Tabasco - Mexico - HISTORY.com Tabasco A+E Networks Introduction This low, flat state still has a large indigenous population that lives primarily in rural areas. Contrary to popular belief, Tabasco was not named after the spicy peppers of the same name, though the state is a major producer of other farm products, including cacao, coconuts, corn (maize), sugarcane and tropical fruits. The commercial and manufacturing center of the state is Villahermosa. Food processing plants and companies producing wood products, cigars, soap and clothing are located throughout the city. History Early History Beginning around 1500 B.C., the Olmec civilization established itself in Tabasco, reaching its cultural and economic peak around 500 B.C. The Olmecs were noted for their superb stone carvings, which ranged from small, finely detailed jade objects to colossal carved-basalt heads that frequently combined human and jaguar features.

The state was once the location of La Venta, the largest Olmec city, which contained 18,000 inhabitants at its peak between 800 and 500 B.C.Between 100 and 1000 A.D., the Mayans emerged as the dominant culture in the region, followed by the Toltecs in the 13th century. The word Toltec means master builders, and evidence shows that they were brilliantly skilled architects and artists who smelted metals and created highly sophisticated stonework. The Toltec’s polytheistic religion seems to have centered on the god Quetzalcóatl and featured ceremonies that included human sacrifice, sun worship and a sacred ball game. They are believed to have discovered pulque (a fermented drink) and had considerable astronomical knowledge, as shown by their calendar cycle of 52 years of 260 days each. Did You Know? The variety of peppers used in Tabasco sauce (capsicum frutescens) do not actually grow in this Mexican state. In the 14th century, the Chontales appeared in the Tabasco area; historians believe they may have migrated there from Nicaragua.

Chontales is the Mayan name for alien, which is probably the origin of the tribe’s name. Commerce between the Chontales and Mayans led to the development and rise of sizeable cities like Cimatán and Teapa. By 1500 A.D., 135,000 people inhabited the area. In the present-day municipality of Nacajuca, the Chontales represent most of the local population; other Chontales communities are scattered throughout Centla, El Centro, Jonuta and Macuspana. Middle History Spanish explorer Juan de Grijalva’s five-ship expedition in the Caribbean was the first to reach the Tabasco territory in 1518. Soon after, the Spaniards made contact with the Chontales natives who gave them utensils made of gold. The gifts motivated the Spaniards to explore the territory in search of gold mines. A year later, Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés reached the region and successfully defeated the Chontales. A native woman named Malinche became Cortés’ mistress and mother of his son Martín. Malinche learned to speak Spanish and is often accused of providing Cortés with information vital to the defeat of the Aztecs .

Complete conquest of Tabasco by the Spaniards was delayed until the late 16th century due to indigenous uprisings and the Spanish preoccupation with dominating the central valley of Mexico . By the end of the 16th century, however, the native population had dwindled to less than 7,500, and fewer than 100 Spanish colonists remained in the area. As part of an initiative to promote the development of agriculture, the Spanish introduced African slaves into the region. Uprisings by these slaves and the indigenous population over their deplorable living conditions hindered the area’s economic development. New uprisings during the 18th century provoked the Spaniards to increase the slave trade and promote new settlements by colonists. Recent History Mexico’s 1810 independence movement had little effect on the citizens of Tabasco. Nevertheless, the country’s liberation led to the state’s freedom from Spanish rule in 1821. Three years later, Tabasco joined the federation of states. Like the rest of the country, 19th-century Tabasco was characterized by political instability and conflicts between local military leaders. U.S.

troops occupied the region briefly during the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), and French troops invaded in 1864 to uphold the appointment of Maximilian I, who had forced Mexico’s President Benito Juárez out of office and declared himself emperor. Liberal forces loyal to Juárez successfully ousted Maximilian in 1867. Tabasco subsequently capitulated to the loyalists, who supported Juárez’s return to the presidency, and later to the supporters of Porfirio Díaz. Díaz gained power through a rebellion against Juárez’s successor and ruled Mexico between 1876 and 1910. The Mexican Revolution , which began in 1910, had little impact on this scarcely populated region. Following the revolution, however, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) exercised overwhelming power in Tabasco for most of the 20th century, especially after large oil fields were discovered in the state. Tabasco Today Largely a rural state and covered in marshland and forest, Tabascans today are primarily involved in agriculture and livestock breeding.

