Misplaced Pages

#295704

97-402: The Comarca Lagunera or La Comarca de la Laguna ("region of lagoons") is a region of northern Mexico occupying large portions of the states of Durango and Coahuila , with rich soils produced by periodic flooding of the Nazas and Aguanaval rivers. Neither river drains into either the Pacific Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico, but rather they created a series of inland lakes . The region

194-533: A proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe Cinco de Mayo with appropriate ceremonies and activities. To celebrate, many display Cinco de Mayo banners while school districts hold special events to educate students about its historical significance. Special events and celebrations highlight Mexican culture, especially in its music and regional dancing. Examples include baile folklórico and mariachi demonstrations held annually at

291-509: A 17-centimeter one was found in 1963. Images of the animal appear drawn or etched into a variety of objects, but since the 1980s, the city of Durango has promoted souvenirs which have real dead scorpions encased in plastic. The arachnids are also cooked and served as a delicacy in markets such as Gomez in the capital. However, they were not traditionally eaten. Durango's soccer team is called the Scorpions. The state likes to promote itself as

388-781: A Cinco de Mayo skydiving event. In the Cayman Islands , in the Caribbean , there is an annual Cinco de Mayo air guitar competition, and at Montego Bay , Jamaica, there is a Cinco de Mayo celebration. The city of Brisbane , Queensland , Australia, holds an annual Mexican Festival to honor the day, and celebrations are held in London and New Zealand. Other celebrations of the day can also be found in Cape Town , South Africa, Lagos , Nigeria, and in Paris , France. Cinco de Mayo

485-649: A French request for American neutrality, the American secretary of state William H. Seward replied that French withdrawal from Mexico should be unconditional. More popular in the United States than in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo has become associated with the celebration of Mexican-American culture. Celebrations began in Columbia, California , where they have been observed annually since 1862. The day gained nationwide popularity beyond those of Mexican-American heritage in

582-462: A Pueblo Mágico. The most important mine is Ojuela, now famous for its hanging bridge which connects the town with the mine, separated by an extremely deep ravine. It one of the largest of its kind in the Americas. Nazas has a house that Benito Juárez slept in while he was here. Probably the best-known tourist product of the state relates to scorpions. In the 1980s, a number of entrepreneurs turned

679-409: A celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, first in areas with large Mexican-American populations, like Los Angeles , Chicago , Houston , New York , followed by Cleveland , Boston , Indianapolis , Raleigh , Dallas , San Antonio , Washington, D.C. , Atlanta , Miami , Orlando , Denver , Phoenix , Philadelphia , Tucson , San Francisco , San Jose , and San Diego . In a 1998 study in

776-571: A celebration of his power and his reign and made it something that was celebrated across Mexico and even in diasporic Mexican communities in the United States." Because of this association, in much of Mexico, Cinco de Mayo celebrations declined after Díaz was deposed in the Mexican Revolution . Today, the commemoration of the battle is not observed as a national holiday in Mexico (i.e. not a statutory holiday ). However, all public schools are closed nationwide in Mexico on May 5. The day

873-528: A disproportionately small share of funding compared to what the region provides in taxes, labor and production. The group gathered over 500,000 petition signatures in support of the proposal. In January 2014, the Mexican government responded, agreeing to take the proposal under consideration. It has average heat throughout the year, with an average temperature of 22 °C (72 °F) and extreme dryness, with an average rainfall of 300 mm (12 in). There

970-578: A former indigenous population center. The indigenous here were (and are) distinct from those in the center and south culturally. True to its dangerous reputation, the best-known animal of the state is the scorpion. The sting was possibly fatal in the past but the availability of antidote today makes this very rare. One reason why the creatures are so abundant is that the Sierra Madre Occidental make for perfect breeding grounds. Most scorpions range in size from one to twelve centimeters but

1067-624: A large number of bird species. At higher elevations, between 600 and 1200 meters, the vegetation changes to pine forests and the climate is more temperate. This area has had the most human habitation and agriculture. When the Jesuits arrived to the Quebradas, they introduced the grazing of cattle and large-scale farming of corn, sugar cane and fruit trees. In the hotter and wetter areas, they introduced bananas, cherimoyas, guavas , zapotes, plums, avocados, oranges and other types of citrus. However,

SECTION 10

#1732771919296

1164-602: A moratorium in which all foreign debt payments would be suspended for two years. In response, France , Spain , and the United Kingdom held a convention in London and joined in alliance to send naval forces to Veracruz to demand reimbursement. France, at the time ruled by Napoleon III , decided to use the opportunity to establish an empire in Mexico that would favor French interests, whereupon Britain and Spain negotiated with Mexico and peacefully withdrew. The empire

1261-427: A new government organizing his administration." The Battle of Puebla was significant, both nationally and internationally, for several reasons. First, "This battle was significant in that the 4,000 Mexican soldiers were greatly outnumbered by the well-equipped French army of 8,000 that had not been defeated for almost 50 years." Second, since the overall failed French intervention, some have argued that no country in

