Cuautla, Morelos

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Cuautla is a city and its surrounding municipality in the Mexican state of Morelos. It stands at 18°49′N 98°57′W.

The municipality reported 153,329 inhabitants in the year 2000 census. Cuautla is the state's second largest city and also the second with ever growing population after Cuernavaca.

It stands out due to its many thermal waters, health resorts. It is also surrounded with many archeological sites such as Chalcatzingo, and indigenous communities like Tepoztlan and Tetelcingo.

Agua Hedionda (Which in Spanish means "Smelly water"), considered the best spring waters in the world, due to its chemical composition, is also placed in this little city. These waters have a characteristic smell that reminds that of rotten eggs, thanks of the concentration of sulfur it possesses.

Cuautla was also place to one of the fiercest battles during the Mexican war of independence from the Spanish control which begun on February 19th and ended on May 2nd in the year 1812. The city was taken by forces of the priest and General Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon who defended it against the Spaniard General Felix Maria Calleja for weeks before having to retreat.

During the Mexican Revolution Cuautla was the first city conquered by the forces of Emiliano Zapata who was born in Anenecuilco just south of Cuautla.

The tomb of the famous Mexican revolution hero Emiliano Zapata is also placed in this city and every year several festivities are held around his death anniversary.

[edit] Tourism

The Morelos Museum contains artifacts and descriptions about Mexico's War of Independence from Spain. It honors Jose Maria Morelos whose rebel troops managed to hold off Royalist troops for 58 days. The Museum is adjoining the old narrow gauge railroad which was used to haul sugar cane to the local mills. The narrow gauge was retired in 1973.