Coalcomán de Vázquez Pallares

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Coalcomán de Vázquez Pallares is a municipality located in the southwest region of the Mexican state of Michoacán. The municipality has an area of 2,881.57 square kilometres (4.89% of the surface of the state)[1] and is bordered to the north by the state of Jalisco and the municipality of Tepalcatepec, to the east by Arteaga and Aguililla, to the south by Aquila, and to the west by Chinicuila. The municipality had a population of 18,156 inhabitants according to the 2005 census.[2] Its municipal seat is the city of the same name.

Coalcomán is a word of Nahuatl origin that means "Snake" or "Snake with Hands", according to some authors.[3]


Coalcomán, Michoacán is a small, inter-montane town tucked high in the crevices of the western Sierra Madre mountains. From the flatlands of Apatzingán a two-lane highway takes you there, twisting and winding its way up toward a deep blue sky with rolling cotton clouds that hug the fir-covered crests. Long pine needles rustle in the cool mountain breeze. Horses roam here and there. This is definitely high country.

Approaching Coalcomán the long limbs of bougainvilla reach out over fence tops with delicate blood-red tissue paper flowers. Just past the cemetery a sign reads, "Welcome to Coalcomán; home of illustrious men and radiant women."

[edit] References

  1. ^ Michoacán Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México. Retrieved on October 8, 2007
  2. ^ 2005 Census. INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática. Retrieved on 2007-10-08.
  3. ^ Aguililla, Michoacán Pueblo Náhuatl. Retrieved on October 8, 2007

Coordinates: 18°47′N, 103°10′W