In fact, consumption agriculture–whereby peasants produce enough crops to feed their family needs and supply local markets–still plays an important role in the state. The state’s most prominent crops are corn, beans, sweet potatoes, yucca, squash and rice. In addition, Tabasco produces many export crops including cacao, sugarcane, banana and coconut. Cattle is another important local commodity. The commercial and manufacturing center of the state is Villahermosa. Food processing plants and companies producing wood products, cigars, soap and clothing are located throughout the city. Though tropical agriculture and cattle farming were once the leading economic activities of the state and still play a role, rich oil fields discovered along the coast have since become Tabasco’s economic mainstay. Today, Tabasco is one of Mexico’s main oil-producing zones, and oil is a major factor in the state’s economy and that of the nation as a whole. Large-scale exploitation of this natural resource began after 1950. General service-based companies account for about 21 percent of the state economy.

Trade activities represent about 18 percent, followed by mining at 16 percent, finance and insurance, at 15 percent, construction at 9 percent, transportation and communications at 8 percent, agriculture and livestock at 8 percent and manufacturing at 5 percent. Facts & Figures Major Cities:(population) Centro (558,524), Cárdenas (219,563), Comalcalco (173,773), Huimanguillo (163,462), Macuspana (142,954) Size/Area: 9,755 square miles State of Tabasco, Mexico Villahermosa The state of Tabasco is located in southeastern Mexico with 250 km of coastline along the Gulf of Mexico. Tabasco’s geography is mainly verdant, humid plains amidst a myriad of rivers and lagoons, fertile with marine life. The state had largely stumbled along, economically dependent upon fishing and agriculture, until the state’s oil company, Pemex, began onshore and offshore exploits in Tabasco, making it one of Mexico’s more prosperous states, and putting it on the map for everyone to see.

And with the spotlight on Tabasco’s good fortune in oil, tourists might take notice of what otherwise has gone fairly unnoticed as a tourist destination. The state has many exciting attractions that include fishing, white-water rafting, and boat tours on Rio Usumacinta, the state’s longest river; caving excursions, mountain biking, hiking, and for the more adventurous, zip-lining in its hills; or just relaxing in the serenity and beauty of its many beaches. Tabasco also has many cultural attractions such as the archeological sites of the Olmec and the Mayan people, ancient architecture, museums, bustling cities, and quaint Mexican towns full of tradition and authenticity. And, if you are a connoisseur of good food, or if you just like to eat it (and who doesn’t?) you might relish the fact that a deeply-rooted tradition in Tabasco’s culture is one of eating seven meals per day.

It’s no wonder, with temperatures around 27º C daily and the warm air wafting with Tabasco’s exquisite use of cocoa, chilies, and other exotic seasoning infused in local dishes like pasties, butifarra and longaniza (sausages), garlic prawn, iguana pie, Tabasco sea bass, or the catch of the day, it’d make anyone lunge for their fork! We also must mention that we owe Tabasco and the pre-Hispanic Olmec people a tremendous debt for being the originators of our beloved chocolate! The capital city of Villahermosa is Tabasco’s largest city, and there’s much to do here. Visitors can enjoy the city’s many museums, particularly the “Parque-Museo la Venta”, an outdoor park with a museum featuring ruins from the Olmec archeological site. Tours out of Villahermosa can be arranged through local tour operators. The state is developing many tourist routes that could include any mix of the following cities, depending upon your interests.

Macuspana is home to the Parque Estatal Agua Blanca with its beautiful rivers and majestic waterfalls, as well as the site of the Ixtapa-Ja' caves, which are perfect for caving, rock climbing and rappelling. For a taste of authentic Mexican culture, visit picturesque Tapijulapa a traditional Mexican village with narrow cobblestone streets and white houses with red tile roofs located on the banks of the Rios Oxolotan and Amethyst. This charming town is loaded with tourist attractions, such as the caves at Cueva de las Sardinas Ciegas and Grutas de Cuesta Chica, and the Kolem Jaa’ Ecotourism Center where visitors can enjoy the adventure sports of mountain biking, caving, rappelling, photo safaris, camping, and canopy, etc. Here you can also join a scenic boat tour, enjoy the magnificent botanical garden at El Jardín de Dios, or explore an ancient Franciscan ex-convent. Tapijulapa shares many of its attractions with the neighboring village of Tacotalpa, whose municipality shares the Parque Estatal de la Sierra, a protected area, with Teapa.

