Huasteca

waterfall in San Luis Potosí. in Querétaro. Historically and ethnically, the Huasteca region is defined by the area dominated by the Huastecs at their height. The actual extension of the region is somewhat disputed as well as how it should be sub-divided. Geographically it has been defined as from the Sierra Madre Oriental to the Gulf of Mexico with the Sierra de Tamaulipas as the north border and the Cazones River as the south. It extends over the south of Tamaulipas, the southeast of San Luis Potosí, the northeast of Querétaro and Hidalgo and the extreme north of Veracruz and Puebla and a very small portion of Guanajuato over an area of about 32,000km2. To the north and east there are relative flatlands. To the south there are hills of calcified sand. Basalt from old lava flows penetrate the primarily sedimentary rock from the west and appear with wind and water erosion. The higher mountain areas to the west often have tall peaks in capricious forms with steep slopes and eight fast running rivers. Highways in the region tend to be small and winding, especially in the higher elevations in San Luis Potosí and Hidalgo. Many of the rivers run clear or turquoise blue in deep ravines or canyons and form waterfalls. The tallest of these is the Tamul, which is 300 meters wide and 105 meters tall. It joins the waters of the Gallinas River with those of the Santa Maria River to form the Tampaon River. Another important waterfall is the Tamasopo and at the (source of the Huichihuayán River) near the village of the same name, the water comes out of the mountains, forming pools large enough for swimming. Tropical forests have species such as Ceiba pentandra or other kapok, Mexican cedar, Mexican ebony (Harvardia mexicana, Ebenopsis ebano and species of Diospyros may all be called ), with palm species more common on the coastline. Huasteca veracruzana In the state of Veracruz, it is located towards the north end, from the Cazones River to the Tamesí river. It is subdivided into two regions: Huasteca Alta and Huasteca Baja. Its relief is flat and low hills and its tropical climate. It is irrigated by several rivers and lagoons, among which the Tuxpan River and the Tamiahua Lagoon stand out; the most important city of the Huasteca Veracruzana is the city and port of Tuxpan. One of its most important archaeological sites is the castle of Teayo. The Huasteca Veracruzana is the most extensive in the territory, and famous for the variety of its dishes, which in addition to the traditional throughout the region, such as zacahuil (a large tamale of broken corn) is complemented with fish and seafood typical of coastal Veracruz, the music and sounds together with the costumes are also part of it. Huasteca queretana The Huasteca queretana is located in the northwest part of the state and is an extension of the San Joaquín areas of Aguazarca. It includes the municipalities of Arroyo Seco, Jalpan and Landa. Huasteca hidalguense The Huasteca hidalguense comprises the following municipalities: Atlapexco, Huautla, Huazalingo, Huejutla de Reyes, Jaltocán, San Felipe Orizatlán, Xochiatipan and Yahualica. Huasteca poblana The Huasteca poblana is located to the south of the border zone of the Huasteca, and includes, among others, the municipalities of Francisco Z. Mena, Pantepec, Venustiano Carranza, Jalpan, Tlaxco, Tlacuilotepec, Xicotepec de Juárez, Pahuatlán and Naupan. Huasteca potosina The eastern quarter of the state of San Luis Potosí is known as the Huasteca potosina. It is constituted by 20 municipalities which are: Aquismon, Axtla de Terrazas, Cd. Valles, Coxcatlan, Ébano, El Naranjo, Huehuetlan, Matlapa, San Antonio, San Martin Chalchicuautla, San Vicente Tancuayalab, Tamasopo, Tamazunchale, Tampacan, Tampamolon, Tamuin, Tancanhuitz de Santos, Tanlajas, Tanquián de Escobedo, Xilitla. Huasteca tamaulipeca The region, also called the "south coast", borders on the north of Veracruz. It includes the municipalities of Mante, Xicoténcatl, Ocampo, Gómez Farías, Nuevo Morelos, Antiguo Morelos, Aldama, Tampico and Ciudad Madero. The municipality of Tampico houses a collection of archaeological artifacts from the region in its Museum of Huasteca Culture; the collection includes ceramic pieces, textiles, figures and various objects belonging to the Huastec culture. Huasteca guanajuatense It is located in the northeast of the state around the municipality of San Luis de la Paz. ==Climate==

The region is relative lowlands with a hot climate at the extreme north of the Mexico's tropical Gulf coast. Most of the region is hot and humid with annual temperatures generally varying between 22 and 26 °C. The three most common Koppen classifications that appear here are Am(f), Am and Am(w). Rainfall is generally abundant due to moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. Rainfall amounts vary between 800 and 1600mm per year, depending on altitude and location from the coast. However, the area is subject to drought three out of every ten years, causing problems for local agriculture. Localized hail and hurricanes are an annual occurrence. ==History==

