Santa María Temaxcaltepec | |
|---|---|
Municipality and town | |
  Santa María Temaxcaltepec Location in Mexico | |
| Coordinates:16°10′N97°12′W / 16.167°N 97.200°W /16.167; -97.200 | |
| Country |  Mexico |
| State | Oaxaca |
| Area | |
• Total | 86.8 km2 (33.5 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,320 m (4,330 ft) |
| Population (2005) | |
• Total | 2,628 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central Standard Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (Central Daylight Time) |
Santa María Temaxcaltepec is a town andmunicipality inOaxaca in south-westernMexico. It is part of theJuquila District in the center of theCosta Region.
The name "Temaxcaltepec" means "hill of baths", a reference to the use of steam baths or sweat lodges to cure the sick.[1]
The municipality covers an area of 86.8 km2 at an elevation of 1,320 above sea level.The terrain is rugged, in the foothills of theSierra Madre del Sur.Rainfall of 2,057 mm occurs mostly between June and October.
Flora include amate, fig, locust, avocado, mahogany, oak, cedar, palm, hormiguillo and pastures.Wildlife includes squirrels, armadillos, opossum, fox and badger.[1]
As of 2005, the municipality had 505 households with a total population of 2,628 of whom 2,081 spoke an indigenous language.Agriculture is the main economic activity.[1]Temaxcaltepec is one of the centers of theChatino people, related to theZapotec but with a distinct language.[2]Municipal representatives are selected according to the traditional indigenous system (usos y costumbres).In December 2007 there were disturbances when the state electoral authority failed to recognize the leaders who had been selected in this way.[3]