Ameca Valley Explained

Ameca Valley
Other Name:Iquajocho, Valle de Ameca
Location:Jalisco, Mexico
Elevation Ft:4178
Length:30 miles (40 km)
Width:15 miles (24 km)
Area:264mi2
Boundaries:Sierra de Ameca (north), Sierra de Quila (south)
Towns:Ameca, San Martín de Hidalgo, Cocula

The Ameca Valley (Nahuatl languages: Iquajocho, Spanish; Castilian: Valle de Ameca), also known as the Ameca-Cocula Valley,[1] is a valley and drainage basin situated in central Jalisco, Mexico. It is surrounded by mountain ranges of the Sierra Madre Occidental. The three main cities and municipalities of the valley are Ameca, San Martín de Hidalgo, and Cocula. The Ameca River and its smaller tributaries, such as the San Martín River, drain into the valley thus creating the Ameca drainage basin. The valley is part of the federal sub-division Región Valles, for which the city of Ameca serves as its seat.

History

During the early 14th century, the valley was discovered by various Nahua peoples, who established the ancient chiefdoms of Amecatl and Cocollán there. After the arrival of the Spaniards, the valley was split into large land grants, farms, and grazing lands.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Determinación de la disponibilidad de agua en el acuífero Ameca, Estado de Jalisco. https://web.archive.org/web/20160706015255/http://www.ceajalisco.gob.mx/sia/acuiferos/Ameca.pdf. dead. 6 July 2016. 28 June 2012.