Mazatlán

For the dredger laid down as SS Mazatlan, see SS Tuxpam.

Mazatlán
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): Pacific Pearl
Coordinates: 23°13′12″N 106°25′12″W / 23.22°N 106.42°W / 23.22; -106.42Coordinates: 23°13′12″N 106°25′12″W / 23.22°N 106.42°W / 23.22; -106.42
Country	Mexico
State	Sinaloa
Municipality	Mazatlán
Settled	May 14, 1531
Government
– Mayor	Alejandro Higuera Osuna
Area
– Municipality	3,068.5 km2 (1,184.75 sq mi)
Population (2010)
– Total	438,434
– Demonym	Mazatleco(a)
Time zone	MST (UTC-7)
Postal code	82000-
Area code(s)	669
Website	www.mazatlan.gob.mx

Mazatlán (Spanish pronunciation: [masa'tɬan]) is a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa; the surrounding municipio (municipality) for which the city serves as the municipal seat is Mazatlán Municipality. It is located at 23°13′N 106°25′W / 23.217°N 106.417°W / 23.217; -106.417 on the Pacific coast, across from the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula.

Mazatlán is a Nahuatl word meaning "place of the deer."^[1]. The city was founded in 1531 by an army of Spaniards and Indian settlers^[1]. By the mid-19th century a large group of immigrants had arrived from Germany. These new citizens developed Mazatlán into a thriving commercial seaport, importing equipment for the nearby gold and silver mines. It served as the capital of Sinaloa from 1859 to 1873. The German settlers also influenced the local music, banda, which is an alteration of Bavarian folk music. The settlers also established the Pacifico Brewery on March 14, 1900.

With a population of 438,434 (city) and 489,987 (municipality) as of the 2010 census, Mazatlán is the second-largest city in the state. It is also a popular tourist destination, with its beaches lined with resort hotels. A car ferry plies its trade across the Gulf of California from Mazatlán to La Paz, Baja California Sur. The municipality has a land area of 3,068.48 km² (1,184.75 sq mi) and includes smaller outlying communities such as Villa Unión, La Noria, El Quelite, El Habal and many other small villages. Mazatlán is served by Gral. Rafael Buelna International Airport.

Etymology

The name Mazatlán comes from the Nahuatl language and means "land of deer" (mazatl: "deer", tlan: "earth" or "place".)

History

Mazatlan Early settlers

According to historians, Indigenous groups were in the region of Mazatlan to the arrival of the Spanish, were Totorames group, who lived from the south bank of the River Piaxtla, to the Río de las Cañas. Are also part of the Municipality of Mazatlán, the group of Xiximes, particularly in the mountains bordering the state of Durango.

Until the early 19th century, Mazatlán was a collection of huts inhabited by indios whose major occupation was fishing, according to Abel Aubert du Petit-Thouars, a French explorer. In 1829 a Filipino banker named Juan Nepomuceno Machado arrived and established commercial relations with vessels coming to Mazatlán from far off places such as Chile, Peru, the United States, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. By 1836 the city had a population of between 4000 and 5000.

Foundation of the city, Colonial Period

During the early years of the Spanish conquest in Sinaloa, the region currently occupied by the municipality of Mazatlan remained uninhabited, the nearest town was Chametla, occupied by the Spanish in 1531 and abandoned shortly afterwards, but that gave its name to the Province.

Faro Mazatlan

Historical Center

In 1534 the Valley of Mazatlan was divided into 25 Castellanos by an unknown person who did not stay for long. In 1576, Don Hernando de Bazán, who was Governor and Captain General of Nueva Vizcaya, sent Captain Martin Hernandez with his father, brothers and soldiers to occupy the site of Mazatlan, granting them land and titles in return. The Captain's claims were ratified in the City of Durango in 1639 and endorsed in the same city in 1650.

With the entry of Nuño de Guzmán to Sinaloa in 1531 and the appointment of the conquered lands as provinces, begins the internal territorial division in the State. Chametla population was occupied by the Spanish and listed as a province of that name, comprising within its jurisdiction, from the River to the Rio Cañas Elota in boundary with the province of Culiacan. Both provinces belonged to the kingdom of New Galicia.

In 1565 the town of Chametla was depopulated by the ongoing Indian raids; that year, Captain Francisco de Ibarra recovered the territory south of the state, and renew Chametla and founded the Villa de San Sebastian, Concordia today, awarding the region to the New Vizcaya. This province under his jurisdiction the villages of San Sebastián, Mazatlan and its port, and Charcas Copala Royals and Finance Panuco to limit the Rio Elota.

