Editing Tecolutla

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|leader_name = Ernesto Chavarria Miranda (2006-2009)

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'''Tecolutla''' is a town and municipality on the eastern coast of the state of [[Veracruz]] in [[Mexico]]. It is the closest beach to [[Mexico City]] and much of its economy is based on attracting people from this city, as it is only a four or five-hour drive.<ref name="mexconnect">{{cite web |last=Tranks |first=Rhonda |title= Just Like Bogie And Bacall In Tecolutla, Veracruz |url= http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/977-just-like-bogie-and-bacall-in-tecolutla-veracruz |date=2006-01-06 |accessdate=8 September 2009}}</ref><ref name="monstruo">{{cite web |title= El Monstruo de Tecolutla |url= http://www.anomalia.org/perspectivas/in/monstruo_tecolutla.htm|language=Spanish |accessdate=8 September 2009}}</ref> It is also the northern end of a tourist corridor called the “Emerald Coast” that extends down to the city of [[Veracruz, Veracruz|Veracruz]].<ref name="mexconnect"/> Tecolutla’s biggest attraction is its geography with its estuaries, canals and mangroves.<ref name="playasmexico">{{cite web |title= Tecolutla, Veracruz |url= http://playasmexico.com.mx/playa_mexico_ficha.php?id_rubrique=382 |language=Spanish |accessdate=8 September 2009}}</ref> The townis also known for the “Tecolutla Monster,”—probablyadead [[whale]]—that was washed ashore in 1969. Its remains are kept at the Marine Museum.<ref name="monstruo"/> The name Tecolutla means “placeofthe tecolotes or owls.”<ref name="totonacapan">{{cite web |title= Tecolutla: Lugar de tecolotes o búhos |url= http://www.totonacapan.com.mx/index.php?Itemid=152&id=88&option=com_content&task=view |language=Spanish |accessdate=8 September 2009}}</ref>

[[Image:TecolutlaDocks2004.jpg|thumb|left|Docks along a lagoon in Tecolutla]]

The most important and growing economic activity here is tourism. The primary reason for this is that Tecolutla is the closest beach to Mexico City.<ref name="totonacapan"/> The town has about 15&nbsp;km of beaches which face directly onto the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. (The municipality has a total of 40&nbsp;km.) These beaches generally have gentle waves and warm water, except during storms called “nortes.”<ref name="mexdes">{{cite web |first=Mayra A. |last=Martinez |title= De Tecolutla a Playa Hicacos (Veracruz) |url= http://www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx/notas/6997-De-Tecolutla-a-Playa-Hicacos-%28Veracruz%29 |date=March 2005 |accessdate=8 September 2009}}</ref> This are basically strong cold fronts that come down Mexico’s Atlantic coast between December and February and can cause sudden drops in temperature and winds. This fickle weather keeps Tecolutla and many other Gulf coast communities from becoming major resort areas like [[Cancun]].<ref name="mexconnect"/>

The oldest hotel is the Hotel Tecolutla, built in 1949, and it has not changed much since then. It used to be the only sizable building in town, but the last decade or so has seen a rise in the number of hotels, mostly catering to budget travelers from Mexico City, with some from [[Xalapa]], the state capital. This tourism is mainly concentrated during peak seasons such as Christmas and Easter holidays and events like the annual fishing tournament. During the rest of the year, it is fairly empty.<ref name="mexconnect"/>

The beaches of the town of Tecolutla divide into North and South Beaches, each with their own hotel zones, restaurants, and camping areas. Both offer boat rides and bicycle paths. At the South Beach, where the breakwaters and the mouth of the river is, there are also beachside cabins and docks for boat rides up the river, as well as for fishing expeditions.<ref name="portal">{{cite web |title= Tecolutla |url= http://portal.veracruz.gob.mx/portal/page?_pageid=313,4308872&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL|language=Spanish |accessdate=8 September 2009}}</ref> A type of boat often used to navigate around the estuaries is called a panguita, which looks like a very long canoe.<ref name="turimexico">{{cite web |title= Tecolutla |url= http://www.turimexico.com/veracruz/tecolutlap.php |language=Spanish |accessdate=8 September 2009}}</ref>