1358-594: A sense of national unity and patriotism. The Mexican victory, however, was short-lived. A year later, with 30,000 troops, the French were able to defeat the Mexican army, capture Mexico City, and install Emperor Maximilian I as ruler of Mexico. The French victory was itself short-lived, lasting only three years, from 1864 to 1867. By 1865, "with the American Civil War now over, the U.S. began to provide more political and military assistance to Mexico to expel

1455-634: Is 123,451.2 km or 12.3 million ha; this accounts for about 6.3% of the entire territory of Mexico. It is the fourth largest state, lying at the extreme northwest of the Central Mexican Plateau , where it meets the Sierra Madre Occidental —the highest peaks in the state. The state has an average elevation of 1,775 meters above sea level, with a mean elevation of 1,750 m in the Valleys region and 2,450 m in

1552-799: Is a pioneer for the reintroduction of the critically endangered Mexican grey wolf . The Tecuan National Forest is in the Quebradas. As a rural state, traditional agriculture is still the main economic activity for most of the population, despite only ten percent of the land being suitable for crops, and only fifteen percent being suitable for pasture. The main crops include corn, beans, chilli peppers, apples, alfalfa, and sorghum. Fruits such as apples and pears are grown in Canatlán, Nuevo Ideal and Guatimapé; nuts in Nazas and San Juan del Rio; and membrillo, apricots and peaches in Nombre de Dios. Most agriculture

1649-488: Is a rural state. It is sparsely populated. The three main cities contain almost 65% of the total population (Durango – 35%, Gomez Palacio 20.1% and Lerdo 8.6%). The remaining 35% of the population is scattered among 37 small urban centers and 5,757 villages of less than 2,500 inhabitants. Ninety-one percent of these have less than 250 residents. The state is associated with elements of the wild frontier: banditry, Revolutionary battles, mining and drug traffic. It claims to be

1746-568: Is a syncretism of indigenous and Catholic beliefs. The most important type of ceremony is the mitote or xibtal , which centers on dance around a bonfire accompanied by one-stringed instruments. They are most common at the beginning and end of the agricultural cycle. For patron saint days, cattle are usually sacrificed for feasting, accompanied by the dance of the Matachines and violin music. The second-largest indigenous group in Durango

1843-497: Is an average of 22 cold days a year, with temperatures ranging lows of 0 °C (32 °F) and highs of 40 °C (104 °F) The economic rise of the Comarca Lagunera is centralized in an urban center formed by the cities of Lerdo, Gómez Palacio, and Torreón. This major settlement has, as of 2000, a population of 1,249,442, out of which 912,822 are located in the urban area and 336,620 in rural settlements, making it

1940-678: Is an official holiday in the State of Puebla , where the Battle took place, and also a full holiday (no work) in the neighboring State of Veracruz . In Puebla, historical reenactments , parades, and meals take place to commemorate the battle. Parade participants dress as French and Mexican soldiers to reenact the battle. Every year the city also hosts the Festival Internacional de Puebla , which gathers national and international artists, traditional musicians and dancers, as well as

2037-442: Is basketry and other items made with stiff fibers. These include baskets proper, carrying nets or bags, petites, sombreros, furniture and decorative items made from ixtle, wicker, mesquite roots, reeds, pine needles, pine strips and cactus ribs. Textile work is produced all over the state, using cotton, ixtle , lechugilla and wool usually to make clothing. Cloth made with both backstrap and pedal looms are found frequently, but

SECTION 20

#1732771919296

2134-506: Is celebrated on September 16, commemorating the Cry of Dolores in 1810, which initiated the Mexican War of Independence from Spain. Cinco de Mayo has been referenced and featured in entertainment media, and has become an increasingly global celebration of Mexican culture, cuisine, and heritage. Cinco de Mayo has its roots in the second French intervention in Mexico , which took place in

2231-586: Is concentrated in the Valleys region, in particular, the municipalities of Guadalupe Victoria and Poanas. This is also the area with the highest profit agriculture. It is supported by its three main rivers: the Florida, the Alto Nazas, and the Tunal-Mezquital, which have been dammed primarily for agricultural purposes. Pastures in this area support large herds of cattle, much of which are exported to

2328-452: Is covered in forest with under five percent covered in rainforest. The state ranks second in Mexico in expanses of temperate forest land areas with 4.9 million ha. It is the country's main timber producer and the largest timber stock, estimated at 410,833,340 m . Its output accounts to between 20 and 30% of Mexico's total, producing mostly pine (73.3%) and oak. Although 18 municipalities have forestry operations, six account for just under 80% of