During the last years of the seventeenth century and early eighteenth centuries, the territory remained unchanged internal Sinaloa, until in 1732 for the first time unite the provinces of Sonora and Ostimuri, and the provinces of Sinaloa, Culiacan, and Rosario in a single governorship taking to the town of San Felipe and Santiago as header.

In 1749 Sinaloa was divided into five provinces with their mayors and lieutenancy: Maloya, with jurisdiction over Chametla Rosario, San Jose, Copala, with jurisdiction over San Ignacio, Piaxtla and Mazatlán, Culiacán, with jurisdiction over Badiraguato, and Sinaloa that bordered the Rio Mayo.

In 1786, the intendant system was implemented because of the need to establish a provincial government. Arizpe Municipality was formed out of the territories of Sonora and Sinaloa. That year, the first mayor, Garrido Durán subdelagaciones, established eleven, eight of them in Sinaloa Mazatlan being within the sub Copala, later called San Sebastian.

Independent Mexico

Among the first decrees that the legislature enacted, it has the addition of each of the eleven districts, the name of one of the leading insurgents, corresponds to the Union Villa Mariano Balleza, parish priest Dolores Hidalgo joined the night of September 15, 1810.

In 1813, the Cadiz constitution enters into force, Article 310 provides for the installation of local councils in towns that had more than a thousand inhabitants.

In 1814 Fernando VII repealed the constitution but is being reinstalled in 1820, from the moment you install the first municipalities in Sinaloa.

In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, Mazatlán was a native fishing village located north of Cerro de la Aduana. In 1821 it was declared a first port of Mazatlan on Mexico's Pacific height.

Jurisdictionally, Mazatlan remained dependent on the sub-delegation of San Sebastian unaffected by the divisions between the states of Sonora and Sinaloa, in 1824 they got together to form the State of West. After the imposition of new internal division of five departments and municipalities divided into parties, Mazatlan was in the department of San Sebastian, which was formed with the parties of its name, San Ignacio and the Rosary, with a limit to the River of Reeds .

In 1830 he decreed the dissolution of the West in two states. The first constitution of the state of Sinaloa, promulgated on December 12, 1831 divided the territory into eleven districts with their respective parties, leaving the district town of La Union separated from Concord and San Ignacio.

According to the French navigator Abel Aubert du Petit-Thouars a Spanish banker named Machado, through its commercial activities, gave impetus to that village to make in 1836 in a village where they lived between four and five thousand people, and then became the largest port in the Mexican Pacific.

Invasions

Between 1848 and 1849, Mazatlan was invaded by the U.S. military. Then in 1859 the port was blockaded by the British warship Amethyst. On November 13, 1864 the French Army and the Imperialist forces took possession of Mazatlan, until they were deported on 13 November 1866 by the forces of General Ramón Corona. After customs officials seized twenty-three ounces of gold to the payer of British warship Chanticleer,the June 18, 1868 he blockaded the port, and its captain, William H. Bridge, threatened to bomb the city on 22 November.

The Gold Rush

During the California Gold Rush, Mazatlan, one served as a prospective miners who lived in the United States east coast. Many of them arrived at the Mexican ports on the Gulf and then rode for weeks to get to Mazatlan. Did not spend much time before gold miners board a ship in this port to San Francisco.

Mazatlan plan

When Félix Zuloaga Tacubaya proclaimed the Plan of ignoring the Constitution of 1857, the garrison of the Plaza de Mazatlán not remained outside this proclamation, and the first of January 1858 proclaimed the Plan of Mazatlan, which seconded Felix Zuloaga.

Mazatlan, Sinaloa capital Until the year 1853 had been the capital Culiacan, Sinaloa state. However, this year the powers were transferred to Mazatlan. On July 22, 1867 the federal government passed a law that forbade the state capitals were at the ports. As a result of this law, the September 20, 1873 the State Legislature decreed that declared capital Culiacan state again.

City Bombing

On the morning of November 13, 1864 the French Navy ships were twelve shots of cannon against the city, causing minor damage to several homes but causing no deaths. It stopped when the prefect of the city made known to the invaders that the Mexican Army had left the square and he formally handed them.

On June 26, 1880 Jesus Ramirez former general in command of 400 men stormed the garrison of the square and appropriated Mazatlan. After imposing a compulsory loan traders, had to leave the city when it was bombed again by theDemocraticMexican warship, which caused a high number of women and children killed and wounded since the 24 cannon shots only three matched the headquarters of the sharp and the rest reached the neighboring houses.

