the total with most living in 29 municipalities Many are Purepecha which are located in the Meseta Canada Patzcuaro Lake Zirahuen Lake and Zacapu regions In the east of the state in the municipalities of Ocampo Anguangueo Tuxpan Hidalgo Maravatio and Zitacuaro there is a mix of Mazahua Otomi and Purepecha On the coast can be found the Aquila Chinicuila and Coahuayana peoples 70 The Purepecha are seen as Michoacan s most devoted Catholics as well as mixing traditional indigenous elements such as Noche de Muertos According to the 2020 Census 1 55 of Michoacan s population identified as Black Afro Mexican or of African descent 75 Municipalities EditMain article Municipalities of Michoacan Michoacan as all states of Mexico is divided into municipalities municipios creating 113 municipalities of Michoacan Major communities Edit The inclusion or exclusion of items from this list or length of this list is disputed Please discuss this issue on the talk page Apatzingan Churumuco Ciudad Hidalgo Coalcoman Cotija Jacona de Plancarte Jiquilpan Jungapeo La Huacana La Piedad de Cavadas Lazaro Cardenas Los Reyes Maravatio Morelia Nueva Italia Patzcuaro Puruandiro Quiroga Sahuayo de Morelos Santa Ana Maya Santa Ines Tacambaro Tangancicuaro Tepalcatepec Uruapan Venustiano Carranza Villa Madero Villamar Yurecuaro Zacapu Zamora de Hidalgo Zinaparo Zinapecuaro ZitacuaroSee also Edit Mexico portal Latin America portal Geography portal North America portalIndex Natural history of Michoacan Ghosts in Mexican culture Tarascan state La Familia MichoacanaReferences Edit Las Diputaciones Provinciales PDF in Spanish p 15 Senadores por Michoacan LXI Legislatura Senado de la Republica Retrieved March 24 2010 Listado de Diputados por Grupo Parlamentario del Estado de Michoacan Camara de Diputados Archived from the original on July 20 2018 Retrieved March 28 2010 Resumen Cuentame INEGI Archived from the original on July 23 2011 Retrieved February 12 2013 Relieve Cuentame INEGI Archived from the original on September 30 2011 Retrieved March 28 2011 a b Mexico en cifras January 2016 Michoacan 2010 Retrieved March 28 2011 Reporte Jueves 3 de Junio del 2010 Cierre del peso mexicano pesomexicano com mx Archived from the original on June 8 2010 Retrieved August 10 2010 a b c d El Estado de Michoacan Introduccion The State of Michoacan Introduction in Spanish Morelia Michoacan UMSNH Archived from the original on July 19 2011 Retrieved June 16 2010 Cartwright Mark Tarascan Civilization World History Encyclopedia Retrieved April 16 2020 Enciclopedia de los Municipios de Mexico Michoacan Morelia in Spanish Mexico INAFED Archived from the original on May 17 2011 Retrieved April 15 2020 Murray Sam October 15 2019 PUEBLOS MAGICOS A GUIDE TO MEXICO S MAGIC TOWNS JourneyMexico JourneyMexico Retrieved November 17 2020 Boulos Nick October 31 2019 Mexico s true spirit Celebrating Day of the Dead in Michoacan Wanderlust Wanderlust Retrieved April 15 2020 Michoacan se consolida como El alma de Mexico con Dia de Muertos El Heraldo de Mexico in Spanish Morelia November 6 2018 Retrieved November 16 2020 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Historia History Enciclopedia de los Municipios de Mexico Michoacan in Spanish Mexico Instituto Nacional para el Federalismo y el Desarrollo Municipal 2009 Archived from the original on May 17 2011 Retrieved June 16 2010 a b El Estado de Michoacan Epoca Prehispanica The State of Michoacan Pre Hispanic Era in Spanish Morelia Michoacan UMSNH Archived from the original on January 24 2010 Retrieved June 16 2010 a b c El Estado de Michoacan Epoca Colonial The State of Michoacan Colonial Era in Spanish Morelia Michoacan UMSNH Archived from the original on March 2 2010 Retrieved June 16 2010 a b Archdiocese of Michoacan Catholic Encyclopedia Retrieved June 16 2010 a b Zamudio Silvia Figueroa Historia Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo History of the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo in Spanish Michoacan UMSNH Retrieved June 16 2010 a b c El Estado de Michoacan Epoca Independiente The state of Michoacan Independence Era in Spanish Morelia