2425-848: Is defined by two rivers: the Nazas and the Aguanaval . The region has two reservoirs: the Lázaro Cárdenas (Palmito) and the Francisco Zarco (Tórtolas), located between the Cuencamé and Lerdo municipalities. Animals that can be found here include coyotes , gavilanes ( sparrowhawks ), various snakes , owls , chameleons , tarantulas and scorpions . Most of the economically important natural resources come from mining, including deposits of gold , silver , iron and mercury . There are also large deposits of marble. The La Laguna

2522-541: Is flat and its climate is dry. Temperatures are cold in the winter and hot in the summer. These municipalities are classified as either part of the Chihuahua Desert or in the transition zone. The area is relatively flat with some mountain ranges and a slight incline towards the interior of the country. The area was at one time under the sea, but today the vegetation consists of scrub, nopal cactus, maguey plants, barrel cactus and other arid zone plants. It

2619-969: Is formed from the fusion of the Saín Alto River and Trujillo River in Zacatecas. It receives the flows of the Reyes, Santiago and Mazamitote creeks. There are other important hydrologic components in the Comarca Lagunera region. The Benjamín Ortega Cantero dam in the municipio of Mapimí, the Francisco González de la Vega dam in Rodeo, the Los Naranjos dam in Simón Bolívar and the Cinco de Mayo dam in San Pedro del Gallo. Also,

2716-467: Is rugged with freezing temperatures in the winter and snow in the higher elevations. There is also a rainy season in the summer. The vegetation in the Sierra region is mostly pine–oak forest , consisting of pines , oak , cedar , and strawberry trees as well as grasslands . The fauna includes deer , pumas , coyotes , foxes , badgers and wild turkeys . Fish such as bass and catfish are found in

2813-450: Is short for La Comarca de la Laguna (the region of the lake) or Comarca Lagunera (region of lakes), an arid and semi-arid region that covers a significant portion of northeastern Durango and southeastern Coahuila. The area was created by sediments from torrential river flows deposited over large valleys. These river flows also created lagoons which served to recharge underground aquifers or remain as intermittent surface waters. Originally,

2910-795: Is still done by hand, often using crude wheels and local deposits of clay. The clays vary by region including the kaolin found in Peñón Blanco and Cuencamé. Those found in the Guadiana Valley produce cream tones. Green, red and white clays are found all over the state depending on the other minerals found in the soil of the area. There are a number of notable artisans who produced glazed pieces, including José Trinidad (Trino) Núñez and Rafael del Campo. Other important artisans include Margarito Palacios, Santos Vega and Catarino González. In Gómez Palacios and Ciudad Lerdo, there are some workshops doing high-fire work. The next most-widely done work

3007-567: Is the Huichol. Their communities are found on the edges of the state that border with Nayarit and Jalisco, where the Huichol are more numerous. The Huichol here identify with those in the other states, there is no separation. The Mexicaneros are the remnants of the indigenous brought by the Spanish from central Mexico to colonize the region. Today, only a small number survive in the communities of San Agustín de Buenaventura and San Pedro Jícaras in

Comarca Lagunera - Misplaced Pages Continue

3104-537: Is virtually ignored in Mexico." Time magazine reports that "Cinco de Mayo started to come into vogue in 1940s America during the rise of the Chicano Movement ." The holiday crossed over from California into the rest of the United States in the 1950s and 1960s but did not gain popularity until the 1980s when marketers, especially beer companies, capitalized on the celebratory nature of the day and began to promote it. It grew in popularity and evolved into

3201-762: The Americas has subsequently been invaded by any other military force from Europe. Historian Justo Sierra has suggested in his Political Evolution of the Mexican People that, had Mexico not defeated the French in Puebla on May 5, 1862, France would have gone to the aid of the Confederate States of America in the American Civil War and the United States' destiny could have been different. On May 9, 1862, President Juárez declared that

3298-646: The Festival Internacional del Mole , with an emphasis on the city's iconic mole poblano . In Mexico City, military commemoration is occasionally held at the Campo Marte . A street, Avenida Cinco de Mayo , in the Historic Center of Mexico City was named after the battle in 1862 by Benito Juárez. According to a paper published by the UCLA Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture about

3395-513: The Journal of American Culture it was reported that there were more than 120 official US celebrations of Cinco de Mayo in 21 different states. An update in 2006 found that the number of official Cinco de Mayo events was 150 or more, according to José Alamillo, a professor of ethnic studies at Washington State University in Pullman, who has studied the cultural impact of Cinco de Mayo north of

3492-535: The Mesozoic , where important marble and other non-ferrous minerals are exploited. The most important features within the Comarca Lagunera are the Sierra de Jimulco (altitude of 3,120 m), the Sierra del Rosario (altitude of 2,820 m), and the Sierra de Tlahualilo (altitude of 2,200 m). In the 1980s, proposals began being made that Comarca Lagunera become Mexico's 33rd state, separating from Coahuila and Durango. In