Mazatlán Lighthouse

Mazatlán's famous lighthouse began operating in mid 1879. The maritime signals had been manufactured in Paris, France, and consisted of a large oil lamp with mirrors to reflect and enhance light. Because the light was static, in the distance the light was often mistaken for a star. It was not until 1905, when the lamp was replaced by a turntable. Therefore the Mazatlan lighthouse was the highest in the world.

The Mazatlan Times

Mazatlan The Times was a weekly published by the American A. D. Jones The first issue appeared on May 12, 1863. The publisher boasted that his was the only weekly English language not only of Mazatlan and Sinaloa, but throughout Mexico. Mazatlan Decimonónico Lerma Antonio Garay and used with permission of the .</ref>

Siglo XIX The constitution of 1852 decreed a new internal division in Sinaloa, and reduced to nine Districts, by deleting the San Ignacio which was annexed to the Cosalá, and Choix which is annexed to El Fuerte, and amending the name of the district Villa de la Union, the port of Mazatlan. That same constitution decrees the headquarters facility policies and councils in each district.

In 1861 political headquarters are deleted and become prefectures, the same year the State Legislature adopted Act on Municipalities. For 1868 the district had five municipalities Mazatlan, one in the central header and the other in Villa Union, Siqueiros, La Noria and The Milkweed.

In 1873, according to the census of the State, the District of Mazatlán 26.298 inhabitants had been reduced to three the number of municipalities: its name, Villa Union and La Noria. Siqueiros had annexed in 1870 to the central hall and the Milkweed for mayor of La Noria.

Porfiriato

Prefectures in 1880 changed its name and become political directorate subdivided into municipalities and guardhouse.

The growth of towns influenced the subdivisions within districts. Thus, in 1882 the village of El Venadillo is elevated to the category of people. In 1883 Siqueiros with the municipal government and the bend stands a header directorship Siqueros policy, however, the reforms enacted in May 1887, abolishing the mayor of Siqueros being attached to their people for mayor of Mazatlan. A year later, the village of El chilillos stands in town, belonging to the central hall.

Mexican Revolution

In 1912 the municipalities enact law No.21 as a form of internal division of the State, however it is until 1915 when it abolished by law the political directorate, when erected the first free communes.

With the publication of the decree creating the municipality of Mazatlan, in the official newspaper of April 8, 1915, independent life begins in the region. The Constitution of 1917, culminating in the first constitutional governor, General Ramón F. Iturbe, born in Mazatlan, confirms the sixteen municipalities in which they divided the State, which would be subdivided into receiverships and police stations.

Wonder of Mexico

In September 2007, Mazatlan was considered one of the 13 Wonders of Mexico made by man.

The city has seen some turbulent times. During the Mexican-American War (1846–48) the U.S. Army took the city and, in order to avoid the shelling of the city, the Mexican army abandoned it. Almost twenty years later, on the morning of November 13, 1864, a French man-of-war fired on the city twelve times but there were no casualties; Mazatlán then became part of the Mexican Empire under Maximilian (vestiges of French influence may still be found in the architecture of many buildings in Centro Historico). On November 13, 1866, the Mexican general Ramon Corona expelled the imperialists from Mazatlán.

On June 18, 1868, William H. Bridge, captain of HMS Chanticleer, blockaded the port and threatened to shell the city on June 22. The captain had taken umbrage after local Customs Authorities seized 23 ounces of gold from the paymaster of the ship.

The City of Mazatlán has the dubious distinction of being the second city in the world after Tripoli, Libya, to suffer aerial bombardment (although the local historical display at the plazuela claims that Mazatlán was the first). During the Mexican revolution of 1910-17 General Venustiano Carranza (later president), intent on taking the city of Mazatlán, ordered a biplane to drop a crude bomb of nails and dynamite wrapped in leather on the target of Neveria Hill adjacent to the downtown area of Mazatlán. The crude bomb landed off target on the city streets of Mazatlán, killing two citizens and wounding several others.

The lighthouse "El Faro"

During the Gold Rush, fortune hunters from the United States East Coast sailed from New York Harbor and other Atlantic ports to Mexican ports in the Gulf of Mexico. Debarking, the aspiring miners travelled overland for weeks to Mazatlán, where they would embark from the port to arrive in San Francisco in another four to five weeks.

