- Bajío
The Bajío ("lowlands") is a region of Central
Mexico that includes the plains south of theSierra de Guanajuato , in the state ofGuanajuato , as well as parts of the states ofQuerétaro (the Valley of Querétaro) andMichoacán (particularly the surroundings of Zamora).In general parlance, it is usually associated with the States of Guanajuato and Querétaro, although it only forms a part of them. It is characterized by its highly technified agriculture, with annual precipitation on the order of 700 mm on average (one of the highest in the country). During the Viceroyalty, the area was known as the breadbasket of the country.
The Bajío is known for being one of the most conservative bastions of Mexican Catholicism.
The Bajío is where in April 1915, during the
Mexican Revolution , Gen.Álvaro Obregón provoked decisive battles againstPancho Villa . Villa's troops lost in June outside ofCelaya .Recent archaeological studies of the Bajío have discovered an extensive, prehispanic cultural tradition unique to the region, particularly along the flood plains of the Lerma and Laja rivers. The Bajío culture flourished from 300 to 650 A.D., with cultural centers ranging from the far north of Guanajuato (e.g., El Cóporo) to the far southwest (e.g., Plazuelas). Over 1400 sites have been discovered throughout the state of Guanajuato, with only the sites of
Cañada de la Virgen ,El Cóporo , Peralta, andPlazuelas having had extensive study.
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