3589-833: The Nazas , Florido and Tunal Rivers. Reservoirs for this purpose include the Santiaguillo, Guatimapé and Refugio Salcido. It has large areas with grass, huizache , sabinos and poplar trees . There is a shallow wetland area called the Guatimapé, or Santiguillo. It provides vital habitat for flocks of migrating birds in winter, especially cranes , geese and ducks . Around this lake, there are Mennonite communities who are noted for their cheeses and cured meats. The region also provides habitat for coyotes, rabbits, squirrels, foxes, geese and ducks. The rivers contain fish such as catfish, bass, carp and tilapia. The area also has hot springs due to tectonic activity. The best known springs are

3686-692: The "Tierra del Cine" (Land of the Movies) due to its history of the making of Hollywood western. Today, some film and TV is still shot here. Although a number of the state's indigenous ethnicities disappeared with the coming of the Spanish, there are still a significant amount residing in the state, most still speaking Uto-Azteca languages. The four main ethnicities are Tepehuans (North and South), Huichols , Tarahumaras and Mexicaneros . The Mexicaneros speak Nahuatl . The Coras and Huichols speak languages named after their groups and are fairly closely related to Nahuatl. The Tepehuano and Tarahumara languages are of

3783-611: The 1980s due to advertising campaigns by beer, wine, and tequila companies; today, Cinco de Mayo generates beer sales on par with the Super Bowl . In Mexico, the commemoration of the battle continues to be mostly ceremonial, such as through military parades or battle reenactments. The city of Puebla marks the event with various festivals and reenactments of the battle. Cinco de Mayo is sometimes mistaken for Mexican Independence Day —the most important national holiday in Mexico—which

3880-480: The 8th largest metropolitan area in Mexico [1] . The Comarca Lagunera is Mexico's most important milk producer with a 14 percent of the national production of milk, 3.6 million liters of milk a day. And within the city of Torreón lies the largest silver refinery of the world, Met-Mex Peñoles . The Comarca is an important producer of raw materials and finished products: among which are cement, fertilizers, non-ferrous metals, marble, milk-derivates, among others. One of

3977-826: The 8th largest metropolitan area in Mexico. The Comarca Lagunera is formed by 15 municipios ; 5 in Coahuila ( Torreón Municipality , Matamoros Municipality , San Pedro Municipality , Francisco I. Madero Municipality , Viesca Municipality ) and 10 in Durango ( Gómez Palacio Municipality , Lerdo Municipality , Tlahualilo Municipality , Mapimí Municipality , Rodeo Municipality , Nazas Municipality , San Juan de Guadalupe Municipality , San Luis del Cordero Municipality , General Simón Bolívar , San Pedro del Gallo Municipality ). It covers an area of 44,887 km (17,331 sq mi) out of which 22,031 km (8,506 sq mi) belong to Coahuila and 25,856 km (9,983 sq mi) to Durango, which makes it 2.5 percent of

Comarca Lagunera - Misplaced Pages Continue

4074-798: The Basís Quebrada on the Presidio River. The sinkholes and rock formations, such as the El Espinazo del Diablo , are visible from the old highway to Mazatlan. It is one of the most representative landscapes of northwest Mexico. Cerro Gordo is the highest point in the state and is considered sacred to both the Tepehuanes and the Huichol people. This area is home to the La Michilía Biosphere Reserve , which

4171-471: The French army encountered heavy resistance from the Mexicans close to Puebla , at the Mexican forts of Loreto and Guadalupe. The French army of 6,500–8,000 attacked the poorly equipped Mexican army of 4,000. On May 5, 1862, the Mexicans decisively defeated the French army. The victory represented a significant morale boost to the Mexican army and the Mexican people at large and helped to establish

4268-586: The French." Upon the conclusion of the American Civil War , Napoleon III , facing a persistent Mexican guerilla resistance, the threat of war with Prussia, and "the prospect of a serious scrap with the United States", retreated from Mexico starting in 1866. The Mexicans recaptured Mexico City, and Maximilian I was apprehended and executed, along with his Mexican generals Miguel Miramón and Tomás Mejía Camacho in Cerro de las Campanas , Querétaro . "On June 5, 1867, Benito Juárez entered Mexico City where he installed

4365-584: The Mayrán and Viesca lagoons are big natural dams that constitute dry beds at the moment, and are unable to be filled due to the dams located in the Nazas River for the Mayrán lagoon and the city of Matamoros being in the Aguanaval River's flood path. The region is conformed by a large and truncated mountain range, in which several prominent features can be seen constituted by sedimentary rock from

4462-547: The Pacific Ocean, impacting the local climate of the state. Las Quebradas region, located over the mountain chain and on the northwest of the state, has a humid subtropical climate . Excepting the highest elevations, the rest of the state has semi-arid and temperate climates. It is hot and dry in the East, with some temperate areas existing at higher elevations. Most of the state is mountainous and heavily forested, with