Huastec is derived from the Spanish Huasteca which is derived from the Nahuatl word for the ethnicity Kuextlan. The pre-Hispanic sculpture of the region is distinct, with well-known pieces such as the "Adolescente de Tamuín" and the goddess of life and health Tlazolteotl. Notable settlements include El Tamuín in San Luis Potosí, Yahualica and Huejutla in Hidalgo, Tzicóaxc on the Veracruz/Puebla border as well as Tuxpan, Temapache, Pánuco, and Tanhuijo in Veracruz. Although the Huastecs built small cities and ceremonial centers, they never reached the size and complexity of others in Mesoamerica. The northern areas were constantly threatened by the Chichimeca, which may be the origin for the traditional “Comanche” dance found in the region. In the west and south of their territory, there were enclaves of Nahuas, Tepehuas, Totonacs and Otomis. The first European contact with the Huasteca region was in 1498, when Italian Amerigo Vespucci, (or some European), sailing along the Tropic of Cancer, landed somewhere north of present-day Soto la Marina, and the Rio Grande river. (The Tropic of Cancer constantly moves South in 522 years). This explorer enjoyed friendly relations with the Huastecans, and wrote extensively about them. Including the Huastec word for Señores, and art work. His are the only written, eyewitness descriptions known of the civilization. Spanish conquistadores later explored the Pánuco River area. The introduction of cattle into the flat areas prompted the Spanish to force the relocation of many indigenous groups in the area, sometimes with violence. Not all attempts to relocate indigenous groups were successful. There were notable failures in Hidalgo. However, its overall success managed to divide the region into new political units. Spanish policies and economic conditions forced many of the natives here to crowd together in certain areas, with Huastecs and Nahuas together in Ozuluama, Tantoyuca, Tamiahua and Tuxpan, and Nahuas and Otomis in Chicontepec and Huejutla. The new political units brought in other indigenous groups not normally part of the Huasteco, such as the Pames in the Sierra Gorda of Querétaro. During the colonial period, the region was divided into five provinces called “alcaldías mayores”: Huauchinango, Huayacocotla-Chichontepec, Pánuco-Tampico, Huejutla and Yahualica. Despite brokered talks and disarming, the region is conflictive, especially along the Hidalgo/Veracruz border. The major development of the 20th century in the Huasteca was the development of roadways and other infrastructure to connect it with the rest of the country. Until the latter 20th century, many of the municipalities of the region did not have paved roads, with a few still in this situation to this day. The highways and other roads in this area have allowed for seasonal and permanent emigration out of the area by younger generations looking for work. the civilians seeking the means to integrate as a new entity, indigenous communities, farmers and citizens directly and indirectly apriban(agrarian?) building project. The main arguments are, the abandonment of the region by their state governments, cultural and racial integration which was divided by the region in the colonial and republican period. The reintegration of the Huasteca is considered a historic debt that it has with the indigenous peoples of the region. ==Indigenous people==

La Huasteca is home to six indigenous ethnic groups with over 250,000 speakers of various indigenous languages. In the Post Classic period, Huastec territory shrank due to incursions by Nahuas and Otomi in the south and west, culminating into Aztec conquest of much of the territory by the early 16th century. It is likely that many of the Nahuas in the south of La Huasteca are descended from ethnic Huastecs who shifted to Nahuatl. There are two main dialects of Nahuatl spoken in the region. The Nahuas in the north of the region share a number of cultural traits with the Huastec and those in the south share traits with the Otomis and Tepehuas but all are considered to be part of the same Nahua subgroup. The Huasteca Nahuas in Hidalgo and San Luis Potosí have put effort into developing a shared identity in the face of land and political struggles. The Otomis were the first to conquer the southern part of La Huastecas as they fled Nahua domination in their original home of the Toluca Valley. It is thought that the Totonacs and Tepehuas in the region date back as far as the Huastecs. These people are found in the very far south of the region and both were conquered by the incoming Otomi as well as the Nahuas in the Mesoamerican period. ==Culture==

