210:. The Villa Luz Ecological Reserve extends over forty hectares, with eighty percent covered in dense vegetation and in all there are various streams both fresh water and sulfur laced liquid which rise from springs in the earth. The Oxolotan River also passes through with several waterfalls, as well as the Sardinas Cave which has almost 1500 meters of explored area. The Kolem Jaa Ecological Ranch is a reserve of rainforest and springs with sulfur water. It is part of a reforestation effort in the higher elevations of the region. It contains a botanical garden with a large collection of orchids. The La Chontalpa Ecological Reserve is a state protected area on the Colegio de Postgraduado-Campus Tabasco campus founded in 1995 with 277 hectares. It is one of the last remains of the medium growth evergreen rainforest of Tabasco dominated by a tree called “canacoite” (
387:
farmland 50,000 hectares or about fifteen hectares per family. Much of the land went for the production of corn, cacao and bananas. The work of the
Grijalva River Commission had a substantial impact on the Chontalpa Region especially in its center. It led to the formation of the UniĂłn de Ejidos Colectivos which included various pre existing ejido organization along with state and federal authorities to give farmers credit and other economic assistance. By the 1960s, families in the area were earning twenty times that previously.
363:
hundreds of years. However, during the colonial period various haciendas were established in the region to produce cacao, livestock and other products. The indigenous population diminished greatly and almost disappeared with estimates of the loss as high as ninety percent due to disease and abuse at the hands of the
Spanish. While the area, nor the rest of the state, developed economically as other areas of New Spain, it was still considered important as a transit point and for its production of cacao. Despite
235:
266:
between the municipalities of
Nacajuaca which is in the region and Centro (Villahermosa), which is just outside it. Nacajuca has the largest percentage of indigenous population in the state, with about 37% of the population of Nacajuca speaking Chontal. Estimates of the indigenous population is inexact because the official census only counts speakers of indigenous language and since it is not known how the Chontal Maya define themselves and who is a member of the ethnicity.
135:
the
Chiapas border the first barrier. The rain that falls here feeds much of the area's rivers, especially the Amatan and Oxlotan, with rainfalls up to 4,000 mm per year. Other important rivers in the flat areas include the SamarĂa, Mezcalpa, Tonalá and Santana. This means that large quantities of fresh water flows towards the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to rivers, this also produces large areas of lakes, marshes and other wetlands and
20:
404:
374:. It became the major income producer in the 1970s. It also signaled the beginning of ecological damage in the region, although drilling was not the only factor. Environmental damage since this time has affected fishing, agriculture and livestock, leading to tensions between the local population and PEMEX, including legal actions, protests and event the blocking of oil facilities.
443:, rather than stone. There are three main groups of buildings called the North Plaza, the Grand Acropolis and the East Acropolis. The architectural style is similar to Palenque but made with bricks instead of stone. The Grand Acropolis is the most important group of monumental buildings, which are also the tallest. There is a site museum with ceramics and other pieces on display.
347:
73:
291:
151:. These were caused by unusually heavy rain in October of that year brought in by multiple cold fronts, bringing in a record of 1,054mm of rain to the region in only three days. However, significant flooding is relatively frequent with major events occurring in 2008 and 2009. In 2009, the Blasillo River caused major flooding affecting 4,500 families.