The park has 1,000 meter-high mountains with unexplored caves, rivers, waterfalls and springs. Here you’ll see parrots, curassow, monkeys and ocelots, among others, while exploring caves, climbing rocks, hiking in forests, rappelling cliffs, river rafting, or simply enjoying nature. Cárdenas is the second largest city in Tabasco and a municipality with most of its tourist activity taking place in Sanchez Magallanes, a quaint fishing village with the Gulf of Mexico on one side of it and El Pajaral, a lake with beautiful islands (Islas El Pajaral), on the other. The area’s Laguna del Carmen, y La Machona flows into the Gulf and from here visitors can catch a fishing tour or boat ride around the islands for some breathtaking views and excellent bird-watching. Huimanguillo, seated amongst scenic mountains, rainforests, rivers, and lagoons, this municipality is the home of the important La Venta Olmec archeological site, famous for its colossal heads. Visitors can also tour the Museo de Sitio La Venta (museum) on site.

The tiny, seldom-visited village of Malpasito in this municipality claims the intriguing Zoque ceremonial ruins with its amazing petroglyphs. Other terrific attractions in Huimanguillo are its over 50 waterfalls, and the Laguna del Rosario, a shallow lagoon good for fishing, water sports and bird-watching, with camping sites available nearby. If you like a little adventure with your vacation, take an exotic ecotourism tour in the area’s 15,000 hectares set amongst majestic waterfalls, a plethora of bird species, jungle, evergreen forests, and 8 rural Zoque communities. Camp, trek, hike, rappel, go canyoneering, and partake in many more exciting activities, or simply enjoy this dramatic scenery. Travelers visit the municipality of Centla primarily for the Reserva de la Biosfera Pantanos de Centla. This over 1.5 million acre reserve protects a good part of the swamplands, flora, and fauna around the Rios Usumacinta and Grijalva, Mexico’s two biggest rivers.

Take a guided excursion into the mangroves, and you might encounter exotic sightings of the West Indian manatee or Morelet’s crocodile (both endangered species), tortoises, iguanas, hundreds of bird species, and maybe even some howler monkeys! At the reserve’s visitor center, the Centro de Interpretación Uyotot-Ja, check out the 20 meter-high observation tower, which overlooks the amazing confluence of the Rios Grijalva, Usumacinta, and San Pedrito aka “Tres Brazos” (Three Arms). Incidentally, it’s also a great spot for bird-watching. The port city of Frontera is where the river meets the sea. The port has some nice beaches where you can enjoy water sports or just soak up some sun. And, if you love to fish, here’s your spot. Reel in bass and crappie, as well as other species. The area is also a large exporter of shrimp for the country, so theoretically you could also net some shrimp. The municipality of Jonuta lies on the banks of the Usumacinta River and has in its enclave several lakes, such as the Laguna Arrastradero and Long Beach.

Attractions in the area include “Mirador El Cuyo”, a mound of pre-Hispanic origin with stairs leading to a plaza with benches, which serves as a great lookout spot for an amazing view of the river, its lagoons and small islands set amidst lush vegetation. The Usumacita River is of course an excellent venue here for water sports, such as boating, sailing, skiing, rafting, and fishing. Nearby the lively southern town of Teapa are some natural attractions like the Grutas del Coconá. This beautiful cavern with many “rooms” has an abundance of stalactites and stalagmites, natural ponds, bats, and howler monkeys, which call out to you at the grotto’s entrance. A small museum inside the cave exhibits pre-Hispanic ceremonial relics. Tour the grotto alone with your flashlight, or take a guided tour with lights and sound!

After your cave tours, enjoy time along the Balneario Río Puyacatengo, a collection of popular riverside restaurants and beaches, located just 3 km outside of Teapa, soak in the thermal sulfur waters of the Hacienda "Los Azufres", or explore Teapa’s 18th century architecture. In far southeastern Tabasco sits the small town of Tenosique. Many travelers use Tenosique as a stop-over place enroute to Guatemala, but about 8 km southwest of here the mighty Rio Usumacinta spews forth from the jungle and hills of Boca del Cerro, from which tourists can take a thrilling river ride on a “Lancha” (a fast outboard boat) to the San Jose canyon and back! The archeological ceremonial center and museum of Pomona is also near Tenosique. The town of Emiliano Zapata is a ripe spot for tourist attractions and water sports of all kinds. Here adventure seekers will find the Parqueológico, a theme park just outside the city featuring rappelling and zip-lining; fishing and other water sports can be pursued at the Nueva Esperanza Lagoon; and a slice of culture can be found at the Emiliano Zapata Museum.

