95:
that pass by the municipal seat: the La Cañadita, El
Atascadero, Las Cachinches and El Obraje. The last receives most of the area's runoff during the rainy season and feeds the Las Colonias and El Obraje dams. The most important dam in the area is the Ignacio Allende dam, located in the west of the municipality. While this dam controls flooding along the Laja River, local residents say that the water collected in its reservoir goes to the area around Guadalajara, far to the west of San Miguel, due to the provisions of the federal act creating the dam and reservoir. Other dams in the area include La Cantera and Bordo Grande located in the south and north of the municipality, respectively, along with the aforementioned Las Colonias and El Obraje, which are mostly used for irrigation. The municipality also has fresh water, thermal and alkaline springs, many of which are used as ecotourist attractions, such as the El Chorro, Montecillo, El Cortijo, Cieneguita, Atotonilco and Taboada spas. One other spa is the El Xoté, which has sulfur-laden waters.
187:
147:) is not the largest community in the municipality, but it is the best known due to its religious sanctuary, which has World Heritage Site status along with the historic center of San Miguel. The sanctuary is located 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) outside of the main town and dates from the 18th century. The church building itself has high plain walls on the outside, and consists of one large church with several smaller chapels. It is officially called the "Santuario de Dios y de la Patria" (Sanctuary of God and Country), but it is better known as the Sanctuary of Jesús Nazareno de Atotonilco. It is the church from which Miguel Hidalgo took the Virgin of Guadalupe standard for his army.
87:. Most of the territory inclines gently from between zero and five percent grade, with some exceptions where inclines can be as high as 25%. This restricts urban development and agriculture in the area. Prominent elevations include Cerro La Silleta, Cerro Prieto, Cerro La Piena, Cerro La Campana, El Cerro de El Picacho, Tambula, El Maguey, Palo Colorado, Mesa el Peñón, Loma Cuacuato, Mesa la Junta, Loma La Trinidad, Cerro El Común, La Loma, El Cuache and El Carmen. These peaks have an average altitude of 2,200 metres (7,200 ft).
83:. It has a territory of 1,537.19 km (594 sq mi). The altitude varies from between 850 and 2,700 metres (2,790 and 8,860 ft) above sea level, with the town of San Miguel at 1,910 metres (6,270 ft). The municipality extends over two of the state's natural regions: the Sierras Volcanicas and the Cuencas Lacustres del Sur, with most of the territory over the latter. The entire municipality belongs to the national
136:
47:
largest communities outside of the municipal seat include Los
Rodriguez (2,795 people), Corral de Piedras de Arriba (1,841 people) and Los Galvanes (1,402 people). Sometimes the municipality is called Allende to distinguish it from the town of San Miguel de Allende, but as both governments are located in the town, they are generally known as San Miguel de Allende.
204:
of hydraulic power became silted. A great flood ensued when the dam broke in 1999 during heavy rains. It is a stable wetland area now for the botanic gardens, with areas of the reserve crisscrossed with walking paths. There are opportunities for mountain biking, rock climbing, bird watching, camping and horseback riding.
198:
and is privately funded. It is dedicated to the restoration and preservation of
Mexican flora and propagates mainly cactus species in danger of extinction. The reserve is centered on a canyon, at the bottom of which is a fresh spring that forms a natural pool. The canyon was the center of a number of
94:
in the municipality of
Salamanca. The river currently has serious pollution issues because it is used for discharge of wastewater without prior treatment. Most of this discharge is from the residential areas of San Miguel and Dolores Hidalgo. In addition to the river, there are four principal arroyos
203:
and other waterworks on the property. This spring was so powerful it was the hydraulic power for an enormous water wheel and water supply to the city (thus, the name "Ingenio"). The water from this spring rose in the fountains throughout colonial San Miguel. An old dam that was part of this complex
150:
The
Atotonilco sanctuary has plain high fortress-like walls. However, the inside walls and ceilings are completely covered in murals with a large number of personages and scenes from the Bible without much overall structure in how these images were placed. This mural work was done by Miguel Antonio
46:
As the municipal seat, the town of San Miguel de
Allende has been the center of local government for about 950 other communities, many of which have fewer than 50 people. As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 139,297 with 62,034 living or about 44.5% living in the town proper. The
98:
The climate in the area is mostly temperate and semi-arid, with average temperatures varying between 16 and 22 °C (61 and 72 °F). Summers are moderately hot with a rainy season that generally producing sporadic thunderstorms. Winters are cool and moderate. One exception to this is the
186:
159:
prints that the
Spanish brought from Europe. The World Heritage Organization calls it an "exceptional example of the exchange between European and Latin American cultures" and "one of the finest examples of
55:
The municipality is located in the far eastern side of the state of
Guanajuato. It has an average altitude of 1,870 metres (6,140 ft) above sea level. It borders the municipalities of
288:
414:
544:
257:
462:
178:
of
America". Atotonilco has been a pilgrimage site since the colonial period. The complex functions as a religious retreat for people from Mexico.