Mazatlán's lighthouse (El Faro) began to shine by mid-1879. The lamp had been handcrafted in Paris, containing a large oil lamp with mirrors and a Fresnel lens to focus the light. Since the light was static, in the distance it was often mistaken for a star. By 1905 this lamp was converted to a revolving lamp. Today, the 1000 watt bulb can be seen for 30 nautical miles (60 km). Near the lighthouse shore, famous "divers" (called this even by the Spanish speaking inhabitants of Mazatlán) perform daring jumps off high rocks into the Pacific Ocean for tips from onlooking tourists.

Angela Peralta (1845–1883), a Mexican opera diva famed throughout the world, died of yellow fever in Mazatlán shortly after her arrival in the port. Legend has it she sang one last aria from her hotel balcony overlooking the Plazuela Machado. Her memory is held dear by Mazatlécos to this day, and the restored Teatro Angela Peralta by the Plazuela keeps her memory alive.

Mazatlán is also the hometown of Pedro Infante, one of the most popular actors and singers of the golden years of the Cinema of Mexico.

Mazatlán was well regarded by film stars such as John Wayne, Gary Cooper, John Huston, and others of their generation as a sportfishing mecca. The hotels along Olas Altas flourished during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s supporting this vibrant trade.

In the 1970s, tourism in Old Mazatlán declined as other, newer venues opened on the expanses of beach to the north of the city. As an example of Mazatlán's tourism expansion, one of the largest timeshare providers in Mexico, Mayan Resorts was founded in 1975 with the inauguration of Paraíso Mazatlán (Mazatlán Paradise). This time also saw the expansion of the Hotel Playa Mazatlán and the construction of many others, a trend that continues to this day.

As the 21st century begins, the Centro Histórico has been rediscovered by newcomers and locals alike, spurring a renaissance of restoration and entrepreneurial endeavors. Once-fine homes that had fallen into literal ruin have been restored to their former glory and house families and boutique businesses. The city has assisted in upgrading infrastructure, such as better water, sewer and electrical services.

Geography

The town of Mazatlan is located in the southern portion of the State of Sinaloa, including Meridians 105 ° 56'55 "and 106 ° 37'10" west of the meridian of Greenwich, and between latitude 23 ° 04'25 "and 23 ° 50'22 "north latitude. The height above sea level is 1234m.

Its land area totals 3,068.48 square kilometers, ie 5.3% of the total area of the State, it ranks as the ninth city in area.

Bordered on the north by the municipality of San Ignacio and the state of Durango, south to the town of Rosario and the Pacific Ocean east to the town of Concord and the west coast of the Pacific Ocean.

Soil

The formation of soils are two types: The first type is characterized by podzolic strongly whitish eluvial horizon with an outer shell on a bed of brown with organic detritus, these soils as a main character spodic horizon, which for their study classified into 5 classes: a) smoke-ferric podzol, b) humic c) placid, d) ferric e) eutric.

The smoke-ferrous metals are identified by a percentage relationship between free iron and carbon of 6 or less than 6 respectively, and humic are grouped by a dispersed organic matter and aluminum, the calm is defined by a thin "bread" iron or on the skyline.

The spodic sometimes have features that indicate the water saturation at any time of year, soil iron as its name implies is composed mostly of iron, the podzol horizon eutric spodic also presented therein, shows an overview of gley, which shows particularly water saturation in a time of year.

The latter are laterite soils, which are located on the southeast side of town where the foothills of the Sierra Madre into the sea, these soils are characteristic of tropical rainforests, occurring in these small mosaics of two types: (red and yellow) typical temperate subtropical moist medium.

Geomorphology

The geography is determined by the ramifications of the Sierra Madre Occidental in the region of the coastal plain and northwestern taking the Pacific Ocean, where rise the hills of the Watcher, Punta de Monte Mater Silla orographic this accident before entering the municipality of San Ignacio takes the name of Sierra del Metate, whose characteristic is the formation of Peak Metate.

In the limit of Mazatlan and Concordia runs the Sierra del Metate and Panuco in this county is diverted to penetrate Sierra Madre Occidental in Durango, before leaving some landslides such as the Sierra de San Juan and the friars, being well within orography, the following mountain areas.

Towards the north end of town is the Sierra de los Frailes which extends in a northwesterly direction with elevations ranging from 150 to 1.900 meters above sea level in the northwestern part of the mountain is located in The Milkweed which branches into northwest with elevations of 50–700 meters above sea level in the southeast and north sides, was born on Arroyo de La Noria and some tributaries of the River Milkweed, in the same part of the municipality is located the Sierra de La Noria extending northwest with elevations above sea level between 300 and 500 meters on its western side originates the birth of the Zapote river, north of the territory is located the Sierra de San Marcos that records altitudes between 50 and 700 meters above sea level in the formation of the southeastern and northwestern slopes born Copala stream and some tributaries of the prison.

