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Xaltocan (also known as Jaltocan or Jaltocán) is in Xaltocan Municipality in the Mexican state of Tlaxcala. The name can mean either of two things in the Nahuatl language: either 'sandy ground of spiders' or 'where sand sowing'. Xaltocan is also the name of the municipal seat.
Contents
Map of Xaltocan, Tlaxcala, Mexico
History
Xaltocan was inhabited in Pre-Columbian times and is still populated today. In ancient times, its people who were comparable to the Aztecs of Mesoamerica, were rigorously religious, having temples and sacred sites in which they would worship their native gods, as well as performing occasional rituals that involved an offering of human sacrifice, among other similar ceremonies. These human sacrifices often included women from surrounding regions, but men were not excluded from sacrifice to the gods. The human sacrifices were mostly performed in front of a Cuauhxicalli, which was a sacred statue in the shape of a soldier or warrior.
Climate
The climate in Xaltocan is mostly tropical, with warm temperatures most of the year. Heavy rain falls during the summer months. The average temperature is almost thirty degrees Celsius, while the average rainfall per year is one hundred and fourteen millimeters. According to American author Buddy Levy and his book Conquistador, Xaltocan was inhabited and thriving as an island city. Like a miniature version of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, Xaltocan was surrounded by lake Texcoco and accessible only via raised causeways that branched from the island city. Cortes, having barely escaped from the Aztec island capital in November 1520, reconointered Xoltocan to plot his subsequent water attack of Tenochtitlan in June 1521.
Flora and fauna
The tree species that can be found in Xaltocan include ashes, willows, weeping willows and tepozán. Higher up on the island, Chihuahua Pines can be found, among other trees. In urban areas, there are several species of introduced trees, including cypress, the casuarina and eucalyptus trees.
Even though the urban part of the island has greatly expanded in recent times, several wild species of fauna still exist in these areas. These types of fauna include rabbits, hares, ringtails, and the common opossum. Birds such as crows, sparrowhawks and quails can also be found.
Population and religion
Studies taken during 1990 suggest that most (97%) of the population are of the Roman Catholic faith, 2% are Protestant or Evangelical and the remainder profess other religions or beliefs.