4559-580: The Pacific through the state of Sinaloa. Further south, the Acaponeta , San Pedro Mezquital , and Huaynamota rivers flow southwest through the state of Nayarit. The region, especially its ravines and canyons, is hot and humid. It receives the most rainfall in the state. There is greater diversity of flora and fauna in its rainforests compared to the desert regions of the state. Animal species include pumas, white-tailed deer, armadillos, badgers, iguanas and

4656-471: The Pima branch. Language preservation varies from communities in which the language dominates to those in which only vestiges remain. The Southern Tepehuans are the largest indigenous group in Durango. The name comes from Nahuatl and means "masters of the hills" or possibly "conquerors in battle." The Tepehuans call themselves o'dam , which means "those who inhabit." Indigenous resistance to Spanish colonization

4753-568: The Plaza del Pueblo de Los Ángeles , near Olvera Street . Commercial interests in the United States have capitalized on the celebration, advertising Mexican products and services, with an emphasis on alcoholic beverages , foods, and music. According to Nielsen , in 2013 more than $ 600 million worth of beer was purchased in the United States for Cinco de Mayo, more than for the Super Bowl or St. Patrick's Day . The May 4, 2023 edition of The Washington Post published an article describing

4850-475: The Quebradas. Most forest land in the state is held by collectives called ejidos, but these have trouble competing with cheaper imported timber. Minerals were the initial draw to the area for the Spanish, the heyday for this activity was the 18th century as most of the state's historical landmarks can attest. However, mining continues to be an important economic activity. Durango is one of Mexico's leading producers of gold. There are deposits of gold and silver in

4947-724: The San Jacinto in the Silla Mountains and Peñon Blanco, which many schoolchildren in the area take trips to. Other major geographical formations in the Valleys Region include cliffs called Las Catedrales, along with those called Malpaís and La Breña, which were formed by lava flows over 250,000 hectares. The area is also home to the Cerro de Mercado which is important for its large deposit of iron . The valleys proper are flat and suitable for farming, with irrigation from

SECTION 50

#1732771919296

5044-579: The Semi-desert. The Semi-desert (sometimes called the Bolsón de Mapimí ) is located in the northeast of the state and includes the municipalities of Hidalgo , Mapimí (including the Silent Zone , Tlahualilo , San Pedro del Gallo , San Luis del Cordero , Nazas , Lerdo , Gómez Palacio , Cuencamé , Santa Clara , General Simón Bolívar and San Juan de Guadalupe . Most of the terrain here

5141-413: The Sextín River and the Ramos River. In its transit towards the Laguna de Mayrán it is contained in the Lázaro Cárdenas dam (3,336 million cubic meters). In its course it receives the flows of the Vizcaíno, Peñón, San Juan , Naitcha and Cuencamé creeks, and finally stops at the Francisco Zarco Dam (436 million cubic meters). The Aguanaval River , which has an average flow of 600 cubic meters per second,

5238-412: The Sierra Madre Occidental covering around two-thirds of the state. Like much of northern Mexico, the state has worked to reforest the degraded forests of the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental. Reforesting efforts have focused on replanting native tree species, versus those used for wood production. However, the tree density in many areas is still too low, especially on the eastern slopes of

5335-409: The Sierra Madre Occidental where tree poaching and clearing for agricultural activities is problematic. Many rivers begin in Durango, but lead into other Mexican states. Some of these rivers empty into the Pacific, or into the lake area of La Comarca, while one, the Florida, flows into the Gulf of Mexico. Ecologically, the state is divided into four regions: La Quebrada, the Sierra, the Valleys and

5432-410: The Sierra and Quebrada regions, most agriculture is subsistence for auto-consumption. Important crops include corn, beans, potatoes and oats. The Sierra is an important dairy producer, with its cheese notable in the state. In Las Quebradas, rivers are an important source of fish, especially trout and catfish. Today, forestry has great importance economically and politically. About 41% of the territory

5529-457: The Sierra region, San Dimas, Otáez and Topia. The Valleys region has deposits of gold, silver, iron and mercury. Most of the state's commerce is related to agriculture and mining. Gomez Palacio is home to most of the state's industry. There are factories which make cars, textiles, clothes, soap, oils, cookies, pasta and more. Food process, especially of chicken and dairy is important here as well. Durango's main source of income from outside

5626-418: The Sierra region. The city of Durango is on the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental, with an elevation of 1,857 m. Durango is landlocked, bordered by Chihuahua , Coahuila , Zacatecas , Nayarit and Sinaloa . It is divided into 39 municipalities, based on the 1917 Constitution of Mexico , and several additional divisions have been made since. The Sierra Madre Occidental blocks moisture from

5723-432: The United States. Sheep and goats are also raised here. Despite its dry climate, another important agricultural area has been the La Laguna region. Cotton was the main commodity crop of the La Laguna from the late 19th century to the 1970s. While some cotton and other crops such as alfalfa, wheat, grapes, sorghum and corn are grown, it is limited to areas along the Nazas and Aguanaval rivers that provide irrigation. Most of

