- Amatlán de Cañas
Amatlán de Cañas is a municipality and municipal seat in the southwest of the
Mexican state ofNayarit . The population in 2005 was 10,392 (12,088 in 2000) 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 3,275 in 2005. [http://www.inegi.gob.mx/inegi/default.asp]It has the geographical coordinates of coord|20|36|N|21|00|W|.It is bordered on the north by the municipalities of Ahuacatlán and
Ixtlán del Río ; on the east, west, and south by the state ofJalisco . See [http://www.maps-of-mexico.com/nayarit-state-mexico/nayarit-state-mexico-map-main.shtml] for map.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.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
Río Ameca , which forms the boundary between the states ofNayarit andJalisco and theRío Amatlán , which rises in the Pajaritos mountains, southeast ofIxtlán del Río .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 inhabitants per sq. km., 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 .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.
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 in Amatlan (Agua Caliente and Aguas Termales swimming pools), El Manto and the villages of Barranca del Oro and El Rosario.
ee also
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Municipalities of Nayarit References and external links
* [http://www.rivieranayarit.com/ Official Website of Riviera Nayarit, Mexico]
* [http://www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx/english/index.cfm Mexico Desconocido]
* [http://www.mexicomike.com/hot%20springs/amatlan_de_canas.htm Amatlán de Cañas: Holistic Retreat in Mexico]
* [http://www.circle-of-life.net/hotspringsretreat.html Circle of Life Hot Springs Retreat]
* [http://www.lospavorreales.com/ Hot Springs Resort]
* [http://www.amatlan.info/index.html Amatlán De Cañas (in Spanish)]
* [http://www.amatlan.com/index.html Amatlán (in Spanish)]
* [http://www.amatlan.com/para%20servirle/aguacaliente/aguacaliente.htm Hotel Aguacaliente]
* [http://www.turismonayarit.gob.mx/principali.html Turismo Nayarit]
* [http://www.amatlan.com/index.html Amatlán (Visit Amatlan.com, World Class Website)]
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