187:
replant. The problem is the cutting of the plants for wood by local residents. Most of the deforestation of the region has occurred as a result of the
Chontalpa Plan, which began in the 1960s to drain areas of wetlands to convert them into farm and pasture land. Wildlife has been seriously harmed by the activities of man but still include
317:, pineapple, citrus fruits, corn and beans. Mass livestock raising was introduced with the Plan Chontalpa, especially cattle and sheep. One means to exploit the extensive wetlands is through a project to create “camellones chontales” (Chontal ridges). These are based on the ancient Aztec technique of
130:
Like the rest of
Tabasco, the Chontalpa region is mostly flat floodplain with a small area of highlands along the border with Chiapas. The floodplain is low, with an average of only ten meters above sea level with areas below sea level. Elevations generally do not exceed forty meters, but the highest
265:
which are also called
Chontals. The name “Chontalpa” is derived from the Nahuatl meaning “land of foreigners.” However, the modern region is not defined by the presence of the Chontal Maya but rather by economic considerations. Over seventy percent of the state's Chontal Maya population is divided
186:
are still common. The mangrove forests of the region are home to over 100 species and are a main source of oxygenation. They also work to prevent erosion and to control pollution. However, deforestation of mature mangroves in the area continues to be a serious problem despite government efforts to
134:
The climate is hot and humid with most rains in the summer and fall (Am (f) gw). It is subjects to numerous storms and even hurricanes coming in from the Gulf of Mexico with an average annual rainfall of about 2000 mm. These storms are unimpeded by the low flat plain, with the elevations near
377:
Another major factor in the economic development and environmental degradation of the region was the implementation of the
Chontalpa Plan. This was a plan introduced by the federal government to develop the hydroelectric potential of the area's rivers, and convert wetlands into those suitable for
330:
are part of The Cacao Route. These establishments often offer tours, workshops and other services such as accommodations, food service, recreational activities and more. The route has the only museum dedicated to cacao and chocolate. It also has a number of
Chontal communities such Cupilco, the
321:
to create areas of artificial land. The project began in the
Chontal village of Tucta in the municipality of Nacajuca in the 1970s. The projects created platforms of land separated by canals. The platforms measure twenty by twenty meters with canals among them to introduce native fish and aquatic
269:
Relatively little is known about the Chontal Maya culture and daily life in comparison to other indigenous groups in Mexico. The Chontales lost several aspects of their culture in the 20th century with modernization such as the daily use of traditional clothing and most do not live in traditional
435:
and images of figures of rotund children. The site dates back to about 1000 BCE and declined around 400 CE, replaced in importance by San Lorenzo. The museum associated with La Venta is in Villahermosa proper called Parque Museo de la Venta. It contain thirty three major pieces from the site and
386:
and Tepalcatepec River areas in the 1940s. One of the goals of this project was to alleviate the poverty of the region due to lack of economic development, especially in rural areas. The project was undertaken in an area not well known to the engineers with the aim of draining and converting to
362:
inhabited before the arrival of the Spanish. The Chontal Maya were found around the rivers in the flatlands, with the Zoques found in the highland area. The Nahuas were dispersed in various areas. Because of the wetlands created by the flow of the rivers, much of this area was inaccessible for
301:
Natural resources include petroleum deposits, fertile soils, and lakes and shoreline for fishing. The main economic activities of the region are agriculture, livestock and oil drilling. The economic development of the 20th century brought infrastructure such as modern roadways. This led to an
55:
area. The subregion's economy is based on agriculture, especially livestock production as well as oil drilling, which have been at odds with each other because of severe degradation of the environment since the mid 20th century. Chontalpa is also home to Tabasco's two main archeological sites,
390:
The Chontalpa Plan did benefit the families that lived in the wetlands of the Chontalpa area but at the expense of the environment. The destruction of the rainforest in the area was swift with outside mechanized equipment and administration. Although originally promoted as a project for local
395:, it quickly became controlled by elements of Mexico's elite. Initial expropriation of the wetlands was indiscriminate and those who opposed it were forcibly ejected. The political economic system became oriented towards meeting the interests of outside metropolitan areas.
446:
Although Comalcalco is the best known Mayan site in Chontalpa, it is not the only one. There are numerous small sites. One of these in Malpasito near the town of Huimanguillo which is identified as both Mayan and Zoque. The main buildings surround a plaza and include a
436:
includes displays about Olmec customs, government, astronomy and writing. This park was created in the 1950s by writer Carlos Pellicer to protect the most important pieces of the archeological site. There are also exhibits on the flora and fauna of the area.
430:
La Venta was the most important civic-religious center of the Olmec civilization, the first major culture of Mesoamerica. The site shows a number of the characteristics of Olmec culture, including depictions of jaguars,
325:
Chontalpa has most of the cacao plantations of Tabasco. One of these is the La Luz Hacienda, which was founded at the beginning of the 20th century, which today offered guided tours. It and others such as the
46:
population, modern Chontalpa is a subregion of the Grijalva Region, and formed with economic concerns in mind. A large percentage of the state's Chontal Maya population does live here, with the municipality of
194:
Attempts to preserve what it left of the area's wild vegetation include a number of wildlife reserves. The Parque Estatal de la Sierra or Sierra State Park is located in the municipalities of
103:, with its capital as the city of Comalcalco. It is the second largest of Tabasco's subregions with an area of 7,482.12km2, representing 31.08% of the state. Chontalpa borders the
861:
370:
Oil drilling began in the 1950s, with the production initially for domestic use. Large scale drilling began in the 1970s for foreign income, controlled by the state oil company
367:, little changed in the area economically until the latter 20th century, mostly due to the discovery of petroleum. Today, most in the region are not employed in agriculture.