5820-451: The Zape, Atotonilco and the Hervideros. The area is home to the state capital of Durango and many former haciendas that attest to the area's agricultural history. The Sierra region is in the west of the state. It includes the municipalities of Guanaceví , Tepehuanes , and parts of Santiago Papasquiaro , Topia , Canelas , Otáez , Tamazula , San Dimas , Pueblo Nuevo , Mezquital , Durango , Ocampo and San Bernardo . The terrain

5917-426: The aftermath of the 1846–48 Mexican–American War and the 1858–61 Reform War . The Reform War was a civil war that pitted Liberals (who believed in separation of church and state and freedom of religion ) against Conservatives (who favored a tight bond between the Catholic Church and the Mexican state). These wars nearly bankrupted the Mexican Treasury. On July 17, 1861, Mexican President Benito Juárez issued

SECTION 60

#1732771919296

6014-551: The agricultural land is in the municipalities of Gómez Palacios, Lerdo and Tlahualilo, part of the Lagunera region. Tlahualilo is also known for the production of watermelon and other melons. The rest of the land is too dry. Livestock is another important activity raising sheep, goats, cattle and chickens. In 1936, Mexican president Lázaro Cárdenas expropriated 225 profitable haciendas in the La Laguna region to create agricultural collectives called " ejidos ." However, this effort failed to significantly improve life for poor farmers in

6111-405: The animal into an unofficial symbol of state pride. Most are sold encased in acrylic and mounted on knickknacks such as ashtrays, napkin holders, keychains, earrings, wood boxes and wall mountings. These objects dominate tourist markets such as the Gomez market in Durango City. One reason for the limited economic development has been the limited transportation and other communications. The railroad

6208-445: The anniversary of the Battle of Puebla would be a national holiday regarded as "Battle of Puebla Day" or "Battle of Cinco de Mayo". The national celebration of the day peaked during the Porfiriato , the long rule of President/dictator Porfirio Díaz , who had fought in the Battle of Puebla as a young officer. According to historian Kelly Lytle Hernández , Díaz "strategically turned the Cinco de Mayo Festival or celebration into

6305-468: The arrival of the train in the city of Durango. The first movie set was constructed in 1922 in the former La Trinidad hacienda just outside the city of Durango, which made three movies. In 1954, 20th century Fox filmed the movie White Feather (La Ley del Bravo) with Robert Wagner and Debra Paget . It was the first Hollywood feature to be shot in the state, followed closely by Robber's Roost (Antro de ladrones) by United Artists. The two films mark

6402-504: The battle from an illness, however, and a larger French force ultimately defeated the Mexican army at the Second Battle of Puebla and then occupied Mexico City . Following the end of the American Civil War in 1865, the United States began lending money and guns to the Mexican Liberals , pushing France and Mexican Conservatives to the edge of defeat. At the opening of the French chambers in January 1866, Napoleon III announced that he would withdraw French troops from Mexico. In reply to

6499-481: The beginning of a movie industry that continues to the present day, although its heyday was in the 1960s and 1970s. The attractions for Hollywood here were the landscapes and the lighting. The first are similar to those of the Old West and the latter due to the climate. From 1954 to 1964, thirteen major productions were shot here and attracted stars such as Burt Lancaster , Audrey Hepburn , Charlton Heston , Maureen O'Hara and John Wayne who worked on films directed by

6596-400: The birthplace of Francisco Villa. For its history, Durango has been both a frontier and central Mexican entity, especially the city. During the colonial period, Durango eventually became one of the main cities of New Spain in part because it was both part of the center and periphery of the territory. One distinction the city has from other colonial cities is that it was not founded on or near

6693-409: The border. Los Angeles' Fiesta Broadway has been billed as the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration in the world, which it most certainly was at its peak in the 1990s when it attracted crowds of 500,000 or more. In recent years attendance has seen a dramatic decrease. On June 7, 2005, the United States Congress issued a concurrent resolution calling on the President of the United States to issue

6790-445: The center of the state and include the municipalities of Nombre de Dios , Durango , Nuevo Ideal , Canatlán , Guadalupe Victoria , Pánuco de Coronado , Poanas , Súchil , Vicente Guerrero , Ocampo , San Bernardo , Indé , Coneto de Comonfort , El Oro , Rodeo , San Juan del Río and Peñón Blanco . The region consists principally of river valleys and plains located among small mountain ranges. The main peaks in this area include

6887-435: The city, including the Ganot-Peschard Museum of Archeology , which is recognized by the National Institute of Anthropology and History as a site of historical significance. In Súchil, the former hacienda of El Mortero was the home of the Count of the Valley of Súchil and is one of the state's major examples of colonial architecture. The town of Mapimí has conserved its traditional urban layout which has permitted it to become