Cultural attractions here include the Hueytepec archeological zone, the Parish of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, the old lighthouse, the Hotel Tecolutla, the Municipal Palace and the Marine Museum, which contains an exposition of river and ocean products. This museum, located on Matamoros Street is a space containing more than 300 aquatic species both alive and preserved.<ref name="totonacapan"/>

The town also hosts a number of events. From April to September each year, the beach known as Vida Milenaria is reserved for sea turtles returning here to breed.<ref name="portal"/> This project is led by Fernando Manzano, better known here as『Papá Tortuga』(Daddy Turtle). This group hatches and frees between five and six thousand baby marine turtles each year. The returning turtles lay about this number of eggs which volunteers collect and protect.<ref name="mexdes"/> Tourist are invited to help free the baby turtles.<ref name="totonacapan"/>

The annual fishing competition in May draws many visitors locally, from Mexico and even beyond. There are events for [[shad]], [[sea bass]]{{disambiguation needed|date=January 2012}} and [[tarpon]] and take place both on the sea and on the [[Tecolutla River]]. This is one of the few times of the year the resort is packed.<ref name="mexconnect"/><ref name="playasmexico"/><ref name="totonacapan"/><ref name="mexdes"/>

Another annual event is the Coconut Festival in February, when local restaurants and hotels get together to make “the world’s largest [[coconut custard]] in the world.” In 2008, the dessert measured 2.15 by two meters,<ref name="playasmexico"/> taking about 6,000 coconuts and two tons of sugar.<ref name="mexdes"/> After it is presented and measured, locals and tourists are invited to have some free.<ref name="playasmexico"/>

One notable nearby attraction is the [[El Tajín]] archeological site, built by the same people who have inhabited this municipality, the [[Totonac]]s. Tecolutla is the closest beach to this site, which is about 40&nbsp;km away. This was the most important ceremonial center in the area and it still host celebrations each year at the [[spring equinox]].<ref name="mexconnect"/><ref name="playasmexico"/>

==Geography and climate==

However, Tecolutla’s biggest attraction is its geography and climate. Situated on the Veracruz coast, Tecolutla has [[estuary|estuaries]], canals and [[mangroves]].<ref name="playasmexico"/> These estuaries are at the mouth of the Tecolutla River which flows through the states of [[Puebla]] and Veracruz, with an extension of 7,950.05&nbsp;km. It is surrounded by the Sierra de Huachinango to the east and the Sierra de Zocapoaxtla to the south. The river is fed by summer rains in the lower elevation and by year-round rains in the higher elevations. The river passes by a number of cities and towns such as [[Cuetzalan]], [[Zacapoaxtla]], [[Zapotitlán, Puebla|Zapotitlán]], [[Huauchinango]], [[Tajín, Veracruz|Tajín]], [[Tecuantepec]], [[El Espinal, Veracruz|El Espinal]], [[Papantla]], [[Gutiérrez Zamora, Veracruz|Gutiérrez Zamora]], [[Cazones de Herrera|Cazones]], [[Coatzintla]], [[Chumatlan]], [[Poza Rica]], then finally to Tecolutla at its mouth.<ref name="76rio">{{cite web |title= Río Tecolutla |url= http://www.conabio.gob.mx/conocimiento/regionalizacion/doctos/rhp_076.html|language=Spanish |accessdate=8 September 2009}}</ref>

These estuaries have abundant vegetation and aquatic, and semi-aquatic wildlife such as crabs, lobsters, [[red snapper (fish)|red snapper]], shad, white and black [[herons]] and in the mangroves, two species of [[alligator]].<ref name="playasmexico"/> There are three estuaries that are visited most. The first is called Del Silencio, which has about five km of navigable waters and filled with mangroves. The name comes from the relative lack of sound, except for the buzzing of insects, and water dripping from trees. The second is called De la Cruz, with very clear waters, 25&nbsp;km of navigable waters in which sea bass can be fished in season. The third is called Del Narajo and is the largest with 40&nbsp;km of navigable waters and is bordered by ranches and orange groves. There is also an abundance of wild birds such as [[ibis]], [[cormorant]]s, parrots, [[guinea fowl]], eagles, falcons, [[stork]]s and others.<ref name="mexdes"/>