Geology

The geological nature of the municipality is based on sedimentary rocks, eastern characteristics of the Republic, thus leading to the outcrop of rock fragments consolidated marine and continental, and volcanic and metamorphic rocks. Mazatlan is generally constituted by tonalites and belonging to the Tertiary monsonitas medium composed of rhyodacite outcrops, rhyolites and ignimbrites with tuffaceous sediments at the base; andesites and early Late Cretaceous felsite, conglomerate, sandstone, tuff, sandy tuff, tobalítica, conglomeratic sandstone , pluvial arches and late Tertiary rhyolitic tuffs, limestone, slate, sandstone and quartzite of coal, gravel and conglomerates that form alluvial fans and slope deposits, rhyolite and rhyodacite tuffs of the same composition, dacite and Lower Tertiary andecita medium; spills ended pirocláticos volcanic andecítica Late Cretaceous; plutonic rocks of basic composition and basic ultra late Paleozoic, Late Cretaceous limestones, conglomerates of igneous and metamorphic ridges, typical of sediments in rivers and streams and sandy sediments, gravel, silt and orange.

Hydrology

Milkweed River, Brooks of Zapote, La Noria and Los Cocos are part of the water resources of the municipality in southwest and southeast side, these currents during the rainy season increase its volume considerably.

The current record Quelite River catchment basin of 835 square kilometers where average annual runoff of 107 million cubic meters with variations ranging from 78 to 163 million cubic meters. This current hydrological passing through the town of Mazatlan touches the towns of El Castillo, Las Juntas, Amapa, Los Naranjos, El Milkweed, Modesto station and recreation among others. After traveling a distance of 100 kilometers from its source discharges into the Pacific Ocean. The streams of El Zapote and Los Cocos, drain in a southeasterly direction and empties into the Rio Presidio at the height of the villages which take their names.

On the southeast side of the mountains of Milkweed born Arroyo de La Noria and on the north side of it, some tributaries of the River Quelite. The stream drains La Noria playing in a southeasterly direction in their course the town of the same name and eventually to the Rio Presidio.

El Zapote stream is formed on the western slope of the Sierra de La Noria and moving in a southwesterly direction, passing touches the people of El Zapote and Recreation, and empties into the Pacific Ocean.

On the northern slope of the Sierra del Salto, near the town of the same name in the state of Durango, was born the Rio Presidio performed in a southeasterly direction a distance of 167 kilometers. Its catchment area is 5.614 square kilometers, with an annual average expenditure of 900 million cubic meters, a maximum of 2.225 and a minimum of 550 million cubic meters. The margin populations are Los Cocos, El Zapote, El Placer, El Tecomate, Copala, El Recodo, Porras, Villa Union, Alley and Alley ostial Rosa.

Coastal

The costs of the municipality extending over 80 km and sandy sediments are typical of the beaches in the northwestern flank of the head of the municipality is located a berm to classified as sandy sediment, the shoreline is composed of gravel and clusters that form alluvial fans and slope deposits.

In the southwestern end of Lagoon is located Huizache which occupies an area of 40.0 hectares 4.000 square kilometers) which is influenced by sea through the estuary The Freshwater ostial and a diversion canal that receives water from the Rio Presidio.

The shoreline of the town houses three fishing camps mainly work to catch shrimp and small-scale fishing for scale.

Cooperatives are distributed in the estuaries of the Escopama, Salinitas, The Twenty-nine, Estero Urias, Laguna del Huizache.

Most islands are composed of ignimbrites township, rhyolitic tuff and tuffaceous sandstone-colored altered and distorted.

Bird Island is located between the extreme equatorial coordinates of 106 ° 28'34 "to 106 ° 28'55" west longitude and 23 ° 10'00 "23 ° 15'25" north latitude, its area is 0.4 square kilometers, 1.1 kilometers long and a maximum and minimum range of 800 to 650 meters respectively.

Deer Island is located between 106 ° 27'60 "west longitude and 23 ° 14'03" north latitude, the approximate length is 1.850 km and a width that varies between 250 and 700 meters.

Creston Island located on the western edge of the outer harbor of Mazatlan, has a length of 700 meters and a maximum range of 800 meters northwest of the training, about 3 miles away small islands rise from which stand the "Brother of the South", and "Brother of the North" (the first with 46.3 meters in elevation) and Turtle Rock with 1.5 meters above sea level at its highest ridge.

Goat Island is similar in appearance to that of Creston, has a height above sea level of just over 50 meters.