492:
Vicente Ochoa (January 1, 1999). "San Miguel de
Allende: Un fin de semana en el pasado" [San Miguel de Allende: A weekend in the past].
292:
603:
518:
357:
325:
547:[The Ingenio Pond] (in Spanish). San Miguel Allende, Guanajuato: Municipality of San Miguel Allende. Archived from
508:
548:
221:
84:
68:
265:
360:[History] (in Spanish). San Miguel Allende, Guanajuato: Municipality of San Miguel Allende. Archived from
576:[Charco de Ingenio Botanical Garden] (in Spanish). San Miguel Allende, Guanajuato: Sociedad de El Charco
23:
470:
440:
264:(in Spanish). Mexico: Instituto Nacional para el Federalismo y el Desarrollo Municipal. 2005. Archived from
200:
144:
315:
90:
The main river in the area is the Laja, which crosses from north to south before finally emptying in the
125:
72:
64:
35:
80:
171:
56:
514:
321:
361:
195:
76:
199:
myths and legends during the pre-Hispanic period. There are the remains of a colonial-era
60:
175:
597:
393:"Protective town of San Miguel and the Sanctuary of Jesús Nazareno de Atotonilco"
194:
El Charco del Ingenio, located outside of the town, is an ecological reserve and
170:] New Spain". The structure and the mural work reflect the doctrine of Saint
99:
extreme west of the municipality where the climate is wetter. Ecosystems include
161:
135:
91:
27:
151:
Martínez de Pocasangre over thirty years. The style of the painting imitates
100:
320:. Rohnert Park, California: Pomegranate Communications, Inc. pp. 3–9.
417:[Nostalgia and party in San Miguel de Allende-Routes of Mexico].
190:
Wetland at the Presa Las Colonias, El Charco del Ingenio botanical garden
152:
31:
289:"San Miguel de Allende, paradigma del encanto provinciano (Guanajuato)"
156:
507:
Baird, David; Shane Christensen; Christine Delsol and JoyHepp (2010).
392:
291:(in Spanish). Mexico City: Mexico Desconocido magazine. Archived from
224:[Count of Population and housing 2005] (in Spanish). Mexico:
225:
185:
134:
108:
38:, which is also the most populous settlement of the municipality.
513:. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley Publishing, Inc. pp. 195–198.
469:(in Spanish). Mexico City. Notimex. July 7, 2008. Archived from
573:
467:
El Universal (reprinted in the Office of the President website
166:
139:
View of part of the ceiling inside the Sanctuary of Atotonilco
104:
415:"Nostalgia y fiesta en San Miguel de Allende Rutas de México"
34:
region. Its seat of government is located in the city of
443:(in Spanish). Mexico City: Mexico Desconocido magazine
143:
With only 597 people as of 2005, Atotonilco (formally
465:[San Miguel Allende enters UNESCO's list].
463:"Ingresa San Miguel de Allende a lista de UNESCO"
421:(in Spanish). Mexico City. September 29, 2010
395:. United Nations: World Heritage Organization
352:
350:
348:
346:
344:
8:
568:
566:
539:
537:
387:
385:
383:
381:
379:
317:Behind the doors of San Miguel de Allende
260:[State of Guanajuato - Allende].
262:Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México
252:
250:
248:
246:
244:
242:
213:
574:"El Charco de Ingenio Jardìn Botanico"
174:, and the church has been called the "
222:"Conteo de Población y Vivienda 2005"
7:
441:"San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato"
496:(in Spanish). Saltillo. p. 7.
164:and architecture in the [
155:painting, which was known through
30:, Mexico, and is also part of the
16:Municipality of Guanajuato, Mexico
14:
258:"Estado de Guanajuato - Allende"
1:
111:cactus and grasses dominate.
604:Municipalities of Guanajuato
85:Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt
620:
123:
314:de Gast, Robert (2000).
