Othón P. Blanco, Quintana Roo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Othón P. Blanco
Municipality
Boulevard de Bahia, Chetumal
Flag Emblem
Location of Othón P. Blanco in Quintana Roo
Othón P. Blanco, Quintana Roo Location in Mexico
Country	Mexico
State	Quintana Roo
Founded	12 January 1975
Named for	Othón P. Blanco Núñez de Cáceres
Municipal seat	Chetumal
Area
• Municipality	10,028.65 km2 (3,872.08 sq mi)
Elevation	10 m (30 ft)
Population  (2020 census)
• Municipality	233,648
• Density	23.29805/km2 (60.34168/sq mi)
• Urban	182,178
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern Standard Time)
INEGI Code	23004
Website	www.opb.gob.mx

Othón P. Blanco is one of the eleven municipalities in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. It is named after Othón P. Blanco Núñez de Cáceres, a famous Mexican sailor.

In 2020, about 233,648 people lived here. The main city and government center is Chetumal. Chetumal is also the capital city of the entire state of Quintana Roo. The local government is led by the municipal president, who is like the mayor of the area.

Othón P. Blanco used to be much larger. It was once the fifth-largest municipality in Mexico by land area. However, in 2011, a new municipality called Bacalar Municipality was created. This meant Othón P. Blanco lost about 40% of its land.

Cities and Towns

The municipality of Othón P. Blanco has many different places where people live. These range from big cities to small villages.

The largest city is Chetumal, which is home to most of the people in the municipality. Other important towns include Calderitas, Nicolás Bravo, and Javier Rojo Gómez.

Population Changes Over Time

The number of people living in Othón P. Blanco has changed over the years. Here's how the population has grown:

Ancient Sites

Othón P. Blanco is home to several amazing ancient Maya sites. These places show us how people lived long ago. Some of the most famous sites are:

• Dzibanché
• Kohunlich
• Oxtankah
• Chakanbakán
• Kinichná
• Ichkabal
• Zamora

Plants and Animals

The area of Othón P. Blanco has many different types of plants and animals.

Plant Life

Most of the land is covered by medium-sized forests. Here you can find trees like the sapodilla, ramon, guayabillo, and chaco. In some areas, there are taller forests with trees such as siricote, palo de tinte, and mahogany.

Near the Caribbean coast, you will mostly see mangroves. These special trees grow in salty water. Farmers in the southwest grow crops like sugarcane.

Animal Life

The animal life in Othón P. Blanco is very rich. One special animal is the manatee, a large marine mammal. Manatees live in the bays and lagoons and have become a symbol of the region.

Other animals you might find include agoutis, wild boars, white-tailed deer, otters, turtles, and many kinds of birds.

Protected Areas

To protect these important plants and animals, there are special ecological reserves. These include:

• The Uaymil Flora and Fauna Protection Area, located on the northeast coast.
• The Manatee Sanctuary in Chetumal Bay, which helps protect manatees.
• The Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve, an important underwater area.

Fun Things to Do

Othón P. Blanco offers some great places for visitors to enjoy nature and relax.

Eco-Resorts

One example is Kabah-na, an eco-resort right on the coast. It has unique hexagon-shaped cabins with thatched roofs that stay cool naturally. The resort uses solar panels for electricity and hot water, making it very eco-friendly. You can enjoy the restaurant, beach bar, and activities like canoeing and snorkeling.

Another lovely spot is Rancho Encantado, located by the beautiful Laguna de Bacalar. It features cabins with palm-thatched roofs and Mexican decorations. The cabins are surrounded by tropical gardens, where you can see over 150 types of birds.

Images for kids

• 

  Río Hondo

• 

  Aerial view of the Zaragoza Canal, the Bay of Chetumal and the Caribbean Sea

• 

  Bacalar Lagoon

• 

  Junction of Highway 186 and 307 south of Laguna Bacalar

See also

In Spanish: Municipio de Othón P. Blanco para niños