Map - Capulalpam de Méndez (Capulálpam de Méndez)

Capulalpam de Méndez (Capulálpam de Méndez)
Capulálpam de Méndez is a town and municipality in the Sierra Juárez in Oaxaca in south-western Mexico. It is part of the Ixtlán District in the Sierra Norte de Oaxaca region. The name "Capulálpam" in Nahuatl means "land of the chokecherry tree," a common type of tree in the area. In 2005 the population was 1,313.

The municipality covers an area of 19.14 km² of rugged mountainous terrain. The town is at an altitude of 2,040 meters above sea level in a high mountain valley.

The climate is predominantly cool and wet. Common flowers include gladiolus, geraniums, roses, bougainvillea, tulips, and calla lilies. Trees include ash, aguilar, ayacahuite, oak, and Madrano ocotal, as well as fruit-bearing walnuts, pears, quince, apple, peach, plum and chokecherry.

Common birds are the eagle, hawk, crow, owl, dove, vulture, bat, swallow, sparrow, lark, quail, pheasant, picocanda and magpie. Wild animals include fox, coyote, badger, armadillo, wild boar, deer, cacomistle, opossum, cougar, skunk, jaguar, panther, rabbit and paca. The area also has lizards, coral snakes, rattlesnakes, tarantula and scorpion.

The municipality bottles its natural spring water to sell out of a small plant. Other community enterprises include selling gravel and eco-tourism ventures (zip-lining, etc.). Historically there had been gold mining in the community but through collective action, the community expelled the mining companies from their lands. However, the people have to continue to struggle to keep the mining corporations out. While the community owns the land, the national government technically owns rights to mineral and other resources beneath the soil.

 
Map - Capulalpam de Méndez (Capulálpam de Méndez)
Country - Mexico
Currency / Language  
ISO Currency Symbol Significant figures
MXV Mexican Unidad de Inversion 2
MXN Mexican peso $ 2
ISO Language
ES Spanish language
Neighbourhood - Country  
  •  Belize 
  •  Guatemala 
  •  United States