Comalcalco is a typical mid-size western Tabasco town with its activities centered around a central plaza – Parque Juárez. It’s a prosperous, busy city, and it has much to offer visitors. Comalcalco is home to the fascinating Comalcalco archeological site and museum with its myriad of sculptures, engravings and petroglyphs of people, animals, and deities. A noteworthy aspect of this site is that all of the buildings were constructed using baked clay bricks held together by oyster shell mortar, a feature unique to ancient Mayan settlements. If you are a lover of chocolate, tour the cacao plantations at the beautiful La Luz, Cholula, and Brondo Haciendas, where they make chocolate from home-grown cacao. Here you can view traditional methods of turning cacao beans into chocolate in its place of origin, and of course, have some chocolate! Paraíso, bordered on its north by the Gulf of Mexico, has become quite a prosperous city due to its natural beauty and being situated next door to the Pemex oil exploitations on the coast of Puerto Dos Bocas.

Paraíso is where the people of western Tabasco come to relax on the beautiful beaches, such as Playa Varadero, Playa El Paraíso, and Balneario Palmar. Here also is the “Puerto Ceiba” Tourist Parador, a great family area offering a playground, and boat tours, as well as local and specialty cuisine. There are some charming villages in Tabaco where visitors looking for rich, authentic Mexican culture will find themselves immersed in the history, tradition, creativity, and hospitality of its people. Such mesmerizing places include Nacajuca, the Mayan Chontales Communities, and Jalpa de Mendez. From Jalpa, you can also visit the “La Encantada” Turtle Farm, take eco-tourism trips to the Crocodile Swamp Sanctuary, or enjoy water sport in the lakes of the Pomposu Juliva Wetlands. Cupilco was the border trade zone among Mayans and Aztecs. Moreover, Tabasco’s most colorful church of Tabasco is located here with a facade painted in bright colors. The interior features two altars, with the Virgin of the Asuncion altar dedicated to the temple.

Tourist attractions in Cunduacan include the “Las Mirandillas”, a baroque-style church built by the Franciscan order in 1724 and the “La Natividad” Temple. The town of Balancán is brimming with rivers, lakes and waterfalls and that means fantastic water activities amongst beautiful landscapes for visitors. Of particular interest is the Reserva Ecológica Cascadas de Reforma, where the San Pedro River forms 4 magnificent waterfalls that flow into natural swimming pools. It’s a stunning tourist stop, where visitors can find campsites and palapas, under which they can enjoy magnificent bird-watching. Also in Balancán is the partially explored Zona Arqueológica Maya de Reforma, where archeologists have found six greenish masks and a limestone sculpture that resembles the body of some kind of warrior, and an interesting two-story archeological museum with one level devoted to exhibits on pre-Hispanic life and the other devoted to the post-colonial era. With all of this to do in Tabasco, you may have to move here to see and do all of the spectacular things the state has to offer!

Spanish version of this page: Tabasco Tabasco | state, Mexico | Britannica.com Tabasco Usumacinta River Tabasco, estado (state), southeastern Mexico . It is bounded by the Gulf of Mexico to the north, by the state of Campeche to the east, by Guatemala to the southeast, and by the states of Chiapas to the south and Veracruz to the west. Its capital city is Villahermosa . Oil refinery on the Tabasco Plain, near Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico. © Robert Frerck/Odyssey Productions Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Except for some higher areas in the south, the relief is generally low and flat, and the land is largely covered with lakes , lagoons , and wetlands , including those in the extensive Centla Wetlands Biosphere Reserve in the northeast. The state is drained by the Grijalva (also known as the Tabasco) and Usumacinta rivers, which, with their tributaries, deposit fertile soils in floodplains and act as major avenues of transportation. Grijalva River at Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico.

