Amacuzac facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Amacuzac
Municipal and rural
Country	Mexico
State	Morelos
Municipality	May 13, 1868
Area
• Total	125 km² (48 sq mi)
Elevation	900 m (3,000 ft)
Population (2020)
• Total	17,598
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (Central Time)
Area code(s)	751

Amacuzac is a city in the Mexican state of Morelos. Its name means "In the River of Yellow Amates". Amacuzac is located at 18°36′N 99°23′W, about 900 meters (3,000 ft) above sea level. The city is the main town for the area, which is also called Amacuzac. In 2020, the whole area had 17,598 people, and the city itself had 5,575 people. The total area is 125 square kilometers (48.3 square miles).

History of Amacuzac
Geography of Amacuzac
Places to Visit in Amacuzac
Main Communities
See also

History of Amacuzac

The first people who lived in Amacuzac were influenced by the Olmec civilization. Old items like beads, pots, small human figures, and stone carvings have been found. These items are from about 900 to 500 BCE, which was when the Olmec city of La Venta was at its strongest.

Colonial Times and Independence

During the time when Spain ruled Mexico, Amacuzac was part of a large estate called the Marquessate of the Valley of Oaxaca. Martin Cortés built a large farm called Hacienda de San Gabriel. In 1554, he gave land to build a church along the road to Acapulco. This church, named San Gabriel Yermo, was started by Franciscans and took 300 years to finish. Over the years, the Hacienda de San Gabriel grew very large, taking much of Amacuzac's land.

During the Mexican War of Independence, General Agustín de Iturbide had his main camp at San Gabriel Amacuzac. He met with General Vicente Guerrero there. They agreed to the Plan of Iguala, which helped end the war in 1821.

Rebuilding the Town

In 1850, a sickness called cholera almost destroyed the town of Amacuzac. The old town's ruins are about one kilometer south of where the town is today. The current town was started by Aniceto Aranda in 1853. He worked hard to rebuild it. By 1884, new families moved in, and by 1890, people in Amacuzac built a chalana (a type of boat) to move goods from Acapulco.

Later, in 1891, leaders from Morelos and Guerrero states met in Amacuzac to decide on their border. The border was set in the Serranía de Ocotlán mountains.

In recent times, Alfonso Miranda Gallegos was elected as the local president in 2018. However, he was not able to take office. Ramiro Iturbe Parra became the interim (temporary) mayor on October 2, 2019.

Amacuzac, like many places, was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico. Schools and many businesses were closed for a time. By August 31, 2020, Amacuzac had reported 19 cases, with 16 people recovering and one death.

Important People from Amacuzac

Martín Cortés, 2nd Marquess of the Valley of Oaxaca (1532-1589): He gave land to build the church of San Gabriel.
Gabriel J. de Yermo (1757-1813): A landowner and supporter of the Spanish king.
Agustín Cosme Damián de Iturbide y Arámburu (1783-1824) and Vicente Ramón Guerrero Saldaña (1782-1831): Generals who helped end the Mexican War of Independence at the San Gabriel Yermo hacienda.
Aniceto Aranda: He founded the new town of Amacuzac after the cholera sickness in 1851.

Geography of Amacuzac

Mountains and Hills

Most of the southern part of Amacuzac (about 59%) is flat land. In the south, there are mountains called the Sierra de Ocotlán (or Cerro Frío). The highest points here are Cerro del Veladero, el Sombrerito, and el Picacho, each about 1,250 meters (4,101 ft) high. North of Teacalco, you can find the Cerro de los Ajonjolíes and the Cerro de los Corrales, which are about 1,259 meters (4,131 ft) high.

Rivers and Water

Amacuzac gets its water mainly from the Rio Salado, which flows through Casahuatlán and Coahuixtla. The Amacuzac River runs along part of the area's border. It gets water from the Barranca de Xoapa stream, which starts in Tetecala. The Amacuzac River begins near Cacahuamilpa, Guerrero, where two other rivers meet. It is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) long. After leaving Amacuzac, it joins other rivers like the Río Chalma and Río Tembembe, eventually becoming part of the large Balsas River. There is also an important dam in Amacuzac at Rancho Nuevo, which can hold 2,000,000 cubic meters of water.

Climate

Amacuzac has a warm, tropical climate. The average temperature is about 25°C (77°F). It rains about 1,187 millimeters (47 inches) each year, mostly during the rainy season from June to October.