6984-486: The difficulty of crossing the mountains to the more prosperous Valleys region limited the economy here. Las Quebradas has mineral deposits, principally silver with some gold. Most of these deposits are found in an area that extends from the Humaya River to San Diego. During the 18th century, a number of royal mines were in operation here. They have been worked intermittently since them, with the last major activity in

7081-596: The far north of Durango. The Coras have some presence in communities near the Northern Tepehuanos, although they are more numerous in Nayarit and Jalisco. The Northern Tepehuanos are profoundly religious but language and culture is not significantly different from those in the south. The craft items of the state are very similar to those of Zacatecas and Chihuahua. Most of the items made are utilitarian and ceremonial. They are less known compared to those of

7178-420: The holiday of Cinco de Mayo as an American holiday with Mexican roots and not necessarily a Mexican holiday. Events tied to Cinco de Mayo also occur outside Mexico and the United States. As in the United States, celebrations elsewhere also emphasize Mexican cuisine, culture and music. For example, some Canadian pubs play Mexican music and serve Mexican food and drink, and a sky-diving club near Vancouver holds

7275-486: The late 1980s, three unsuccessful attempts were made in Congress to approve Comarca Laguna's statehood. Discussions have continued for decades, with no progress, until 2013, when a project named ELLA (Estado de La Laguna) presented the government with an updated proposal, arguing that statehood would help alleviate the issues of drought and poverty that plague the area. They say that the states of Durango and Coahuila provide

7372-573: The late 19th and early 20th century. The deposits attracted Europeans, displacing the native Acaxes , Xiximes and other indigenous groups, whose numbers fell with the introduction of European diseases. Many of the towns in this area including Félix de Tamazula, Valle de Topia, Santa Veracruz de Topia, Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Siánori, Santa María de Otáez and San José de Canelas began as mining towns. The mountains over 3,000 meters above sea level are dominated by dramatic landscapes, including waterfalls, old-growth pine forests and ravines, such as

7469-529: The likes of John Huston and Sam Peckinpah . Between 1965 and 1973, John Wayne alone worked on seven films including the Sons of Katie Elder . During the 1970s a total of 86 films was shot here. Forty-three were U.S. productions; 33 were Mexican productions and nine where collaborations between the two countries. To date, over 130 films have been shot here both because of the Western-type landscapes and

7566-419: The middle and south of the country. Many craft items are still important to local cultures and identities. The most widespread and developed handcraft in the state is pottery, found in just about all of the territory. All of the indigenous groups produce pottery, almost all for utilitarian and ceremonial purposes. There is more modern and varied pottery and ceramics in southern Durango, especially in and around

7663-777: The most important activities is that of the maquiladora (assembly plant) industry of clothing, car parts and electrical components. The region has a total of 32 professional studies centers, universities, community colleges, and technical institutes. The most important in the region are the Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila , the Tecnológico de Monterrey Campus Laguna , the Iberoamerican University Torreón , Universidad Autónoma de la Laguna , Universidad La Salle and Instituto Tecnológico de la Laguna . Durango The area of Durango

7760-528: The most-commonly made items are knitted. Embroidery is also widespread. Cinco de Mayo Cinco de Mayo ( pronounced [ˈsiŋko ðe ˈmaʝo] in Mexico, Spanish for "Fifth of May") is an annual celebration held on May 5 to celebrate Mexico 's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza . Zaragoza died months after

7857-448: The municipality of Mezquital. This is a mixed ethnic zone and they live near groups of Tepehuanos and Huichols who have traditionally been their enemies. Their presence as a community was practically unknown until the academic work of Honrad T. Preuss in the late 19th century. More recent studies of the people have been carried out by Neyra Patricia Alvarado. The Tarahumaras are mostly in the state of Chihuahua but there are communities in

7954-402: The national area. It borders north with the state of Chihuahua , and with Sierra Mojada Municipality and Cuatrociénegas Municipality of Coahuila, to the west with Indé Municipality and Hidalgo Municipality in Durango, to the southwest with the state of Zacatecas and to the east with Parras Municipality in Coahuila. This polygon is located in the north-central part of Mexico, between

8051-510: The natural light. The state is still called La Tierra del Cine (Land of the Cinema) although movie production here has waned with the decline of westerns starting in the 1980s. Many of the old sets are still standing, if not used, and some have been converted into tourist attractions, and one has been converted into a real town. Tourism is a small industry here, despite the state's natural resources and history. The government has worked to promote

8148-558: The northern border as well as both coasts. As the nearest seaport, trade and travel to Mazatlan have always been important to the state. The port has been a source for luxury goods since the colonial period, generally paid for with silver mined in the state. The Interoceanic Highway now connects the state with both coasts, and cuts travel time to three hours, less than half what it was before. Newspapers of Durango include: Contacto Hoy , Diario de Durango , El Siglo de Durango , El Sol de Durango, and Victoria de Durango. Durango

