The Municipality
Jalpan is the municipal seat and local governing authority for 72 other communities, which together cover a territory of 1185km2. The total population of the municipality is 22,025 (2005), with 8,947 living in the town of Jalpan proper. In addition to the municipal seat, other important communities include Saldiveña, Tancoyol, El Lindero, Valle Verde, Rincon de Pitzquintla and Laguna de Pinzquintla. These communities’ primary economic activities are agriculture and livestock. The best known of these communities is Tancoyol, located 58 km from the town of Jalpan, because it contains the other of the municipality’s two Franciscan missions. Between the two, there are holm oak forests along the highway, then low deciduous rainforest and on some of the hillsides, tall cactus. Many of the Tancoyol’s cactus are found on an elevation called Cerro Verde, where the climate is hot and dry. The mission church, located in the center, in front of the main plaza. Outside the community, there is an old aqueduct built for the mission. Near Tancoyol is the community of Las Nuevas Flores, which is dominated by the Pame people. One of their main crafts is the making of hats and other objects from palm fronds.
Valle Verde is located in the north of the municipality, very close to the San Luis Potosí border. Its vegetation is forest with houses made of wood or concrete but always in the form of a cabin. San Juan de los Durán is a small village located among dense vegetation. It contains an ecological park by the same name with various cabins. Just outside of the municipal seat proper there are a number of points of interest. The Mundo Acuático (Aquatic World) recreational park has a pool, water slide, camping area, sports field and restaurant. It is located just outside the town proper on the road to the Jalpan Dam. The Jalpan Dam is about 1.5 km outside of the center of Jalpan. It is surrounded by forest and has clear water. The area has been adapted for mountain biking and ATVs. There are also a number of wildlife species to be seen such as cardinals, pelicans, ibis, eagles, turtles and more. Sports fishing is allowed, with mostly largemouth bass and mojarra to be caught. La Playita (Little Beach) is an area along the banks of the Jalpan River which is often used for walks, picnicking and events. It is located about a kilometer outside the town off the main highway.
The municipality is known for ecotourism with many types of climates and environments. The Puente de Dios is a very long cavern through which the river that feeds the Jalpan Dam runs. The cavern is the scene of a local legend called “El Meco Lucas.” El Meco Lucas is said to have lived in the cave in the 1940s and 1950s. He was said to know the cave intimately and would come into town with gold to spend. One day he disappeared and was never seen again; however, it is said that he can still be heard in the cave. The Cueva del Diablo (Devil’s Cave) is named so because it has a history of being associated with the deity appearing in the form of a hen with chicks that attacked passers-by. It is located near the community of Carrizal de los Sánchez. The Cave of the Goddess Cachum is part of the Pame cemetery, located near Tancama. This goddess symbolized the mother of the sun, rain and good harvest. However, her reverence is limited to the retelling of her myths through oral tradition. The interior of the cave contains peculiar shapes and its lighted naturally from the entrance, which reaches the back of the cave.
The municipal government consists of a municipal president, and nine officials called “regidores.” The municipal palace or main government building is located in the town of Jalpan.
Read more about this topic: Jalpan De Serra