Juquila District is located in the center of the

Costa Region The Costa Region or Costa Chica lies on the Pacific coast of the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, south of the more mountainous Sierra Sur inland from the coast. It includes the districts of Jamiltepec, Juquila and Pochutla. Climate The region has a t ...

of the State of

Oaxaca Oaxaca ( , also , , from nci, Huāxyacac ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca), is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of Mexico. It is ...

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

, on the Pacific coast. It has an area of 5,055 km². As of 2005 it had a total population of 134,365 of whom 33,106 spoke an indigenous language. Economic activities include agriculture and tourism. The Santuario (Sanctuary) de Juquila is a major attraction.

Environment

The district lies on the Pacific coast of southwestern Oaxaca, with generally hilly land rising to the southern edge of the Sierra Madre del Sur. The coastal climate is hot and humid, while inland the climate is warm and humid. The western part of the district includes the

Lagunas de Chacahua National Park The Lagunas de Chacahuan National Park ( es, Parque Nacional Lagunas de Chacahua), created in 1937, is a national park located in the Municipality of ChineseVilla de Tututepec de Melchor Ocampo in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, about 54 km we ...

, which includes the lagoons of Chacahua, La Pastoria, Las Salinas.

Economy

The most important economic activity is agriculture, including cultivation of maize, beans and vegetables for personal consumption. The people practice animal husbandry on a small scale, and some also hunt and fish. Coffee is grown inland, and various types of fruit near the coast. Tourism is important in the coastal region, particularly in Puerto Escondido. The town of

Santa Catarina Juquila Santa Catarina Juquila is a town in the State of Oaxaca, Mexico, and is the seat of the municipality also called Santa Catarina Juquila. It is part of the Juquila District in the center of the Costa Region. The name "Juquila" comes from "Xuhquilil ...

is known for the Santuario (Sanctuary) de Juquila, which houses a 30 cm statue of the

Virgin Mary Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother o ...

, which has been venerated since the 16th century. In 1633, it survived, completely intact, a fire that destroyed the village in which it was originally located. At the beginning of the 18th century, it was moved to its current location where the sanctuary was built for it. Thousands visit this Virgin from across the state of Oaxaca, other parts of Mexico and abroad. San Miguel Panixtlahuaca women

Indigenous people

The district roughly coincides with the area occupied by the Chatino people before the Spanish arrived, a group with close cultural and linguistic ties with the Zapotec people. The Chatino language is still widely spoken in inland communities such as

San Miguel Panixtlahuaca San Miguel Panixtlahuaca is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico. It is part of the Juquila District in the center of the Costa Region The Costa Region or Costa Chica lies on the Pacific coast of the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, ...

Santa María Temaxcaltepec Santa María Temaxcaltepec is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico. It is part of the Juquila District in the center of the Costa Region The Costa Region or Costa Chica lies on the Pacific coast of the state of Oaxaca, Mexico ...

and

Santiago Yaitepec Santiago Yaitepec is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico, two kilometers southeast of Santa Catarina Juquila. It is part of the Juquila District in the center of the Costa Region The Costa Region or Costa Chica lies on the P ...

. The ruins of the capital of the Chatino state are preserved near

Santos Reyes Nopala Santos Reyes Nopala is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico. It is part of the Juquila District in the center of the Costa Region. The name Nopala is derived from the Nahuatl word for nopatlan, Environment The municipality ...

, and include large stone buildings, ball courts and pyramids. The area in the west of

Villa de Tututepec de Melchor Ocampo Villa de Tututepec de Melchor Ocampo is a town and municipality in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico. History Before the arrival of Spanish, the area was occupied by a small Mixtec kingdom, established in 357 AD, when Prince Mazatzin arrived from ...

was occupied by a small

Mixtec The Mixtecs (), or Mixtecos, are indigenous Mesoamerican peoples of Mexico inhabiting the region known as La Mixteca of Oaxaca and Puebla as well as La Montaña Region and Costa Chica Regions of the state of Guerrero. The Mixtec Culture wa ...

kingdom established in 357 AD.

Municipalities

The district includes the following municipalities: Juquila municipalities

Gallery

File:Palafito y manglar Chacahua Mexico.jpg, Stilt house on Chacahua lagoon File:Chacahua Pier.jpg, Pier in Cacahua lagoon File:Mexico 167.jpg, A view of Puerto Escondido in San Pedro Mixtepec municipality

References

{{Juquila District, Oaxaca Districts of Oaxaca Costa Region