Temascal, Oaxaca facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Temascal
|
|
|---|---|
 Temascal, Oaxaca
Location in Mexico
|
|
| Country |  Mexico |
| State | Oaxaca |
| Municipality | San Miguel Soyaltepec |
| Elevation | 35 m (115 ft) |
| Population
(2010)
|
|
| • Total | 6,566 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (US Central)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (Central) |
Temascal is a town in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It is the main town of the San Miguel Soyaltepec area, which is called a municipality. This area is part of the Papaloapan Region.
The name Soyaltepec comes from the Náhuatl language. It means "hill of palm trees." The local Mazatec people also have a name for the area, Naxhingee, which means “ragged hill.”
Contents
A Look at Temascal's History
The original town of San Miguel Soyaltepec was started a long time ago, in the year 1500. This area has seen important events in history.
A Battle for Freedom
On April 25, 1865, a big battle happened here. French forces were trying to invade, but they were defeated. Colonel Luis Pérez Figueroa led the local fighters to victory. Because of this important win, the town's name was changed in 1868. It became Patriótica Villa de San Miguel Soyaltepec. This means "Patriotic Town of San Miguel Soyaltepec."
The Great Dam and Relocation
In 1954, a very large dam was finished. It was called the Presidente Miguel Alemán dam. When the dam was built, it created a huge lake. This lake covered the original town of San Miguel Soyaltepec. About 22,000 Mazatec people had to move to new homes.
The San Miguel Soyaltepec Municipality
Temascal is the main town of the San Miguel Soyaltepec municipality. A municipality is like a local government area.
The Important Dam
The Presidente Miguel Alemán dam is very important. It helps control the Río Papaloapan river. This river used to have very bad floods. The dam also makes a lot of electricity. It produces 725 million kilowatts of power!
Fun on the Lake
The large lake created by the dam is great for water sports. People enjoy fishing for different kinds of fish. You can find catfish, mojarra, and carp here. Boat tours are also popular. You can visit islands like San Miguel Soyaltepec and Isabel María.
Nature Around the Lake
The areas around the lake are full of nature. You can see many different kinds of water birds. There are also small mammals and reptiles living there. It's a great place to observe wildlife.
See also
In Spanish: Temascal para niños