278:
of Chiapas. Chontal Maya has several mutually intelligible dialects with three main ones, North and Tapotzingo found in and around Nacajuca and a South dialect centered in
842:
Arturo Cano; Carlos Mari (February 18, 1996). "Tabasco, Pemex y PRD: Tension hecha normalidad" [Tabasco, Pemex and PRD: Tensions made the normal state].
693:
439:
The Comalcalco archeological site is in the center of the region. Comalcalco is distinct from other Mayan sites as its monumental structure are made of
226:). Wildlife includes mammals (20.2%), birds (61.3%), reptiles (10.9%) and amphibians (7.6%). It is located just off the Cárdenas-Coatzacoalco highway.
257:
and means “foreigner” but their name for themselves is yoko yinikob (true men) and yoko ixikob (true women). They are not related to groups in
191:
and other lizards, various species of birds and other reptiles such as freshwater turtles although a number of these are in danger of extinction.
274:
perseveres with increases in the number of native speakers in the past decades. The language is of the Mayan family, most closely related to the
529:(in Spanish). Mexico: Instituto Nacional para el Federalismo y el Desarrollo Municipal and Gobierno del Estado de Tabasco. 2005. Archived from
522:
898:
873:
576:
979:
723:
Carlos Mari (November 4, 2009). "Sufren 44 mil por las lluvias en Tabasco" [44,000 suffer because of rains in Tabasco].
338:. The economic boom due to oil has made the cities of Cárdenas and Comalcalco the second and third most important in the state.
475:
1018:
765:
51:
having the largest concentration of indigenous, with the next largest concentration found just east of the region in the
798:
661:
364:
88:
701:
379:
335:
178:) . Rainforest used to cover much of the area but now are only found in about four percent of the entire state.
195:
154:
Wild vegetation is that associated with wetlands both on land and aquatic. This includes the popal-tular tree (
39:
455:. It also includes about sixty stones finely sculpted with figures of animals, humans and geometric designs.
83:
The Chontalpa is officially a subregion of the Grijalva, which is defined as lands in Tabasco reliant on the
583:(in Spanish). Tabasco, Mexico: ComisiĂłn Nacional para el Desarrollo de los Pueblas IndĂgenas. Archived from
448:
215:
96:
270:
houses, rather have houses similar to the rest of Tabasco with running water and electricity. However, the
214:). The reserve has 247 species of plants with some in danger of extinction. Other plants include cachimbo (
211:
271:
234:
219:
77:
827:
Arcelia Lortia (March 10, 2005). "Tabasco y su ruta del Cacao" [Tabasco and its Cacao Route].
175:
432:
199:
167:
144:
92:
801:[The La Chontalpa Ecological Reserve] (in Spanish). Mexico: State of Tabasco. Archived from
530:
171:
159:
147:. It also means that the flat areas of the region are highly susceptible to flooding, including the
902:
327:
295:
246:
116:
100:
43:
306:
279:
242:
It has a population of 593,668 with about 41% living in urban areas and the rest in rural areas.
148:
124:
424:
275:
155:
383:
223:
207:
202:. It also includes the village of Oxolotan, which is a traditional indigenous community and
163:
664:[The neglected zones of Mexico. A development project in the Chontalpa of Tabasco]
19:
950:"Tabasco: Ofrece accion y arqueologia" [Tabasco: Offering action and archeology].
738:
584:
382:
created the Grijalva River Commission, following similar projects by predecessors for the
403:
104:
84:
662:"Las zonas anegadizas de México. Un proyecto de desarrollo en la Chontalpa tabasqueña"
1012:
478:[Regions of the State] (in Spanish). Mexico: State of Tabasco. Archived from
359:
773:
479:
355:
334:
Most oil drilling occurs around the communities of La Venta, Cárdenas, ParaĂso and
120:
52:
354:
In the area which is now Chontalpa, various ethnicities such as the Chontal Maya,
924:
416:
411:
Chontalpa is home to the two most important archeological sites in the state,
346:
314:
203:
72:
61:
994:
981:
802:
290:
452:
412:
318:
258:
250:
183:
112:
57:
48:
42:
in the northwest of the state. Although the name refers to the state's
310:
254:
179:
140:
108:
35:
262:
188:
136:
31:
864:[Planned social development in Chontalpa, State of Mexico]
862:"Desarrollo social planificado en la Chontalpa, Estado de Tabasco"
440:
420:
402:
392:
371:
345:
302:
abundance of construction jobs, often filled by the Chontal Maya.