545:"El Charco del Ingenio"
145:Sanctuary of Atotonilco
191:
140:
189:
182:El Charco del Ingenio
138:
126:San Miguel de Allende
120:San Miguel de Allende
36:San Miguel de Allende
20:San Miguel de Allende
510:Frommers Mexico 2011
364:on February 13, 2010
295:on November 13, 2010
192:
172:Ignatius of Loyola
141:
107:, and areas where
57:San Luis de la Paz
520:978-0-470-61433-4
81:San José Iturbide
611:
586:
585:
583:
581:
570:
561:
560:
558:
556:
551:on March 3, 2016
541:
532:
531:
529:
527:
504:
498:
497:
489:
483:
482:
480:
478:
459:
453:
452:
450:
448:
437:
431:
430:
428:
426:
411:
405:
404:
402:
400:
389:
374:
373:
371:
369:
354:
339:
338:
336:
334:
311:
305:
304:
302:
300:
284:
278:
277:
275:
273:
254:
237:
236:
234:
232:
218:
196:botanical garden
77:Apaseo el Grande
619:
618:
614:
613:
612:
610:
609:
608:
594:
593:
590:
589:
579:
577:
572:
571:
564:
554:
552:
543:
542:
535:
525:
523:
521:
506:
505:
501:
491:
490:
486:
476:
474:
461:
460:
456:
446:
444:
439:
438:
434:
424:
422:
413:
412:
408:
398:
396:
391:
390:
377:
367:
365:
356:
355:
342:
332:
330:
328:
313:
312:
308:
298:
296:
286:
285:
281:
271:
269:
268:on May 18, 2011
256:
255:
240:
230:
228:
220:
219:
215:
210:
184:
133:
128:
122:
117:
69:Juventino Rosas
61:Dolores Hidalgo
53:
44:
17:
12:
11:
5:
617:
615:
607:
606:
596:
595:
588:
587:
562:
533:
519:
499:
484:
473:on May 8, 2014
454:
432:
406:
375:
340:
326:
306:
279:
238:
212:
211:
209:
206:
183:
180:
176:Sistine Chapel
132:
129:
124:Main article:
121:
118:
116:
113:
52:
49:
43:
40:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
616:
605:
602:
601:
599:
592:
575:
569:
567:
563:
550:
546:
540:
538:
534:
522:
516:
512:
511:
503:
500:
495:
488:
485:
472:
468:
464:
458:
455:
442:
436:
433:
420:
419:El Financiero
416:
410:
407:
394:
388:
386:
384:
382:
380:
376:
363:
359:
353:
351:
349:
347:
345:
341:
329:
327:9780764913419
323:
319:
318:
310:
307:
294:
290:
287:Maruja Gonz.
283:
280:
267:
263:
259:
253:
251:
249:
247:
245:
243:
239:
227:
223:
217:
214:
207:
205:
202:
197:
188:
181:
179:
177:
173:
169:
168:
163:
158:
154:
148:
146:
137:
130:
127:
119:
114:
112:
110:
106:
103:, forests of
102:
96:
93:
88:
86:
82:
78:
74:
70:
66:
62:
58:
50:
48:
41:
39:
37:
33:
29:
25:
21:
591:
578:. Retrieved
553:. Retrieved
549:the original
524:. Retrieved
509:
502:
493:
487:
475:. Retrieved
471:the original
466:
457:
447:February 24,
445:. Retrieved
435:
423:. Retrieved
418:
409:
397:. Retrieved
366:. Retrieved
362:the original
331:. Retrieved
316:
309:
297:. Retrieved
293:the original
282:
270:. Retrieved
266:the original
261:
229:. Retrieved
216:
193:
165:
149:
142:
97:
89:
54:
45:
42:Demographics
24:municipality
19:
18:
580:October 20,
555:October 20,
526:October 20,
477:October 20,
425:October 20,
399:October 20,
368:October 20,
333:October 20,
299:October 20,
272:October 20,
231:October 20,
162:Baroque art
92:Lerma River
358:"Historia"
208:References
131:Atotonilco
101:shrublands
28:Guanajuato
115:Landmarks
73:Comonfort
65:Salamanca
51:Geography
598:Category
201:aqueduct
494:Palabra
157:Belgian
153:Flemish
517:
324:
226:INEGI
109:nopal
32:Bajío
22:is a
582:2010
557:2010
528:2010
515:ISBN
479:2010
449:2010
427:2010
401:2010
370:2010
335:2010
322:ISBN
301:2010
274:2010
233:2010
79:and
167:sic
105:oak
26:of
600::
565:^
536:^
378:^
343:^
241:^
75:,
71:,
67:,
63:,
59:,
584:.
559:.
530:.
481:.
451:.
429:.
403:.
372:.
337:.
303:.
276:.
235:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
