Catemaco
Encyclopedia
Catemaco is a municipality and city in the southeast of Mexican state of Veracruz
, in the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas volcanic mountain range, along the Gulf of Mexico. In the 2005 INEGI Census, the municipality reported a total population of 46,702, of whom 22,965 lived in the municipal seat.
The municipality of Catemaco covers a total surface area of 710.67 km² along the Gulf of Mexico between the foothills of Volcano San Martín Tuxtla and the Sierra Santa Marta, and incorporate Laguna Catemaco and Laguna Sontecomapan plus a large part of the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve. Catemaco borders the municipalities of San Andrés Tuxtla to the west, Hueyapan de Ocampo and Soteapan to the south and Tatahuicapan de Juárez and Mecayapan to the east.
Economically Catemaco depends on a mix of tourism, cattle ranching, fishery and agriculture. Statistically the municipality ranks as one of the poorer ones in Veracruz.
The city of Catemaco nestles against Lake Catemaco at 340 meters (1,115 feet) altitude and is surrounded by numerous taller volcanic peaks. To the north, Laguna Sontecomapan occupies a large flood plain and joins the gulf at La Barra de Sontecomapan, Catemaco's most accessible beach.
One of the featured attractions of the town are the "Monkey Islands", populated by monkeys originating in Southeast Asia, who were imported for an abandoned research project. (2)Almost 100 boats compete to ferry tourists out to see these Macaque monkeys imported to the islands in the 1970s.
filmed parts of Apocalypto
(2006) in the vicinity. He joined Sean Connery
whose Medicine Man
(1992) had also used the Catemaco area as a backdrop for jungle scenes, as have many other films.
The Spanish term brujo may be translated as witch, sorcerer, warlock, necromancer, "alternative healer", faith healer and others. Catemaco celebrates an annual brujo festival on the first Thursday and Friday of March. It is called the "Congreso Internacional de Brujos".
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
, in the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas volcanic mountain range, along the Gulf of Mexico. In the 2005 INEGI Census, the municipality reported a total population of 46,702, of whom 22,965 lived in the municipal seat.
The municipality of Catemaco covers a total surface area of 710.67 km² along the Gulf of Mexico between the foothills of Volcano San Martín Tuxtla and the Sierra Santa Marta, and incorporate Laguna Catemaco and Laguna Sontecomapan plus a large part of the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve. Catemaco borders the municipalities of San Andrés Tuxtla to the west, Hueyapan de Ocampo and Soteapan to the south and Tatahuicapan de Juárez and Mecayapan to the east.
Economically Catemaco depends on a mix of tourism, cattle ranching, fishery and agriculture. Statistically the municipality ranks as one of the poorer ones in Veracruz.
The city of Catemaco nestles against Lake Catemaco at 340 meters (1,115 feet) altitude and is surrounded by numerous taller volcanic peaks. To the north, Laguna Sontecomapan occupies a large flood plain and joins the gulf at La Barra de Sontecomapan, Catemaco's most accessible beach.
One of the featured attractions of the town are the "Monkey Islands", populated by monkeys originating in Southeast Asia, who were imported for an abandoned research project. (2)Almost 100 boats compete to ferry tourists out to see these Macaque monkeys imported to the islands in the 1970s.
Settlements in the municipality
- CatemacoCatemacoCatemaco is a municipality and city in the southeast of Mexican state of Veracruz, in the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas volcanic mountain range, along the Gulf of Mexico...
(municipal seat; 2005 population 22,965) - Sontecomapan (2,397)
- La VictoriaLa VictoriaLa Victoria may refer to:In Colombia:*La Victoria, Valle del Cauca, a town and municipality*La Victoria, Boyacá, a town and municipalityIn Paraguay:*La Victoria District, ParaguayIn Peru:* La Victoria District, Peru...
, (1,757) - Zapoapan de Cabañas (1,344)
- MaxacapanMaxacapanMaxacapan is a village and ejido within the municipality of Catemaco, located on the edge of Laguna Catemaco, south of Catemaco City in southcentral Veracruz, southeastern Mexico....
(990)
Film location
Mel GibsonMel Gibson
Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in...
filmed parts of Apocalypto
Apocalypto
Apocalypto is a 2006 American epic action-adventure film directed by Mel Gibson. Set in Yucatan, Mexico, during the declining period of the Maya civilization, Apocalypto depicts the journey of a Mesoamerican tribesman who must escape human sacrifice and rescue his family after the capture and...
(2006) in the vicinity. He joined Sean Connery
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
whose Medicine Man
Medicine man
"Medicine man" or "Medicine woman" are English terms used to describe traditional healers and spiritual leaders among Native American and other indigenous or aboriginal peoples...
(1992) had also used the Catemaco area as a backdrop for jungle scenes, as have many other films.
Witchcraft festival
Historically an isolated community, the city now has an international reputation for the "Catemaco Brujos", a local phenomenon of witchcraft practitioners with commercial interests.The Spanish term brujo may be translated as witch, sorcerer, warlock, necromancer, "alternative healer", faith healer and others. Catemaco celebrates an annual brujo festival on the first Thursday and Friday of March. It is called the "Congreso Internacional de Brujos".