289:
233:
71:
931:(in Spanish). Mexico: INAFED Gobierno del Estado de Tabasco. 2010
901:[La Venta] (in Spanish). State of Tabasco. Archived from
87:
and related surface water. It consists of the municipalities of
954:(in Spanish). Monterrey, Mexico. September 9, 2001. p. 6.
331:
Comalcalco arqueological zone and ParaĂso with its beaches.
768:[Flooding in Chontalpa, due to “historic” rains].
741:[Flooding in Chontalpa, due to “historic” rains].
700:(in Spanish). Mexico: La Region newspaper. Archived from
282:. Most speakers are bilingual, speaking Spanish as well.
249:
population is located in the region, especially in the
350:
Oil platforms and tanker off Varadero Beach in ParaĂso
969:(in Spanish). Mexico City. April 28, 2002. p. 6.
739:"Inundaciones en Chontalpa, por lluvias 'histĂłricas'"
632:(in Spanish). Mexico City. March 16, 2008. p. 8.
628:"Recorriendo TABASCO..." [Touring TABASCO…].
766:"Acaba imparable tala con manglares en la Chontalpa"
527:Enciclopedia de los Municipios de MĂ©xico - Tabasco
929:Enciclopedia de los Municipios de MĂ©xico Tabasco
745:(in Spanish). Tabasco, Mexico. November 2, 2009
655:
653:
651:
649:
647:
645:
643:
641:
639:
570:
568:
131:is Mono Pelado at 970 meters above sea level.
965:"Herencia maya" [Mayan inheritance].
793:
791:
772:(in Spanish). Tabasco, Mexico. Archived from
623:
621:
619:
617:
615:
613:
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607:
605:
566:
564:
562:
560:
558:
556:
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552:
550:
548:
470:
468:
378:agricultural production. In 1951, President
8:
927:[Cultural and Tourist Attractions].
872:(in Spanish). Mexico: CIESAS. Archived from
253:municipality. The name “chontal” comes from
238:Traditional dress from the Chontalpa region
855:
853:
687:
685:
683:
822:
820:
517:
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511:
509:
507:
505:
503:
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497:
18:
464:
727:(in Spanish). Mexico City. p. 16.
668:(in Spanish). Japan: Nanzan University
115:to the west and the municipalities of
846:(in Spanish). Mexico City. p. 3.
64:, along with numerous smaller sites.
7:
925:"Atractivos Culturales y TurĂsticos"
23:Map of the Chontalpa area in Tabasco
16:Area in the Mexican state of Tabasco
799:"Reserva EcolĂłgica de LA CHONTALPA"
579:[Chontal Maya of Tabasco]
14:
575:José Manuel Flores López (2006).
696:[Tabasco Specialities].
322:plant species for subsistence.
1:
660:Sánchez, José Manuel Pérez.
870:Diccionario Temático CIESAS
698:Diccionario Temático CIESAS
294:Toasted cacao beans at the
111:to the south, the state of
107:to the north, the state of
1035:
831:(in Spanish). Mexico City.
995:18.0466444°N 93.5925306°W
860:Pedro Arrieta Fernandez.
407:Structure 5 at Comalcalco
305:Cultivated crops include
68:Geography and environment
38:, which consists of four
449:Mesoamerican ball courts
1000:18.0466444; -93.5925306
692:Ciprian Cabrera Jasso.
577:"Chontales de Tabasco"
419:, which represent the
408:
351:
298:
239:
222:) and zapote prieto (
216:Platymiscium yucatanum
80:
24:
476:"Regiones del Estado"
406:
349:
293:
272:Chontal Maya language
237:
212:Bravaisia integerrima
121:Centro (Villahermosa)
75:
22:
1019:Geography of Tabasco
694:"Especiales Tabasco"
590:on November 26, 2019
380:Miguel Alemán Valdés
245:Much of the state's
991: /
525:[Regions].
