Xonotla
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Xonotla | |
— Municipality — | |
Country | Mexico |
---|---|
State | Puebla |
Municipal seat | Xonotla (town) |
Largest city | |
Government | |
- Municipal president | |
Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
- Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
Website: (Spanish) |
Xonotla is a town located northeast of Puebla in Mexico. Its borders are with Tuzamapan de Galeana to the north, Cuetzálan del Progreso to the east, Zoquiapan and Nauzontla to the south and Caxhuacan and Huehuetla to the west.
Contents |
[edit] Name
Its name comes from the Nahuatl words "Xonotl, jonote" that means hard crust, and "Tla" that means abundant, so the meaning of both mixed is "Where the jonote is abundant".
The people named this place "Xonotla" because there are many trees called of this way whose oil was used to cure hurts. The place was named by Ixocélotl whose name means "Tiger Face"
It has 73.99 square kilometers and is 800 meters over the sea and goes down 500 meters toward the Zempoala and Tozán rivers.
[edit] History
The place was founded by a native named Ixocélotl in 1180 A.D.
Xonotla was a crowed place with many people and when the conquistadors came they increased the population. The people used to speak 2 languages that were the Náhuatl which is Mexican and the Totonaca that is the original.
In 1591 San Martín Tuzamapan, Santiago Ecatlán and San Francisco Ayotoxco belonged to Xonotla.The people that lived there were conquered by the emperor Moctezuma. He received tribute from them of corn, beans and chile but just when they could because they did not have the days pointed.
They used to make sacrifices to Totonac who was the god they adored.
On 13 August 1552 Diego Ramirez charted the town.
In 1608 most of the population died because of a epidemic and from 1840 to 1849 groups of people arrived ther to re-populate the place.
[edit] Climate
It has 2 climates:
In the south-western part there is a Sub-humid ,semi-warm climate with rains all the year.
In the northeastern zone there is a humid warm climate with rains all the year.
[edit] Main ecosystems
The flora is composed by species like chalahuite, jonote, blood of degree, encino, charcoal, cedar, mahogany and a great variety of perennial leaf shrubs. It has abundant variety of ferns, including arborescentes, orquídeas, camellias, lilies and tulips.
Most of the territory presents coffee plantations and small areas where sowing maize. Xonotla counts with an ample variety of species as: armadillo, wild boar, coyote, tejón, rabbit, squirrel, doves, chachalacas, and birds of several colors.There also are reptiles like: coralillo, flying, aquatic nauyaca, mazacuate, trout, catfish, prawn, stupid fish, acamaya, and others.
[edit] Natural resources
Wood forests are used for construction.
Characteristics of ground:
There are 4 ground groups:
Litosol: It is the predominant ground.It occupies more than 50% of the surface mainly in the central and sud-occidental portion.
Regosol: It is located in the northeastern portion.It presents onerous phase.
Feozem: It is located in the creek of Apulco.
Andosol: It is located in a reduced area of the southwest
[edit] Population
There are 2 ethnic groups. The first one is the Náhuatl which is the biggest one followed by the Totonaco.
According with the 1995 populations count ther are 4,559 people living there.
[edit] Economic activity
Agriculture
Xonotla produces grains like corn, bean and coffee.
Ranching
It counts with the following types of cattle: bovine, pig, goat, donkey and rabbit.
Fishing
There exists rivers where native species like the catfish, prawn, mojarra, stupid, robalo, acamayas and young donkeys of rive can be fished.
Industry
Between the main industrial activities the mills of nixtamal and the manufacture of wood furniture are highlighted. Theres is also a hotel.
[edit] Tourism
Its church is the most important place of the town because it has a miracle inside.
The legend says that many years ago a native that was walking trough the mountain saw how a big stone detached from the mountain. He was surprised so he approached to see if everything was right.When he took a look he found a little virgin in the mountains´ stone. Since then people go there to pray and they say that each year the virgin is growing.