Stone Island is the most important part of the coast of the municipality, its size is the largest of all because it has 30 square kilometers and is approximately 14.5 kilometers long and 2.5 wide.

Economic activities

Tourism and fishing are the main economic activities in this city. One of the main beach resorts in the country. It has the second largest fishing fleet in Mexico and here mainly processes shrimp and tuna.

Since the late nineteenth century there is a brewery. It also has a coffee factory and a tuna cannery. There are two electric power plants.

Tourism

One of the main economic activities in the Pearl of the Pacific is tourism, which is why it is appropriate to hear about the birth of this industry. The first houses were inns lodging in Mazatlan where passengers were staying, but did not provide food service. Even before the U.S. invasion a man and his family, Jews from Germany, providing a hosting service renting shacks to locals and visitors. And during that invasion wasfamousFrench Hotel, actually every indication that he was only an inn.

However, the first hotel in Mazatlán of which we have mentioned already operating in 1850 and was namedCantonLa Fonda, although its owner, Luen-Sing Chinese immigrant he called himself theHotel Luen-Sing. It was the first to have lodging and restaurant service in the same place, attended by the owner and his assistant Chin Ling.

In 1859 and was the National Hotel'famous because he stayed Henry Edwards in 1875. The 1862 was theAmericanorExchangeFrank Hotel, owned by American Edward Moore, there was theSt. Charles Hotelis located at corner of Recreation and Sacrifice, which was owned by M. C. Martin. According to the Evening Bulletin'San Francisco in 1864 Mazatlan had three hotels and three restaurants. In the decade of the 1860s was the Hotel of the Proceedings. By 1878 there were theHotel Iturbide,Bartholomew property Carvajal and Serrano, and'Pacific Hotel, owned by Antonio Charlioni.

At present, over twenty miles of beaches are a large number of hotels, restaurants, bars and shops with high quality services for all types of tourists.

Mazatlán's Malecón

Mazatlán's Malecón is one of the longest in the world, a promenade that skirts the beaches of Mazatlan for nearly twenty-one kilometers. Along it, one can find cliffs, monuments, gazebos, old buildings, hotels, shops, bars, sculpture, street vendors - just about anything one would expect of a booming beach town. It is divided into nine sections: Puntilla "Ferry Pier", Lighthouse, Centennial, Olas Altas, Claussen, Avenida del Mar, Shrimp - Chad, Chad - Cerritos, Cerritos - Nuevo Mazatlan.

Sections of Mazatlán's Malecón have recently been refurbished and extended.

Beaches

• Olas Altas

Is the most historical reference beach of Mazatlan, is located in the southern part of the city, a few meters from the historic center. The section of boardwalk that passes through Olas Altas you can see many monuments, such as The Shield, which contains the coats of Sinaloa and Mazatlan, El Venado, a statue of a deer with reference to the etymology of the name of the city, Monument Pedro Infante, Monument to the Continuity of Life: Women Mazatleca Monument, also is the famous restaurant "Vieux Port"

• North Beach

Is located in the Downtown area. Here you can find the Fisherman's Monument, Monument to the pneumonia and the Pacific Brewery. The second of these relates to the characteristic of this city taxis.

• Playa Sabalo

Is located in the north of the city.

• Playa Cerritos

Is an extension of Playa Sabalo.

• Sandy the Dolphin

Located north of the tourist area of the city.

• Stone Island Beach

Located in the southern part of the city.

Carnival

Each year the city celebrates the Carnival on the same dates as in the rest of the world: forty days before Easter.

In his bookThe LieutenantGringos Wise makes a brief description of the carnival you had to witness in this port in 1848, during the U.S. invasion. This is the first Carnival of Mazatlan really documented. However, the modern version of this Shrovetide dates back to 1898. For an official history of this holiday are recommended to visit the official website Mazatlan Carnival

Sports

Mazatlan has a team called Mazatlan Deer that is integrated into the Mexican Pacific League. The league begins in mid-October and ends in late December. Then in January are the playoffs and the eight teams that make the league, one is the representative of Mexico in the Caribbean Series, but that has to carry out the final.

Mazatlan Deer are the only Mexican team to win a Caribbean Series held in their own land. this happened in the year 2005. http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venados_de_Mazatl% C3% A1n

Baseball is cited as the most popular sport in Mazatlan, Many of the Base Ball Little League Teams compete in National and International Tournaments,The last few year many players from Mazatlan played for the Mexico Verde Team in the International Japan Boys tournament winning the Championship in 2009 and 2010, Scouts from several Major League Baseball teams evaluate local players in 2010 local player 16-year-old Luis Heredia was signed by the Pirates of Pittsburgh.