Michoacan UMSNH Archived from the original on November 29 2011 Retrieved June 16 2010 Estado de Michoacan de Ocampo Division Territorial de 1810 a 1995 PDF in Spanish Mexico INEGI 1996 p 116 ISBN 970 13 1501 4 a b c d e f g h i Medio Fisico History Enciclopedia de los Municipios de Mexico Michoacan in Spanish Mexico Instituto Nacional para el Federalismo y el Desarrollo Municipal 2009 Archived from the original on May 17 2011 Retrieved June 16 2010 Mexico Michoacan exported a total of 88 700 tons of mango in 2019 freshplaza com Retrieved April 15 2020 Bueno Isabel October 16 2018 Jaguars were the divine felines of the ancient Americas History Magazine Retrieved April 16 2020 Boyd Mildred April 2002 Where The Hummingbirds Were chapala com Chapala com Retrieved April 16 2020 Saldana Ruiz Luz Erandi Garcia Rodriguez Emiliano Perez Jimenez Juan Carlos Tovar Avila Javier Rivera Tellez Emmanuel 2019 Chapter Two Biodiversity and conservation of sharks in Pacific Mexico Sharks in Mexico Research and Conservation Academic Press pp 11 60 ISBN 9780081029169 Retrieved April 16 2020 Duellman William E December 20 1961 The Amphibians and Reptiles of Michoacan Mexico University of Kansas Publications Museum of Natural History Retrieved April 16 2020 a b Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve UNESCO World Heritage Centre UNESCO Retrieved November 13 2018 Society National Geographic October 30 2010 Monarch Migration Mystery National Geographic Society Retrieved November 13 2018 a b c d e Actividad Economica Economic activity Enciclopedia de los Municipios de Mexico Michoacan in Spanish Mexico Instituto Nacional para el Federalismo y el Desarrollo Municipal 2009 Archived from the original on May 17 2011 Retrieved June 16 2010 a b c Infraestructura Social y de Comunicaciones Social infrastructure and communications Enciclopedia de los Municipios de Mexico Michoacan in Spanish Mexico Instituto Nacional para el Federalismo y el Desarrollo Municipal 2009 Archived from the original on May 17 2011 Retrieved June 16 2010 El Estado de Michoacan Comunicaciones The State of Michoacan Communications in Spanish Morelia Michoacan UMSNH Archived from the original on November 29 2011 Retrieved June 16 2010 Phillips Patrick March 14 2021 Whatever Happened To Anna From Predator Looper com Retrieved May 21 2021 Publicaciones periodicas en Michoacan Sistema de Informacion Cultural in Spanish Gobierno de Mexico Retrieved March 7 2020 Latin American amp Mexican Online News Research Guides US University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Archived from the original on March 7 2020 Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo umich mx Retrieved January 25 2017 Traditional Food from Michoacan FICM April 27 2015 Retrieved April 16 2020 Regiones Turisticas Tourist Regions in Spanish Michoacan State of Michoacan Retrieved June 16 2010 Region Morelis Morelia Region in Spanish Michoacan State of Michoacan Retrieved June 16 2010 Morelia Music Festival 2019 Mexatua October 29 2019 Retrieved April 16 2020 SalsaMich Salsa Festival in Spanish Archived from the original on April 19 2011 Retrieved April 16 2020 Michoacan Secretaria de Turismo de Bullring Monumental de Morelia Places michoacan travel Retrieved April 16 2020 a b c Region Uruapan Uruapan Region in Spanish Michoacan State of Michoacan Archived from the original on May 5 2012 Retrieved June 16 2010 The guitar making hub of the world is a small Mexican town where handmade instruments can cost more than 5 500 Business Insider September 3 2020 Retrieved September 27 2020 Region Lazaro Cardenas Lazaro Cardenas Region in Spanish Michoacan State of Michoacan Retrieved June 16 2010 Region Patzcuaro Patzcuaro Region in Spanish Michoacan State of Michoacan Archived from the original on July 27 2010 Retrieved June 16 2010 Noche de Muertes in Michoacan Night of the Dead in Michoacan in Spanish Morelia Michoacan UMSNH Archived from the original on March 23 2010 Retrieved June 16 2010 Region Zamora Zamora Region in Spanish Michoacan State of Michoacan Retrieved June 16 2010 Region Zitacuaro Zitacuaro Region in Spanish