Colima Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

State of Colima

Flag	Coat of arms

Location within Mexico

Municipalities of Colima

Country

Capital

Area

Ranked 29th

• Total

5,191 km² (2,004 sq mi)

Population

(2005)

• Total

567,996(Ranked 31st)

Time zone

UTC-6 (CST)

• Summer (DST)

UTC-5 (CDT)

HDI (2004)

0.8001 - high
Ranked 14th

ISO 3166-2

MX-COL

Postal abbr.

Col.

Website

Colima state government

Colima, officially known as the Free and Sovereign State of Colima, is one of Mexico's 32 federal areas. It is one of the 31 states, along with the Federal District. The state shares its name with its capital city, Colima.

Colima is a small state located in western Mexico. It sits on the central Pacific coast. The state also includes four islands in the ocean called the Revillagigedo Islands. Colima shares its land borders with the states of Jalisco and Michoacán. Besides the capital, other important cities are Manzanillo and Tecomán. Colima is one of the smallest states in Mexico. It also has the smallest population. However, it has a high quality of life and low unemployment.

The Revillagigedo Islands are part of Colima's territory. These islands are Socorro, San Benedicto, Clarión, and Roca Partida. They are managed by the federal government. But they are considered part of the Manzanillo area.

The state is divided into ten municipalities. These are like local government areas. Colima's natural landscape has two main parts. The northern part has cooler weather because of its higher mountains. The southern part is hotter and includes the Pacific Ocean coastline.

Exploring Colima: Fun Places to Visit
Ancient History: Archaeology in Colima
- El Chanal: Ancient Pyramids and Ballcourts
- La Campana: A Ceremonial Center
Learning in Colima: Education for All
- University of Colima: A Place for Higher Learning
Images for kids
See also

Exploring Colima: Fun Places to Visit

Colima has many exciting places to visit. The beaches of Manzanillo are very popular. People from western Mexico love to visit them. It's also a favorite spot for sports fishermen.

Manzanillo: The Sailfish Capital

Historically, the port of Manzanillo was a starting point for sea trips. It also received the famous Manila Galleon from the Philippines every year. Since 1957, Manzanillo has been called the "World Capital of the Sailfish." This is because 336 sailfish were caught there in one year. Many sailfish and marlin live in these waters. This makes Manzanillo a great place for sports fishing. The city even hosts the annual Dorsey International fishing tournament.

Comala: A Magical White Village

The small town of Comala is another important place to visit. It is close to the capital city of Colima. Comala was named a "Pueblo Mágico" (Magical Town) in 2002. This was because of its beautiful natural surroundings. Its traditional buildings are also very special. The downtown area has been declared a historic monument. Since 1962, all buildings in Comala have been painted white. Most also have red tile roofs. This is why it's known as the "White Village of America."

Historic Haciendas: Old Estates to Explore

You can also visit several old haciendas in Colima. Many of these large estates have been fixed up.

The Del Carmen hacienda is in the Villa de Álvarez area. It was a cattle ranch in the 1800s and has been restored.
The San Antonio hacienda is in the Comala area. It was a coffee farm in the 1800s. It has a chapel and an aqueduct, which have all been restored.
The former Nogueras hacienda in Comala has a main house from the 1800s. It also has a chapel from the 1600s. This hacienda has been restored and is now mostly used as a museum.

Ancient History: Archaeology in Colima

This ceramic dog was found in an ancient tomb in Colima, Mexico. You can see it at the Tamayo Museum in Oaxaca.

One of the earliest cultures in Colima was the Capacha culture. This culture grew in the region between 2000 and 1200 BCE.

El Chanal: Ancient Pyramids and Ballcourts

El Chanal is located about four kilometers north of Colima city. It is a complex of ancient pyramid platforms with stairs. There is also a Mesoamerican ballcourt and several open plazas. A special feature of this site are stones with ancient symbols, called glyphs. These glyphs are found on the stairways.

La Campana: A Ceremonial Center

La Campana is located within the city of Villa de Álvarez. It was a ceremonial center with various temples. It also has pyramid platforms with rounded edges. At least one of these platforms was used as a tomb. The tomb inside is still visible today.

Learning in Colima: Education for All

Colima has many schools for students of all ages. The state has 307 preschools, 510 primary schools, and 131 middle schools. There are also 57 high schools and vocational schools. Today, more than 85% of the people in Colima finish primary school.

Higher education includes several technology schools, universities, and colleges for teachers. Just over half of these are located in the city of Colima.

University of Colima: A Place for Higher Learning

The University of Colima was started in 1940. It followed the ideas of President Lázaro Cárdenas. He wanted to provide higher education to people from poorer families. Today, the university offers high school level classes. It also has undergraduate and graduate degrees. The university grew a lot in the 1980s. During that time, its reputation in Mexico and other countries improved. Most of the university's main study areas focus on agriculture, industry, and business. This helps to improve Colima's economy.