Politics

In the town of Mazatlan are two electoral preferences. While the inhabitants of the receiverships, police and other villages in the municipality are traditionally voting for the Institutional Revolutionary Party, in this city can see an electoral alternation phenomenon.

Mazatlan was governed by municipal presidents emerged from the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party. It was from the municipal elections of 1989 when he won the mayor's office the candidate of the National Action Party, Rice Humberto Garcia (1990–1992). Notwithstanding the Institutional Revolutionary Party regained the municipality when the elections of 1992 won the Mr. Martin Gavica Gardiner (1993–1995). However, for the period 1996-1998 the PAN Alejandro Camacho Mendoza recovered the town for his party, and it kept him in the next period (1999–2001) by Alejandro Higuera Osuna.

In elections for the 2002-2004 period the National Action Party and the Institutional Revolutionary Party candidates were defeated by the candidate of Labour Party, Jorge Alberto Rodríguez Pasos. However, few months after taking oath as mayor, Rodriguez Pasos was deposed by the State Congress to face a domestic violence charge he was accused by his own wife. His place was taken by Gerardo Rosete Ramirez, the same party. Shortly thereafter, in a move seen as a trick of PRI state government, was replaced by Ricardo Ramírez González, member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party.

In elections for the 2005-2007 period new account Alejandro Higuera Osuna PAN occupied the City Hall until June 2007 he resigned to contest elections for local representative, the 12th of that month and year was replaced by Isaac López Arregui.

In elections for the period 2008-2010 the Institutional Revolutionary Party regained the town with its candidate Jorge Abel Lopez Sanchez.

In April 2010 the city of Mazatlan in a situation very <cruzada> policy is greatly influenced both the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and the National Action Party (PAN), since the last election the mayor which was won by the PRI Jorge Abel Lopez Sanchez, who defeated a former PAN government and dummy (PT), this was the first time that Mazatlan has had a PRI government.

In July 2010 after the election for governor, local deputies and municipal presidents, for the first time in the history of Sinaloa state government was not be governed by the PRI. PAN won the elections to take office on January 1, 2011 with Governor-elect Malov latter PRI just three months ago. Also a historical fact in Mazatlan found the president-elect third occasion the PAN Alejandro Higuera Osuna contending for the nomination for governor with Mario Lopez Valdez (MALOVA), and he withdrew to contend for the nomination for mayor of Mazatlan, also in the form Historico the National Action won all estado. PAN also held the District XIX for the fourth straight time, this time for the second time in the hands of Carlos E. Ing Felton.

Educational institutions

French explorer Duflot points Mofro that by the 1840s the foreign merchants living in Mazatlan pushed for opening the first public school in the city. Still in 1872 there were only two schools of primary instruction. In 1873 he founded the Liceo Rosales, which over time would become the Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa.

Today in Mazatlan, in addition to preschool, elementary, middle and high school, are based colleges and schools both public and private institutions. Of those the main ones being Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, the Instituto Tecnológico de Mazatlán, the University of the West, the University of Sinaloa and Nautical School Mazatlán. The National Autonomous University of Mexico, UNAM, has a college of marine sciences in the city. The Center for Food Research and Development, CIAD, has a unit. Those belonging to private initiative stand the campus of Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Universidad Autónoma de Durango Instituto Tecnologico Superior de Sinaloa and other main tradition in the town.

Climate

The climate regime of the municipality of Mazatlán is transitional Tropical wet and dry (Köppen climate classification Aw),^[2] with a marked dry season in the winter; however, as it is at the transition zone with the semi-arid climate to the north (BSh), the dry season is longer and more arid than most areas of similar classification. The wet season (July to September) is short, very rainy, and very humid.

During the 1940-1980 period, the municipality saw an average annual rainfall of 748 mm, a maximum of 215.4 mm in 24 hours, and 90.4 millimeters in one hour. During this same period, the average rate of evaporation was 2146.80 mm. The prevailing winds are from the northwest at an average speed of 5.0 meters per second.

