Amatlán de Cañas

Amatlán de Cañas is a municipality and municipal seat in the southwest of the state of Nayarit, Mexico. The population in 2000 was 12,088 in a total area of 765 km², which made up 2.77% of the surface of the state. The municipal seat had a population of 3,257 in 2000. [1]

Origin of the Name

The Nahuatl word Amatlán, “place where there is an abundance of amate and paper”, is composed of the words “Amtl”, tree known as “Ámate and Paper” and “Tlán”, place where there is an abundance of. When the municipality was created the word cañas was incorporated because of the presence of sugar mills (trapiches) in the region.

Geography

It has the geographical coordinates of 20°36’ and 21°00’ latitude north and 104°14’ and 104°38’ longitud west. It is bordered on the north by the municipalities of Ahuacatlán and Ixtlán del Río; on the east, west, and south by the state of Jalisco. See [2] for map.

Amatlán is mainly mountainous with 85% of its surface in mountains and 15% in semi-flat areas. There are several peaks with Cerro Alto the highest at 2,080 meters. The municipal seat itself is located at an elevation of 740 meters.

The main rivers are the Ameca, which forms the boundary between the states of Nayarit and Jalisco and the Amatlán, which rises in the Pajaritos mountains, southeast of Ixtlán del Río. There are also springs of hot water in Amatlán, los Mezquites and San Blasito, which are visited by locals and tourists from all over the surrounding region.

The climate is hot sub-humid in 97% of the territory. it rais from June to September, with rainfall of 1,263 mm, maximum, and 742 mm, minimum. The winds are moderate from the southeast. The temperature oscillates between 18° C and 22° C. sometimes reaching 33º C.

The main population centers are Amatlán de Cañas with 3,275 inhabitants in 1995, Estancia de los López with 2,258, El Rosario with 1,409, Tepuzhuacán with 1,217, Mezquites 814 and Jesús María with 559. 76% of the municipal population lives in these settlements.

Socio-demographic Profile

Ethnic Groups

In 1995 the municipality had a small ethnic group of 25 Huicholes, who made up 0.23% of the municipal population.

Demographic Evolution

In 1995 the 12,601 inhabitants made up 1.4% of the total state population; seventeenth place in the state. The population density was 16.5 habitantes per square kilometero, being one of the least populated in the state. From 1990 to 1995, the total population decreased 4.3%, caused by migratory phenomena towards the United States and the state of Jalisco.

Religion

95 per cent of the population was Catholic, although there were small groups of Protestants.

Education

The infrastructure of the municipality covers the necessities of the basic and middle level with 16 preschools, 31 primary schools, 9 federal secondary schools and one middle level to higher level school. There were 173 teachers in 1995. There is a public library. Most of the students leave the region to carry out their studies in Jalisco and in Tepic, the capital. The illiteracy rate was 13%.

Health

The municipality has the following infrastructure: a hospital of ISSSTE, 6 medical units of Servicios de Salud de Nayarit, four of Programa IMSS- SOLIDARIDAD and a clinic of DIF.

Means of Communication

In 1995 the highway network had 101.6 kilometers, of which, most were paved or gravelled and the rest rural roads of dirt surface. Of the first the most important is the highway linking Amatlán with Uzeta; which goes from Amatlán de Cañas to Ahuacatlán, passing through Barranca del Oro, Pilón and Estancia de los López. There is also a runway for small planes, which is in the settlement of Rosario. Transport is carried out by four bus lines and diverse taxi services.

Economy

Most of the population is engaged in agriculture, cattle raising and services. The main agricultural products are maize, beans, peanuts, potatoes, and sorghum. There is also some fruit cultivation: bananas, papaya, plums, avocado and citrus fruits.

The cattle herd is small due to the steep elevations.

Despite deforestation there is still logging carried out mainly of oak.

In mining the municipality produces gold, silver, copper, zinc, and lead, all exploited in low scale by panhandlers (gambusinos) in the mines of Barranca del Oro and El Pilón.

Industry is small and is mainly manufacturing. There is a rice-separation mill, maize grinding mills, small shops and bakeries, as well as small factories of tiles, ice, soap and toasted peanuts.

Tourism

The main tourist attractions are the hot springs of El Manto and the villages of Barranca del Oro and El Rosario.

El Manto is a rustic swimming area nestled in a canyon at the foot of a 7-meter (20 foot) high waterfall among thick vegetation and mountain scenery. The river waters form a stream with fine sand that leads to semi-natural pools, 10 by 20 meters ( 30 by 60 feet) wide which are fed by waters which spring from among the rocks. There are picnic areas, sanitary services, restaurant and other conveniences.

In recent years this once off-the-track location has attracted New Agers fleeing the hustle and bustle of urban society. There is even a juice fasting resort.

External Sources

• Mexico Desconocido
• Amatlán de Cañas: Holistic Retreat in Mexico
• Circle of Life Hot Springs Retreat
• Hot Springs Resort
• Amatlán De Cañas (in Spanish)
• Amatlán (in Spanish)
• Hotel Aguacaliente
• Turismo Nayarit

See also

• Municipalities of Nayarit

20°48′N 104°24′W