The municipality has 40&nbsp;km of beaches. For ten km north along the coast from Tecolutla are the most important beaches: Santa María del Mar and Barra Boca de Lima, which have warm waters with some motion. At Barra Boca de Lima is the Largartos Estuary. A bit further away (32&nbsp;km) is Barra Tenixtepec, which is suitable for aquatic sports. Tecolutla is the beginning of a small tourist corridor which includes beaches such as La Guadalupe, La Vigueta, Playa Oriente, Monte Gordo, Casitas and Maracaibo. This area is known as the Costa Esmeralda because of the green ocean near the beaches, and many contain three and four star hotels, bungalows and trailer parks.<ref name="playasmexico"/>

Tecolutla started as a pre-Hispanic settlement that had been dominated by a number of other peoples.<ref name="totonacapan"/> The Tecolutla River was discovered by [[Juan de Guijalva]] in 1518, three years before the [[Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire]]. The Colonial period for this area began in 1522, with the first Spanish settling here. This caused violent confrontations between the Spanish and the local people at first but eventually led a mixing and the native and the European, in culture, flora, fauna and economic activities. The old pagan ritual centers here were abandoned and have become archeological zones.<ref name="encmuc">{{cite web |title= Enciclopedia de los Municipios de Mexico – Veracruz de Ignacio Llave: Tecolutla |url= http://www.e-local.gob.mx/work/templates/enciclo/veracruz/municipios/30158a.htm |language=Spanish |accessdate=8 September 2009}}</ref>

In 1787, a major conflict over agricultural resources broke out when the native peoples and two Spaniards, Juan de Vidal and Joaquin Suarez over ownership of lands in Tecolutla and surrounding areas bordering the Tecolutla River. Much of this land had been inhabited by native peoples with no formal title.<ref name="encmuc"/>

In 1810, the [[Mexican War of Independence]] began, with [[Serafin Olarte]] leading local efforts. In 1813, the ports of Tecolutla and [[Nautla]] are taken by insurgents and used to bring in arms. In 1814, the insurgents were driven out by the royalist army under [[Juan Navajero]].<ref name="totonacapan"/><ref name="encmuc"/> In 1824, the state of Veracruz was created and Tecolutla became a community under the jurisdiction of the Papantla province. In 1825, the commercial port was constructed, which was blocked by the French during the [[Pastry War]] in 1838.<ref name="encmuc"/>

In 1847, the U.S. frigate, Gemanten, anchored itself in Tecolutla as part of the initial phases of the invasion of Mexico during the [[Mexican-American War]]. In 1857, sixty Italian families settled here as part of an agreement between the Mexican and Italian governments to promote immigration to Mexico. In 1866, Tecolutla was occupied by imperial forces under [[Maximilian I of Mexico|Maximilian]] five days after they took Papantla. The municipality was created in 1879, combining the parishes of Tecolutla, De Cristo and Boca de Lima, and the community of Tecolutla was elevated to the status of town in 1882.<ref name="totonacapan"/><ref name="encmuc"/>

In 1942, two ships, the Tuxpan and the Choapas, were torpedoed while in the port of Tecolutla.<ref name="encmuc"/> Major flooding of the Tecolutla in October 1999 cause widespread damage in the town, including washing away a number of homes and businesses.<ref name="mexconnect"/><ref name="zedillo">{{cite web |title=Versión estenográfica de las palabras del presidente Ernesto Zedillo |url= http://zedillo.presidencia.gob.mx/pages/disc/oct99/12oct99.html |accessdate=8 September 2009}}</ref> Most of this damage has now been repaired and many reconstructed roads and bridges are better than before.<ref name="mexconnect"/> Tecolutla suffered another natural disaster August 27. 2007 when the eye of Hurricane Dean came ashore here. The intensity of the winds and rain led Civil Protection to issue a red alert for the region. The storm knocked out power as rivers and streams overflowed, closing down much of the infrastructure such as banks, roads and gas stations. It also forced 15,000 people into shelters in the tourist areas of this part of Veracruz state.<ref name="universal">{{cite news |first=Edgar |last=Avila Perez |title= Cambia de ruta e impacta en Tecolutla |trans_title=It changes route and impacts Tecolutla |url=http://www.el-universal.com.mx/notas/444498.html |newspaper=El Universal |location=Tuxpan, Veracruz |date=2007-08-22 |accessdate=8 September 2009 |language=Spanish }}</ref>