Michoacan State of Michoacan Archived from the original on July 27 2010 Retrieved June 16 2010 Mexican criminal groups see Covid 19 crisis as opportunity to gain more power The Guardian April 20 2020 Retrieved April 24 2021 Sanchez Drazen Jorgic Uriel June 18 2020 As Mexico focuses on coronavirus drug gang violence rises Reuters Retrieved April 24 2021 Mexico Nathaniel Parish Flannery in Tancitaro May 18 2017 Mexico s avocado army how one city stood up to the drug cartels The Guardian Retrieved April 24 2021 Ewbank Anne November 28 2017 A Mexican Town Created an Avocado Protection Force Atlas Obscura Retrieved April 24 2021 a b Fisher Max Taub Amanda Martinez Dalia January 7 2018 Losing Faith in the State Some Mexican Towns Quietly Break Away The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved April 24 2021 a b More than a dozen police killed in ambush in violent Mexican state Reuters October 15 2019 Retrieved April 24 2021 a b In the heart of Mexico s violence disillusion grows AP NEWS February 10 2020 Retrieved April 24 2021 a b c d e Violence Hotspots in Michoacan Who Is Behind the High Murder Rate in the State Intelyse March 2 2020 Retrieved April 24 2021 Violent weekend leaves 13 dead in Michoacan The Yucatan Times October 28 2019 Retrieved April 24 2021 9 killed including 3 kids at video game arcade in Mexico AP NEWS February 4 2020 Retrieved April 24 2021 Mayor in Mexico s Michoacan state accused of kidnapping extortion Los Angeles Times April 28 2014 Retrieved December 27 2020 Mexico s Kidnapping Hotspots The High Risk States InSight Crime March 27 2017 Retrieved December 27 2020 Kidnap victim freed in Michoacan after 10 million peso ransom demand Mexico News Daily August 10 2018 Retrieved December 27 2020 Mexican criminal groups see Covid 19 crisis as opportunity to gain more power The Guardian April 20 2020 Retrieved December 27 2020 Wells Nicholas Mexico s Cartel Wars Living in a War Zone www occrp org Retrieved April 24 2021 Inside the bloody cartel war for Mexico s multibillion dollar avocado industry Los Angeles Times November 20 2019 Retrieved April 24 2021 a b Violence escalates in Michoacan clash between cartels leaves 6 dead Mexico News Daily December 4 2020 Retrieved April 24 2021 Mexico s Security Dilemma The Rise of Michoacan s Militias InSight Crime March 27 2017 Retrieved December 27 2020 Militias in Mexico Citizens Security or Further Conflict Escalation InSight Crime March 27 2017 Retrieved December 27 2020 Mexico extended population list GeoHive Archived from the original on March 11 2012 Retrieved July 29 2011 a b Perfil Sociodemografico Social demographic profile Enciclopedia de los Municipios de Mexico Michoacan in Spanish Mexico Instituto Nacional para el Federalismo y el Desarrollo Municipal 2009 Archived from the original on May 17 2011 Retrieved June 16 2010 Schwartz Marin Ernesto Silva Zolezzi Irma 2010 The Map of the Mexican s Genome Overlapping national identity and population genomics Identity in the Information Society 3 3 489 514 doi 10 1007 s12394 010 0074 7 S2CID 144786737 Charreada Archivos La Voz de Michoacan in Spanish Retrieved April 16 2020 Alvarado Sizzo Ilia Urquijo Torres Pedro 2018 La Espantosa Odisea italiana en la Hacienda Lombardia Una fuente documental sobre las Haciendas Cusi en Tierra Caliente de Michoacan 1914 Tzintzun 274 303 Retrieved April 15 2020 Valera Paya October 1 2002 Los ninos espanoles de Morelia el exilio infantil en Mexico 4 ed Editorial Milenio pp 133 137 ISBN 8497430409 Retrieved April 15 2020 Panorama sociodemografico de Mexico www inegi org mx External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Michoacan Michoacan Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 18 11th ed 1911 Geographic data related to Michoacan at OpenStreetMap Michoacan state government Adobe Flash Michoacan The Soul of Mexico Archived March 19 2009 at the Wayback Machine Municipalities of Michoacan site Adobe Flash Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Michoacan amp oldid 1132221505, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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