Plants and Animals

The area has many interesting plants, such as cazahuate (a tree with white flowers), ceiba, cuajilote (a thorny tree), tepehuaje, chapulixtle (a medicinal plant), mesquite, parota, and different types of huaje. You can also find nopal (prickly pear cactus), Guamúchil (a fruit tree), copal (used for incense), and huizache (acacia).

Many animals live here, including badgers, white-tailed deer, hares, rabbits, coyotes, weasels, cacomixtle (like a raccoon), opossums, foxes, skunks, armadillos, raccoons, ferrets, cuinique (chipmunk), and bats. Birds like the flagged bird, chachalaca, magpie, buzzard, raven, and owl are also common. Sadly, many of these animals are in danger of disappearing.

Sierra de Huautla Biosphere Reserve

The Sierra de Huautla Biosphere Reserve (REBIOSH) was created in 2006. It covers a huge area of 59,031 hectares (145,869 acres) and includes parts of Amacuzac and other towns. This area is very important because it has many different plants and animals that are only found in Mexico. It has different types of forests, from low forests to pine and oak forests. Many species have been found here, including 939 types of plants, 71 types of mammals, 208 types of birds, and many reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Some of the special animals you might find are jaguars, beaded lizards, military macaws, mountain lions, ocelots, and jaguarundis.

Natural Resources

Amacuzac has small quarries where people can get sand and stone for building. There is also a place with raw materials for making cement. The rivers also provide gravel and sand for construction.

Places to Visit in Amacuzac

La Hacienda de San Gabriel Las Palmas

This old monastery was built in 1529. Later, it became a large sugar cane farm and an important stop for travelers on the road between Acapulco and Mexico City. During the Mexican War of Independence, important meetings happened here, including the one between Vicente Guerrero and Agustín de Iturbide. Today, the old hacienda is a hotel, restaurant, spa, and museum. You can still see its historical watchtower and jail.

Zoofari

Zoofari is a fun Safari park located in Teacalco. It opened in 1984 and is home to over 1,500 animals from 130 different species. The park wants to teach people about respecting nature and protecting animals. You can drive through five sections of the park to see the animals up close. Zoofari also has a zip line, a restaurant, and a gift shop.

Other Attractions

The Church of San Gabriel Las Palmas in Amacuzac and the Church of Huajintlán are old churches built by Franciscans and Jesuits in the 1500s.
Local festivals are held to honor saints, like San Gabriel (March 24-30), St. Francis of Assisi (September 29-October 5), and the Virgin of Guadalupe (December 12-18). These festivals often have brass bands and traditional Chinelo dancers.
You can find natural beaches along the Amacuzac River in Huajintlán and Amacuzac, and along the Temembe River near San Gabriel de las Palmas. There is also a small water park called San Juan II in San Gabriel de las Palmas.
Local handicrafts include musical instruments like güiros, tambourines, and maracas.
Traditional foods include iguana stew, rabbit stew, red and green mole, and tamarind.
The biggest traditional Mezcal distillery in Mexico, Casa Resiu Mezcal, is in Santa Teresa.

Main Communities

Amacuzac is the main town. Its economy relies on farming and trade. It has 5,575 people and is about 47.8 kilometers (29.7 miles) from Cuernavaca. The town has three preschools, three elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. It is 899 meters (2,949 ft) above sea level.

San Gabriel las Palmas has 2,955 people. Its main activity is farming. It is 44 kilometers (27 miles) from Cuernavaca and 4.3 kilometers (2.7 miles) from Amacuzac. It has a preschool, two elementary schools, and a middle school. It is 915 meters (3,002 ft) above sea level.

Casahuatlán has 1,915 people.

Huajintlán is a farming community with 1,788 people. It is 49 kilometers (30 miles) from Cuernavaca and 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from Amacuzac. It is 956 meters (3,136 ft) above sea level and has a preschool, two elementary schools, and one middle school.

Coahuixtla has 1,151 people. Rancho Nuevo has 840 people.

Teacalco is a farming community with 711 people. It is 52 kilometers (32 miles) from Cuernavaca and 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) from Amacuzac. It is 991 meters (3,251 ft) above sea level and has a preschool, an elementary school, and a middle school.

Miahuatlán (El Cuiji) has 561 people. Cajones has 553 people.

The main crops grown in Amacuzac are sugar cane, sorghum, corn, beans, and peanuts. Farmers also grow vegetables like squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, and green tomatoes. Fruits like watermelons, mangos, guava, oranges, and lemons are also grown. Fishing in the rivers and fish farms are also important jobs for the people here.