El Caracol, Michoacán

For other places with the same name, see El Caracol (disambiguation).

El Caracol is a small village in the mountains of the Mexican state of Michoacán, in the municipality of Hidalgo. It is located off the State route of Mexico-Morelia-Guadalajara, about 12 km (7.5 mi) south of Mil Cumbres at an elevation of 2896 m (9501 ft) above mean sea level. Its temperatures varies from 40's to the 70's from July to February and 60's to 80's from March to June with relative low humidity. There are almost no mosquitoes, snakes or other pests.

History

It is said to be one of the oldest villages in the region dating as far back to the mid 15th century. There are few records of its history, only tales of the native people that passed them on from generation to generation.

Folk tales tell of a very painful separation caused by two priests. One decided to relocate the village because the terrain where it was located would not allow it to grow, and most of the people followed the priest to a valley now known as San Antonio Villalongin. The rivalry started when San Antonio's priest wanted to take all the church's belongings (Saints and a three-ton gold-plated bell). There are accounts of trying to drag the a four foot San Isidro Labrador statue out the temple and the statue would not fit out the door. After the unsuccessful robbery the evil priest walked up the mountain to La Cruz del Toro and cursed the town.

In the late 1970s and 1980s, El Caracol was a major lumbermill center with up to 34 lumberyards, cabinetry, and bedboard making shops, producing thousands of woodcrafting products and distributing them throughout the Mexican Republic. The population of the village grew close to 5,000. The primary, tele-secondary schools, and a bigger temple were built to accommodate the increasing population.

El Caracol has been a stepping stone. In the 1950s and 1960s people from the surrounding villages migrated to El Caracol, while the natives moved to Mexico City. Similarly in the 1980s and 1990s people from El Caracol started migrating to Morelia and the United States, especially to Los Angeles CA, Chicago Ill and Atlanta GA. and people for surrounding villages such as La Palma, San Juan, El Astillero and others moved to El Caracol.

Now there are only about 2,700 people left in the village, most of whom are under 15 or over 45 years old. A few left to Morelia to continue their studies and the majority are in the United States working.

Traditions

Traditional village ceremonies include a re-enactment of the Birth, Last Supper and the Passion of Christ. Another big tradition is the migration on July 16 the day of La Virgen Del Carmen.

Politics

• Paving El Caracol.
• Making the new road.
• Federal funds given to the town, kept by the municipality and the "chosen ones".

Gallery

• El caracol village.jpg

  View from half way to the top of the mountain

• Tejocote.JPG

  Alternate view, at sunset

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  July 06

• Gniebla(3).JPG

  View from 1.5Km into El Caracol from Mil Cumbres (July 08)

• Gventana.JPG

  Vista de mi ventana, Julio 08.

• Vista de el picacho.JPG

  View from El Picacho

• Gpicacho.JPG

  Driving on the clouds to El Caracol

• JUANRPAMA1.JPG

  EL CANTIL

• JUANRPAMA2.JPG

  EL CARACOL MICHOACAN LUGAR TURISTICO

• JUANRPAMA4.JPG

  EL CARACOL MICHOACAN LUGAR TURISTICO

• JUANRPAMA3.JPG

  ATARDECER EN LA CRUZ DEL TORO

• JUANRPAMA6.JPG

  JULIO 2008 SANTISIMA VIRGEN DEL CARMEN

• JUANRPAMA5.JPG

  JULIO 2008 FIESTA DE LA SANTISIMA VIRGEN DEL CARMEN

• JUANRPAMA7.JPG

  JULIO 2007

External links

Visit the Spanish version for more pictures or http://gavpa13.webs.com, YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDm9UqtI4Xk, or http://www.panoramio.com/photo/15083557

• Google Maps satellite view