February14_2010

Botanical Glossary - Home - References Cited

The city of Oaxaca is located in the Central Valley of the Sierra Madre del Sur Mountains, at 17°05'N 96°45"W, elevation: 1,550 meters or 5,000 feet. Two branches of the Sierra Madre Occidental converge in the center of the state of Oaxaca, creating this fertile valley, which produces a variety of crops including corn, alfalfa and the maguey used to make mezcal.

Oaxaca's pleasant subtropical climate drew nomadic families to Mitla and nearby caves 10,000 years ago. Farming communities evolved in Abasolo, Tomaltepec, and El Mogote. The Zapotec kingdom Monte Albán emerged in 500 B.C.

Oaxaca is one the most exceptional regions of the world. Its cultural and environmental diversity, its role in art and artesania make the state an exceptional place to spend quality time.

Photos - The Zocalo, or meeting place at Oaxacas' city center - night time photos of the bandstand gazebo (top row, left and right) with a bit of stone art work that was once a fountain head. The Mexican folks are really into fountains as water was once a scarce commodity and only the rich had indoor pumbing. Many natives come to sell souvenirs to tourists or to offer services like shoe shining. If you get lost, everyone knows where the Zocalo is. Just say, "Donde Zocalo," and chances are you will get pointed in the right direction.

The zócalo (main square) is the heart of the city and has been so since 1529. On the south side of the zócalo is the building that formerly housed state offices (with plans to convert to a museum); on the north side is the Cathedral of Oaxaca which dates from 1535. The zócalo is a place to meet, to relax, get a shoeshine, or enjoy a musical performance. A number of cafes surround the zócalo and sitting at a sidewalk table and watching the activities in the square is a popular pastime. See also this article about the zócalo by Stan Gotlieb.

The zócalo is also the site of frequent political rallies and protests. Visitors should achieve an awareness of any current event since there may be strong feelings, even a possibility of danger, associated with these protests. One of the largest and more potentially volatile events is the annual Oaxaca Teachers' Union gathering. The Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (SNTE) has been accused of encouraging the 1996 EPR attack in which 3 police, 2 sailors, 2 guerrillas, and 2 civilians were killed in an assault rifle and machine gun attack on government establishments in the resort town of Huatulco, Oaxaca.

Oaxaca's name comes from a mangled version of the Aztec settlement Huaxyacac ("place of gourds"). Occupying the area as early as 1521, the Spanish established their new settlement in 1529.

Oaxaca was first called Antequera after a city in Spain, and this early name is given to numerous businesses. Antequera was re-christened Oaxaca in 1532, and the city quickly became one of the most important agricultural and trading centers in the region. It is formally known as Oaxaca de Juárez. The city is affectionately known as La Verde Antequera.

Photos - Interesting doorways in Oaxaca: There isn't any shortage of interesting places to see in Oaxacas' side streets and you never know what is beyond the doorways and walls (sometimes it is a lush square with fountain and garden, sometimes nothing) unless you can climb the walls or be fortunate enough to walk by while the door is open.

Click here for more photos of the Streets of Oaxaca for this day.