, Querétaro. . Despite the lack of ethnic Huastecs, the region still maintains a cultural identity, which is celebrated at various festivals such as the Encuentro de las Huastecas (Huastec Encounter) in Amatlán in November, and the Festival de la Huasteca in Ahuacatlán de Guadalupe, Purísimas de Arista and Agua Zarca in Querétaro. Much of the region's culture has remained distinct because of the lack of communication with the outside world. This region has not been extensively studied by academics. The most traditional dance and music of the region is called the Huapango or Son Huasteco. It is played by a trio of musicians: one playing a small, five-string rhythm guitar called a jarana huasteca, one on an eight-string bass guitar called a quinta huapanguera and another playing a violin. The two guitarists sing coplas, or short poetry stanzas, alternating verses between them. Son huasteco has two unique trademarks: improvised violin ornamentations based on a melody, and the use of a high falsetto voice. The style has spread beyond Veracruz and San Luis Potosí to other states including Hidalgo, which is now another center for the music. Unlike other folk music in Mexico, it is not in danger of disappearing and remains in high demand for major celebrations in La Huasteca. The music has been researched and cataloged for over forty years which has resulted in a two CD compilation called El Gusto. It was also the focus of a documentary called “A Mexican Sound” by Roy Germano. Traditional dishes include mixotes, enchiladas, barbacoa and especially a corn pudding called zacahuil. It shares certain elements with Day of the Dead such as cempasúchil flowers, papel picado and the creation of altars to the dead adorned with local fruit, candles and copal incense. The traditional is inaugurated on October 29 with the slaughter of pigs and turkeys. October 30 and 31 are for the remembrance of children and adults respectively; the final day, November 1, is meant to honor both saints and grandparents. A traditional dance for the event has groups of dancers who ridicule the powerful of the local society, who are then chained by a devil. These dancers perform with cloth masks, with the aim that Death does not recognize them and take them away. The Volador rite is performed by the Huastecs in the east of San Luis Potosí although they wear normal clothes adorned with feathers. The exception is the captain who wears a red or blue tunic. Carnival is important in the Veracruz part of the Huasteca, but each as a very local and religious character. For the Nahuas, Carnival is considered to be a “ritual of inversion” where social norms are relaxed. This is done to “placate the Devil” and keep him happy as well. Activities include men dressing as women and local authorities are made powerless temporarily. Offerings are also made by burial, perhaps an offering to the underworld. In many communities, many birds are slaughtered and alcohol is drunk in abundance. Carnival marks the end of dry season farming before rains begin in earnest in April. Ceremonies to ask for abundant rain begin after the end of Lent . ==Economy==

It is one of the poorest regions of the country, with the federal government categorizing it as a “critical region” in terms of combating poverty. The most pressing economic and political problems are in the Veracruz section with high socioeconomic marginalization due to isolation, disputes over land and political repression. Since the mid 20th century, there has been seasonal and permanent migration out of the area and into other areas of Mexico and to the United States to work. In Mexico, most go to Mexico City, Tampico and Monterrey to work as household help but they also go to work in mines in Pachuca and farms in San Luis Potosí, coffee plantations in Huauchinango and the United States. Like most rural indigenous, the economy is based on agriculture, especially the growing of corn. Other important aspects include cattle, the processing of sugar cane, coffee and the growing of citrus as a cash crop although most of this is under the control of mestizos. Piloncillo from sugar cane is an important processed product, most of which is shipped to Jalisco for the tequila industry. Handcrafts of the area include ceramics in Huejutla, ixtle items, quechquemitls, cross stitch decorated garments in the region on the Hidalgo-Veracruz border, musical instruments and furniture, especially chairs made of cedar and other tropical hardwoods. In the area around Tantoyuca, Veracruz, handcrafts from a fiber called zapupe and palm is used to make hats, carrying bags and other objects. Main regional markets include Tantoyuca, Huejutla, Tamazunchale and Chicontepec. Most of the region is not visited by foreign tourists as the preference is for the beaches. Ecotourism attractions include rappelling alongside waterfalls, rafting on rivers such as the Santa Maria, most of which are located in the state of San Luis Potosí. Englishman Edward James built Las Pozas (The Wells) in an area of coffee and banana plantations near Xilitla. The poet lived here from 1949 until his death in 1984. The gardens contains giant sculptures, pagodas, and staircases to nowhere over a property of 32 hectares. The poet's former home is a mansion of turrets and Gothic windows in the middle of the jungle. Today it is a hotel with the name of La Posada El Castillo. ==Transportation==

There is no airport directly serving the La Huasteca region. To travel to La Huasteca via air, there are three options: San Luis Potosi Airport – from here, it is about a four-hour drive to reach Ciudad Valles, considered the heart of the region. Airport of Querétaro – it is around a six-hour drive to reach Ciudad Valles, but this route is closer to other main sites in La Huasteca, such as the surrealist gardens of Edward James in Xilitla. Airport in Tampico, Tamaulipas – this is perhaps the closest physical airport to Ciudad Valles, but the state is currently considered unsafe to travel. For bus transportation, most of the main bus companies serve the main cities. Between smaller towns, tourists must generally rely on shared mini-vans, called 'colectivos.' However, taxi and car rentals are also relatively affordable. ==See also==