Trivia

• On March 27, 1964, Friday of Holy Week, at 5:36 am, a strong earthquake shook Prince William Sound, Alaska, causing waves of up to 68 meters. The shock wave spread across the Pacific Ocean and reached Mazatlan a few hours later that afternoon a rumor spread that was to come a tidal wave, which the locals calledGreen Wave. It is also popularly referred to as "tsunami." In response, thousands of Mazatlan and tourists fled in cars, walking or as they could toward the Sierra Madre Occidental. The hills in the city are filled with people. Some even as far away as Concordia and Copala.
• The Stone Island, a popular beach located in the south of Mazatlan, is not really an island but a peninsula that projects from the vicinity of the airport.
• El Faro de Mazatlan, which sits on top of the hill of Creston, in the extreme southwest of the city for many years has been considered the highest natural lighthouse in the world. But now its 157 meters high are overcome by four lighthouses on the Atlantic: l Lover's Leap in Jamaica has 487 meters. In Trinidad and Tobago there are two lighthouses, that of the Island Chacachacare with 251 meters and the Brigand's Hill with 217. The San Vicente lighthouse island rises to 222 meters.
• In 2005, Mazatlán hosted and won the "Serie del Caribe" (Caribbean Series), which is an annual baseball tournament with teams from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic.
• In January 2008 saw the lowest temperature so far this century despite being around Tropic of Cancer: the temperature was 2°C.
• On February 3, 2011 was recorded the coldest day in the last 20 years, with a minimum of 3°C and maximum 18.6°C, so he says it was the coldest day as the highest non- step of 19°C.

Climate data for Mazatlán
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	27 (81)	29 (84)	31 (88)	32 (90)	32 (90)	32 (90)	32 (90)	29 (84)	26 (79)	29
Average low °C (°F)	14 (57)	14 (57)	15 (59)	17 (63)	20 (68)	24 (75)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	23 (73)	19 (66)	16 (61)	19
Precipitation mm (inches)	28 (1.1)	4 (0.16)	2 (0.08)	3 (0.12)	2 (0.08)	26 (1.02)	212 (8.35)	216 (8.5)	217 (8.54)	95 (3.74)	23 (0.91)	25 (0.98)	853 (33.58)
Source: Weather Underground[3]

Sister towns

• Hamm,  Germany since 1978
• Santa Monica, California  United States
• Seattle, Washington  United States
• Puntarenas,  Costa Rica
• Grande Prairie, Alberta  Canada
• San Ysidro, CA  United States
• Ensenada,  Mexico
• Tucson  United States
• Tijuana  Mexico

Culture and contemporary life

View overlooking Centro Histórico

Entertainment and performing arts

Mazatlan is home to the Teatro Angela Peralta, located on the Plazuela Machado. Originally built from 1869 to 1874, the Teatro, completely restored from 1987 to 1992 to its 19th-century splendor, houses a concert hall, galleries, an art school and a highly regarded conservatory of music and dance.

Sports

Baseball is the most popular sport in Mazatlan. The local team, Venados de Mazatlan (Mazatlan Deer), play in the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico. In 2005, Mazatlan hosted the Caribbean Series for the third time, with the Venados winning the competition in front of their local fans.

Transportation

Airports

Mazatlan is served by Gral. Rafael Buelna International Airport with flights to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Denver, Houston, Dallas, Minneapolis, Seattle, Mexico City, Guadalajara, La Paz and San Jose del Cabo B.C.S., Tijuana, B.C., Puerto Vallarta, Vancouver and Calgary.

Port of Mazatlan

Cruise ships embark and disembark passengers at the port. There is also ferry service to La Paz.

Public transportation

You can ride a pulmonia, a golf cart-like taxi cab around Mazatlan for very few pesos.

Road and rail

A four-lane tollway links the city and Sinaloa's capital, Culiacán. High-quality, intercity bus lines provide transportation to numerous points throughout Mexico and to the United States.

Bicycling

Gallery

• 

  Sunset at Playa Gaviotas

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  Easter Sunset

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  Easter Sunset at Playa Mazatlan

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  Sunset at Monument El Pescador Playa Norte

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  ‎Parasailing near the Hotel Playa Mazatlan

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  Main entrance to the Hotel Playa Mazatlan

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  Church El Centro Mazatlan

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  Cliff diver, Mazatlan Mexico

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Benchwick, G & Hecht, J (2009). Puerto Vallarta and Pacific Mexico. Lonely Planet. pp. 320. ISBN 1741048060. 
2. ^ Wikimedia.org
3. ^ "Seasonal weather averages". http://www.wunderground.com/NORMS/DisplayIntlNORMS.asp?CityCode=76458&Units=metric. Retrieved Dec 14 2010. 

• (Spanish) Link to tables of population data from Census of 2005, Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI)
• (Spanish) Sinaloa Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México

External links

• Mazatlán at the Open Directory Project
• Instituto de Cultura
• Carnaval of Mazatlan
• Ayuntamiento de Mazatlán
• (Spanish) Mazatlán History in the XIX Century