==The Tecolutla “Monster”==

In 1969, something washed up on the Palmar de Susana beach between Tecolutla and Nautla. It was found by locals who kept its existence secret at first.<ref name="scienceblogs">{{cite web |first=Darren |last=Naish |title=It had wool, and armour plates, a massive beak, horns, and it smelled veeeeery bad: whatever happened to the Tecolutla monster? |url= http://scienceblogs.com/tetrapodzoology/2008/07/tecolutla_monster_carcass.php |accessdate=8 September 2009}}</ref> It took 14 hours to get to the animal in the water and to raise it onto shore. It was thought that money could be made with the “ivory” of its bones and, they began to cut it apart on the beach. This made later identification of the animal more difficult.<ref name="monstruo"/>

Eventually, they informed the municipal president of Tecolutla, César Guerrero, who believed it was a crashed plane. A volunteer rescue party was organized but what they found was an enormous head, with the rest of the creature partially buried.<ref name="scienceblogs"/> It was decided to bring the carcass to the town of Tecolutla, using a truck with a fifteen-meter platform borrowed from Mexican state oil company (PEMEX). It was placed on beach in front of the lighthouse, and photographs were taken.<ref name="monstruo"/>

Descriptions of the dead creature vary. One witness described the animal found like giant worm. The head had lost a great deal of flesh and there were fibers hanging like a mane.<ref name="monstruo"/> Weight of the carcass is estimated at between 24 and 35 tons, measuring 22 meters long and two meters wide. It has been described as having either “wool” or armor plating, or both, with a gigantic [[beak]] or bone like a fang sticking out of its head.<ref name="monstruo"/><ref name="scienceblogs"/>

The municipal president asked for help from the biologists of the Fishing and Biology Station of [[Tampico]], but they failed to identify it, saying that the farmers had disfigured it beyond recognition. Then another biologist failed to identify it.<ref name="scienceblogs"/> The first possible identification was that of a [[narwhal]], as they have a large protrusion from the head, but after further investigation, that identification was not confirmed. A commission of seven scientists reported that the carcass was that of a [[fin whale]].<ref name="monstruo"/> A number of scientists both at the time and later, from photographs, concluded that it was some kind of whale, most likely that of a Sei whale ([[Balaenoptera borealis]]).<ref name="scienceblogs"/> Further investigations by the National University concluded that it was a whale as well.<ref name="monstruo"/>

However, the lack of an immediate and certain identification of the creature led to more interesting speculations as to what it might be. International press reports at the time said that it might be some kind of prehistoric creature.<ref name="monstruo"/> Bernandino Villa of the [[National Autonomous University of Mexico]] speculated that it was a creature that had been preserved in [[Arctic Ocean|Arctic]] ice which had thawed out by the time it reached Mexico. It was also rumored that an organization called the Biology Institute of California wanted to buy the creature, also believing it to be prehistoric.<ref name="scienceblogs"/> A [[cryptozoologist]] identified the creature as the Sea Horse described by [[Bernard Heuvelmans]] in 1965 and much earlier by [[Olaus Magnus]] in 1555. Supposedly, this is some kind of sea monster known as a [[halshippus olaimagni]].<ref name="monstruo"/>

