Oaxtepec
Oaxtepecis a town within the municipality ofYautepecand theCuautlametropolitan area in the eastern part of theMexican stateofMorelos.Its main industry is tourism, mostly aimed at the inhabitants of nearbyMexico City,and the town possesses various aquatic resorts and hotels. The climate is tropical and the countryside very lush.
The population of Oaxtepec is 7,097 (2020).[1]Oaxtepec had 6,939 inhabitants in 2010.[2]During the XIX Olympiad in 1968, Oaxtepec was the venue and staging area for the World Youth Camp component of the Cultural Olympiad.[citation needed]Equestrian events at the 1968 Olympiad were held in Oaxtepec.[3]
History
[edit]In pre-Columbian times, already one of the largest towns in the region, it was conquered by theAztecsunder the rule ofMoctezuma Ilhuicamina.[4] During Moctezuma Ilhuicamina's reign (1440–1469), the first leisure center for nobles was created in the warm territory of Oaxtepec, as well as low lands to the south ofTenochtitlanvalley, today'sMorelos.Moctezuma ordered to use thewater springsof Oaxtepec to create anirrigationsystem foragricultureand preservation of important vegetation of theAztecempire. An elaborate royal garden was established here where both flowers and other plants were cultivated. This was the first botanical garden in the Americas.[5]
When the Spanish first arrived in the region, they marveled at the beauty of the place. They praised Oaxtepec in theirchroniclesof theAztecconquest.[6]: 338
In the 16th century, thanks to the great number of medicinal plants found in the region, theSpaniardsdecided to build theSanta Cruz de Oaxtepechospital. Bernandino Álvares directed the project in 1569 and for the next two hundred years it was administrated by theHermanos de la Caridad(Brother of Charity). TheTemplo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán(Church of Saint Dominic of Guzman) was built on the ruins of the main pyramid of Oaxtepec.
A major event occurred in 1964 when theCentro VacacionalAdolfo López MateosIMSS Oaxtepec(waterpark run byMexican Social Security Institute) was built on 120 hectares of land. This was the most important water park in Latin America. In 2018 it was remodeled, sold to a private company, and renamedSix Flags Hurricane Harbor.A smaller water park calledParque Acuatico Oaxtepec(PAO) used to be in the area, but it was purchased by Hurricane Harbor.[7]
Name and location
[edit]The etymology of Oaxtepec is from theNahuatl languageand it means "On the mountain of huajes".Huajeis the Mexican Spanish name for theleadtree,Leucaena esculenta,whose fruits are edible and is a popular food in south-central Mexico.[8]
Oaxtepec is located at an altitude of 1,377 metres (4,518 ft) above sea level.
- 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from the municipal seat ofYautepec.
- 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) (21 minutes) fromCuautla, Morelos.
- 44 kilometres (27 mi) (44 minutes) from the state capital ofCuernavaca.
- 91 kilometres (57 mi) (1 hour, 47 minutes) viaMexican Federal Highway 113or 100 kilometres (62 mi) (1 hour, 29 minutes) viaMexican Federal Highway 95DandMexican Federal Highway 115Dfrom Mexico City.
Places of interest
[edit]Monastery of Santo Domingo
[edit]
The Ex-convento ofSanto Domingo Félix de Guzmánwas built by theDominican Orderbetween 1528 and 1580. The church was actually calledSantiago Apóstol.It consists of an atrium opening onto the town's main plaza, a singlenave,and two small chapels. There are two towers on the side.[9]
During theSiege of Cuautla(1812), the church served as headquarters for GeneralLeonardo Bravo.It also served as a headquarters for theLiberation Army of the Southduring the Mexican Revolution. Later it was a high school incorporated with theAutonomous University of the State of Morelos, (UAEM)and as the local House of Culture. A few years ago it was returned to theChurch.[9]
Water Parks
[edit]Six Flags Hurricane Harboris a chain of water parks headquartered inGrand Prairie, Texas.Features include a variety of body slides, speed slides, tube slides, wave pools, lazy rivers, and shopping areas. The Oaxtepec water park opened in 2017 and is one of the largest in Latin America.[10]The water park opened asCentro Vacacional "Adolfo López Mateos" IMSS Oaxtepecon 120 hectares (300 acres) of land run by theMexican Social Security Institutein 1964. In 1998, it was sold to a private company and reopened as "Parque Acuático Oaxtepec (PAO)"; the company went into bankruptcy in 2011, after which it was sold to Six Flags.[10]The Social Security Institute runs hotels and campgrounds within the park.[11]
Balneario El Bosque Oaxtepec( "The Oaxtepec forest water park″) is a rustic water park with a suspension bridge, waterfalls, river, pools, and archeological zone.[12]ThePozo Azul(Blue Pond) is believed to have been used byTlatoaniMoctezuma Iin the 15th century.[13]
Archeology
[edit]In addition to the archeological site within the water park named above, prehispanic ruins can be found on theCerro de los Huajes( "Hill ofleadtrees") near the cemetery. Ruins of the colonial (1586-1820)Hospital de la Santa Cruz,built by theBrothers of Charity(Spanish:Hospitalarios) are near "El Bosque" water park.
