Country Mexico Population 1,220 (2010) Municipality Batopilas Municipality | State Chihuahua Local time Monday 12:56 PM | |
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Weather 27°C, Wind SW at 11 km/h, 18% Humidity | ||
Batopilas ( ) is a small town, and seat of the surrounding municipality of the same name, in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, located along the Batopilas River at the bottom of one of the canyons that make up the Copper Canyon. As of 2010, the town of Batopilas had a population of 1,220. Its elevation above sea level is 578 metres (1,896 ft). The town is situated in a narrow valley, bordered by steep canyon walls. It was declared a Pueblo Mágico on October 19, 2012.
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Map of Batopilas, Chihuahua, Mexico
Batopilas was a prominent silver-mining center from the 17th to the early 20th century.
History
Batopilas was established by Spanish conquistadores starting in 1632 as a center for silver mining. Over the centuries scores of hugely productive silver mines have been dug in the area; one estimate (Wilson and Panczner) is that mines in the area have produced seven times as much silver as come from the famous silver mine of Kongsberg, Norway. Little mining is now done.
Large fortunes were made, most visibly reflected in a castle-like home, called the Hacienda San Miguel, that Alexander Robey Shepherd, the last governor of Washington, D.C., had built after leaving the United States in 1875. It stands across the river from the center of the village and has long been in ruins. As of 2006 it is occupied by a number of local families that give tours to visitors for a small fee.
Batoplias is the subject of an extended, discursive, but highly charged conversation between actors Marlon Brando and Alex Montoya in a pulqueria in the 1966 Hollywood movie The Appaloosa.
Geography
The main connection to the outside world is a five-hour bus connection to Creel, half of which occurs on an unpaved mountain road.
The Satevo mission, featuring a large church built four centuries ago with a mysterious past, is 8 kilometers from Batopilas, along the Batopilas River.
Climate
The climate of Batopilas falls on the boundaries of three climatic types: Aw, tropical savanna; Csa, Mediterranean, sub-tropical with dry summers, and BS. semi-arid steppe. Using the Koppen climatic classification system the climate is Csa. However, using the Trewartha climate classification system the climate is BShl: semi-arid steppe with hot summers and mild winters.