The skull of the creature was kept and, for the most part, matches those of a [[rorqual]], most likely a Sei whale. <!--SEE REFERENCE: ARTICLE CORRECTS THAT THE IMAGE IS NOT OF THE "MONSTER": However, photos of the back of the skull show this part of the skeleton to be inverted and raised up at a steep angle relative to the rostrum. --><ref name="scienceblogs"/> Few whale species are found in the Gulf of Mexico because it is warm and shallow. But beachings of whales have been recorded on Mexico's Atlantic coast. A whale washed up as far south as [[Quintana Roo]] (extreme southern Mexico). In Tecolutla itself, a sperm whale body washed up in 1976 and a pilot whale body in 1991.<ref name="monstruo"/>

Word of the discovery and mystery of the washed-up creature spread and many people came to see the carcass. Scientists recommended burial of the creature, which was decomposing rapidly, but the mayor of Tecolutla refused, and kept it as a tourist attraction in spite of the odor.<ref name="monstruo"/><ref name="scienceblogs"/>

The bones of the animal, including the skull, are now kept at the Marine Museum which was reinaugurated in 1997 after being closed for a number of years. There are paintings of the monster in the museum as well. Despite this, few nowadays in Tecolutla know about the monster. Most witnesses from the time have moved away or have died. There are no local newspapers in Tecolutla and nearest publication, in Poza Rica, did not keep papers from the time period. The city government does not have records, and only a few photographs survive.<ref name="monstruo"/>

The municipality of Tecolutla is located in the north of Veracruz state in a region known as [[Totonacapan]]. Most of the municipality’s borders are defined by the Tecolutla River and the Gulf of Mexico. The municipality contains 375 communities(inegi) and has a surface area of 471.31km2 and an average altitude of ten meters above sea level. It borders the municipalities of Papantla, Martínez de la Torre, and Gutiérrez Zamora with the Gulf of Mexico to the east. The climate is hot with average rainfall for Mexico with an average temperature of 23.6C. The area is suited to fast-growing trees with soft wood such as guarumbo, chancarro, jonote, guanacaxtle and sangrado.<ref name="totonacapan"/>

Much of the municipality is rural, with agriculture and livestock as the economic basis. Important crops grown here include corn, green chiles, beans, “platano roatan” (a species of banana), vanilla, sugar cane, tobacco, pineapple, oranges, limes, grapefruit, mandarin oranges and coconuts.<ref name="totonacapan"/> Livestock raising includes dairy and beef cattle, pigs, sheep, fowl and bees. Second is fishing with only a fraction of the municipality’s land developed. Fishing here is developed by way of cooperations, harvesting common bass (mojarra), crabs, shrimp, oyster, shad and sea bass.<ref name="encmuc"/>

One native crop is the growing of vanilla beans. They have been grown here since far into pre-Hispanic times and they were sent to the Aztecs as tribute. Harvest time is November and December and one can see the beans drying in the sun.<ref name="mexconnect"/>

The developed areas, basically the town of Tecolutla, also rely on tourism, mostly in the way of hotels and other lodges as well as restaurants.<ref name="encmuc"/>

The population of the municipality is 24, 258 with only 4,523 living in the town proper. There is still a definite Totonaca presence here. About 6% of thepopulation speaks Totonaca.<ref name="encmuc"/> These people can be spotted by their distinctive dress. The men wear white, wide-leg trousers, gathered to a tight cuff above the ankle and a loose white shirt, gathered from a yoke, which sometimes has a small cape at the back. The women wear embroidered blouses and lacy skirts, both in white. Over the skirt, they wear a brightly colored half-apron. They also wear a brightly colored scarf similar to a [[quechquemitl]]. This is tied at the back of the neck, draped over the chest and then tucked into the apron.<ref name="mexconnect"/>

{{commons category|Tecolutla, Veracruz}}

{{reflist}}

* [http://www.carnaval.com/cityguides/veracruz/vc_norte.htm Carnaval Guide - North of Vera Cruz]

* [http://www.tourbymexico.com/veracruz/teco/teco.htm Tour By Mexico - Tecolutla]

* [http://sabalo.com.mx/ International Sábalo Fishing Tournament]

* [http://www.tecolutla.com/ Tecolutla page by Dean and Yoly Hughson]

[[Category:Beaches of Mexico]]