Climate
[edit]| Climate data for Oaxtepec | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 27.1 (80.8) |
28.6 (83.5) |
30.7 (87.3) |
32 (90) |
32.1 (89.8) |
29.6 (85.3) |
28.5 (83.3) |
28.3 (82.9) |
27.6 (81.7) |
27.9 (82.2) |
27.7 (81.9) |
27 (81) |
29.0 (84.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 12.4 (54.3) |
13.4 (56.1) |
15.3 (59.5) |
17.1 (62.8) |
18 (64) |
17.4 (63.3) |
16.3 (61.3) |
16.3 (61.3) |
16.3 (61.3) |
15.3 (59.5) |
13.6 (56.5) |
12.6 (54.7) |
15.3 (59.5) |
| Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 10 (0.4) |
5.1 (0.2) |
5.1 (0.2) |
13 (0.5) |
53 (2.1) |
200 (8) |
170 (6.7) |
200 (7.9) |
200 (7.9) |
76 (3) |
15 (0.6) |
5.1 (0.2) |
960 (37.7) |
| Source: Weatherbase[14] | |||||||||||||
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"¿Cuántos habitantes tiene... - Censo de Población y Vivienda 2020".inegi.org.mx.INEGI.RetrievedFebruary 23,2021.
- ^"Oaxtepec (Yautepec, Morelos, Mexico) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information".www.citypopulation.de.RetrievedMay 11,2020.
- ^"The Olpympics: Friends in High Places".Time.30 December 1966.RetrievedMay 11,2020.
- ^Hassig, 1988 p. 161
- ^"Historia de Oaxtepec"(in Spanish). Archived fromthe originalon 2020-09-27.
- ^Diaz, B., 1963, The Conquest of New Spain, London: Penguin Books,ISBN0140441239
- ^"Parque Acuatico Oaxtepec"(in Spanish). Archived fromthe originalon 2020-10-23.
- ^"Leucaena esculenta - Useful Tropical Plants".tropical.theferns.info.RetrievedMay 11,2020.
- ^abGuzmán, Alianzas y Negocios:: Iglesia y Ex-Convento de Santo Domingo de."Alianzas y Negocios:: Iglesia y Ex-Convento de Santo Domingo de Guzmán".alianzasynegocios.mx(in Spanish).RetrievedMay 9,2020.
- ^ab"Hurricane Harbor Oaxtepec".Six Flags Hurricane Harbor(in Spanish).RetrievedMay 9,2020.
- ^"oaxtepec_informacion".centrosvacacionales.imss.gob.mx.RetrievedMay 9,2020.
- ^"El Bosque Oaxtepec ubicado en el bello Estado de Morelos".El Bosque Oaxtepec(in Spanish).RetrievedMay 9,2020.
- ^"El Bosque".www.balnearioejidalelbosque.com.mx.RetrievedMay 9,2020.
- ^ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Oaxtepec, Morelos".Weatherbase. 2011. Retrieved on November 24, 2011.
Literature
[edit]- Hassig, Ross (1988).Aztec Warfare: Imperial Expansion and Political Control.Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.ISBN0-8061-2121-1.
External links
[edit]- "Centros Vacacionales"(in Spanish). Archived fromthe originalon 2007-09-27.
- History of Oaxtepec (retrieved Dec 12, 2018)
- Hurricane Harbor Oaxtepec (Spanish; retrieved Dec 12, 2018)
18°54′N98°58′W/ 18.900°N 98.967°W
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