328:La Chonita Hacienda
296:La Chonita Hacienda
425:Maya civilizations
409:
352:
299:
240:
174:) and royal palm (
149:2007 Tabasco flood
81:
78:Sánchez Magallanes
76:Wetland area near
30:is an area in the
25:
770:Diario de Tabasco
523:"RegionalizaciĂłn"
220:Vatairea lundelii
156:Thalia geniculata
1026:
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224:Diospyros digyna
176:Royestonea regia
164:Bursera simaruba
162:), palo mulato (
1034:
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401:
344:
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232:
182:with reeds and
168:Pachira aquatic
145:Mecoacán Lagoon
125:Jalpa de MĂ©ndez
70:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1032:
1030:
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764:Alex Almeida.
756:
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433:colossal heads
427:respectively.
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343:
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287:
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231:
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172:Tebebuia rosea
160:Ceiba petandra
105:Gulf of Mexico
85:Grijalva River
69:
66:
40:municipalities
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1031:
1020:
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1007:
1004:
986:93°35′33.11″W
968:
961:
958:
953:
946:
943:
930:
926:
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917:
905:on 2012-02-04
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894:
891:
879:on 2016-03-04
875:
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854:
850:
845:
838:
835:
830:
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817:
805:on 2012-12-23
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788:
776:on 2013-02-19
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533:on 2007-05-27
532:
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482:on 2012-01-05
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208:Pueblo Mágico
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127:to the east.
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21:
983:18°2′47.92″N
976:
966:
960:
951:
945:
935:December 31,
933:. Retrieved
928:
919:
909:December 31,
907:. Retrieved
903:the original
893:
881:. Retrieved
874:the original
869:
843:
837:
828:
807:. Retrieved
803:the original
778:. Retrieved
774:the original
769:
759:
747:. Retrieved
742:
733:
724:
718:
706:. Retrieved
702:the original
697:
670:. Retrieved
629:
592:. Retrieved
585:the original
535:. Retrieved
531:the original
526:
484:. Retrieved
480:the original
445:
438:
429:
410:
389:
376:
369:
365:Independence
353:
333:
324:
304:
300:
268:
247:Chontal Maya
244:
241:
230:Demographics
193:
170:), maculis (
153:
143:such as the
133:
129:
89:Huimanguillo
82:
53:Villahermosa
44:Chontal Maya
27:
26:
998: /
883:January 29,
809:January 29,
780:January 29,
749:January 29,
743:Tabasco Hoy
708:January 29,
672:January 29,
594:January 29,
537:January 29,
486:January 29,
313:, bananas,
166:), zapote (
158:), kapoks (
899:"La Venta"
829:Economista
459:References
417:Comalcalco
399:Archeology
384:Papaloapan
315:sugar cane
218:), tinco (
204:Tapijulapa
97:Comalcalco
62:Comalcalco
336:Cunduacán
319:chinampas
280:Macuspana
196:Tacotalpa
184:mangroves
141:estuaries
34:state of
28:Chontalpa
1013:Category
952:El Norte
453:temazcal
413:La Venta
259:Guerrero
251:Nacajuca
180:Wetlands
113:Veracruz
93:Cárdenas
58:La Venta
49:Nacajuca
967:Reforma
844:Reforma
725:Reforma
630:Reforma
342:History
311:coconut
286:Economy
255:Nahuatl
189:iguanas
139:around
137:lagoons
109:Chiapas
101:ParaĂso
36:Tabasco
32:Mexican
451:and a
393:ejidos
360:Nahuas
356:Zoques
263:Oaxaca
117:Centla
877:(PDF)
866:(PDF)
666:(PDF)
588:(PDF)
581:(PDF)
441:adobe
421:Olmec
372:PEMEX
307:cacao
276:Ch'ol
200:Teapa
937:2011
911:2011
885:2012
811:2012
782:2012
751:2012
710:2012
674:2012
596:2012
539:2012
488:2012
423:and
415:and
358:and
261:and
206:, a
198:and
123:and
99:and
60:and
1015::
868:.
852:^
819:^
790:^
682:^
638:^
604:^
547:^
496:^
467:^
309:,
119:,
95:,
91:,
939:.
913:.
887:.
813:.
784:.
753:.
712:.
676:.
598:.
541:.
490:.
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