8245-677: The origin of the observance of Cinco de Mayo in the United States, the modern American focus on that day first started in California in 1863 in response to the resistance to French rule in Mexico. "Far up in the gold country town of Columbia (now Columbia State Park ) Mexican miners were so overjoyed at the news that they spontaneously fired off rifle shots and fireworks , sang patriotic songs and made impromptu speeches." A 2007 UCLA Newsroom article notes that "the holiday, which has been celebrated in California continuously since 1863,

8342-404: The parallels 24° 22' and 26° 23' North and meridians 102° 22' and 104° 47' West in the southernmost part of the Bolsón de Mapimí . The average altitude of the region is of 1,139 meters (3,737 ft). The Comarca Lagunera is subject to periodic flooding due to the overflowing of its principal rivers. The Nazas River , average flow of 1,900 cubic meters per second, is formed from the merging of

8439-403: The production. Most of the economy of the Sierra region revolves around forestry, including the sawmills and other wood processing facilities located there. Wood products from there are sold both in Durango and other parts of Mexico. They include plywood, furniture, shipping crates for agricultural products as well as pulp for paper. Most of this wood is pine but cedar is also cut in some areas of

8536-477: The region, often due to a lack of knowledge and technology, especially in the redistribution of water. The failure of this effort exacerbated the effects of droughts leading to crises in the 1950s and 1960s, only overcome with massive federal investment in hydraulic infrastructure, public works and industrialization. However, the effects of these works still have negative consequences for the La Laguna region. In

8633-516: The rivers supported habitat for native grasses, rush and ditch reed which provided habitat for various water birds and fish. The area is home to Durango's only caverns. The Rosario Caves (grutas) are located near Ciudad Lerdo , as well as the Mapimí Biosphere , noted for various plants and the desert tortoise. It is a highly protected area centering on where the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila and Durango meet. The Valleys are located in

8730-635: The rivers, along with various species of birds and reptiles. Most of the state's rivers originate in the mountains of this region. Las Quebradas is found in the far west of the state, including parts of Mezquital , Pueblo Nuevo , San Dimas , Otáez , Santiago Papasquiaro , Tamazula , Topia , Canelas and Tepehuanes . The region is subdivided by the rugged, western flank of the Sierra Madre. The terrain features deep ravines, canyons and fast-flowing rivers. The Humaya , Tamazula , Los Remedios, Piaxtla , Presidio , and Baluarte rivers flow west to

8827-444: The state capital in the municipalities of Durango, Poanas and Villa Unión. Common products include flower pots, jars, pots and cazuelas (large cooking vessels). The most decorative pottery is found in and around the city proper, with techniques such as pastillaje (laying small rolls or balls of clay over a pot before firing to make a raised design) and sgraffito , especially in the newer generations of pottery. Pottery production

8924-415: The state for tourism, but this is concentrated mostly on the capital (including the movie sets around the city), two other towns in the state and to some extent, ecotourism. There are many historic and tourist sites in the Valleys region, in particular in the city of Durango. The San Juan del Rio municipality has the house in which Francisco Villa was born. There are several important architectural sites in

9021-403: The state starting in the mid-20th century has been with the production of films. The first known filming in the state occurred when Thomas Edison sent producer James White and cameraman Fred Bleckynden here to film train rides, along with landscapes and scenes of daily life in 1897. The project produced six films, each fifty feet long and included bullfights, women washing clothes, road repair and

9118-427: Was an important development in the late 19th and early 20th centuries but its benefits did not extend far past where the lines went. The state has one international airport serving the capital, which has limited flights to other major Mexican cities and to the United States. However, its geographical position is becoming a benefit, rather than a hindrance to economic development, with its proximity both to Mexico City and

9215-460: Was developed for large-scale irrigated cotton agriculture. During the Mexican Revolution , the region was the site of fierce fighting. Following the military phase of the Revolution, the region was part of the agrarian reform under President Lázaro Cárdenas . The dam named for Cárdenas now controls flooding of the rivers, but the groundwater resources are no longer recharged as a result. It is

9312-472: Was part of an envisioned " Latin America " (term used to imply cultural kinship of the region with France) that would rebuild French influence in the American continent and exclude Anglophone American territories. Late in 1861, a well-armed French fleet attacked Veracruz, landing a large French force and driving President Juárez and his government into retreat. Moving on from Veracruz towards Mexico City ,

9409-561: Was particularly fierce there in the north. Eventually, Spanish might forced many to flee into the rugged mountains, where most of the indigenous communities still reside. It was this process that led to the northern and southern branches of the Tepehuan communities. Main Southern Tepehuan communities include Santa María de Ocotán, San Francisco, Teneraca, Taxicarinaga, San Bernardino de Milpillas and Lajas. The Tepehuan religion

#295704