Alfonsobouchot Pre-Hispanic Indian cultures included those of the Chontal , Maya , Olmec , and Nahua —many descendants of whom still inhabit the state. In 1518 the Spanish explorer Juan de Grijalba visited the area, and the following year the conquistador Hernán Cortés clashed with the Indians, who were partly subdued by Francisco de Montejo in the 1530s and ’40s. Olmec colossal basalt head in the Museo de la Venta, an outdoor museum near Villahermosa, Tabasco, … © Robert Frerck/Odyssey Productions Mayan brick pyramid at Comalcalco archaeological site, Tabasco, Mexico. Dennis Jarvis (CC-BY-2.0) (A Britannica Publishing Partner) Nearly half the population lives in rural areas, where the chief crops are cacao , copra (from coconuts), corn (maize), sugarcane, and tropical fruits (notably papayas and bananas). Forestry (especially mahogany and red cedar), beekeeping, fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, and cattle raising are also important.

Petroleum, which is extracted from several fields and refined locally, is a major source of employment and income in the state. Similar Topics Tabasco Tabasco Pronunciation: tah-BAHS-koh. Origin of state name: May have originated from the native Aztec word tlapaco, which means "humid land." May also have originated with the first Spaniards, who thought the native leader was Tabasco, but his name was more likely Taabs-Coob. Capital: Villahermosa (vee-ah-hair-MOH-sah). Entered country: 1824. Coat of Arms: Four squares depict castles, a shield and sword, a crowned lion ready to attack, and a native warrior. In the center, an oval features a representation of the Virgin Mary. Holidays: Año Nuevo (New Year's Day—January 1); Día de la Constitución (Constitution Day—February 5); Benito Juárez's birthday (March 21); Primero de Mayo (Labor Day—May 1); Revolution Day, 1910 (November 20); and Navidad (Christmas—December 25). Flag: There is no official state flag.

Time: 6 AM = noon Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). 1 Location and Size Tabasco is located on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (an isthmus is a narrow strip of land that connects two larger areas, in this case the Bay of Campeche on the north and the Gulf of Tehuantepec on the south). Tabasco covers an area of 24,662 square kilometers (9,522 square miles), which is a little smaller than the US state of Vermont. The state is bordered on the north by the Gulf of Mexico; on the south by the Mexican state of Chiapas; on the east by the Central American country of Guatemala and the Mexican state of Campeche; and on the west by the Mexican state of Veracruz. It has seventeen municipalities, and its capital is Villahermosa. Almost all the territory of Tabasco is low and flat. The only exception is the region bordering the state of Chiapas, where the hilly region of the Chiapas Sierra begins. This state has almost a third of all Mexico's water resources. Tabasco's major rivers are the Grijalva and the Usumacinta.

The Usumacinta, Mexico's largest river, forms a natural border between Mexico and Guatemala. Other noteworthy rivers include the Palizada, San Pedro, San Pablo, Tonalá, and Mezcalapa. In Tabasco, the largest lagoons are the Rosario, Las Ilusiones, Pomposú, Machona, and Canitzán. 2 Climate The warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico contribute to the climate, which is generally warm and humid. The average temperatures is 24° c to 82° f ). The highest monthly average rainfall occurs in August and September. Up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) of rain often falls during September alone. 3 Plants and Animals The mountain region of the state has rain forest conditions that are well suited for the growth of exotic trees (including mahogany, cedar, ceiba, palo, tinto, barí, and rubber trees) and various species of ferns. Fruit trees such as tamarind, orange, and sapodilla (the source of chicle, the base for chewing gum and other products) are also found. Mangroves (tropical evergreens with a tangled root system) are found along the coast.

Deer, ocelots, spider monkeys, and jaguars are a few of the larger mammals found in the state. Smaller mammals include squirrels, anteaters, and rabbits. Alligators and a wide variety of poisonous and nonpoisonous snakes can be found in the state. Common birds include macaws, quetzals, toucans, and hummingbirds. 4 Environmental Protection Protected areas in the state include the Biosphere Reserve of the Wetlands of Centla, which has been designated as a Wetland of International Importance by the international conservation group known as the Ramsar Convention. This area has been threatened by the activities of the petroleum exploration and production company Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMAX). 5 Population, Ethnic Groups, Languages Tabasco had a total population of 1,891,829 in 2000; of the total, 934,515 were men and 957,314 were women. The population density was 76 people per square kilometer (197 people per square mile). In 2000, the capital, Villahermosa, had a population of 545,433.

Almost all citizens speak Spanish as their first language. A small number, about 3.7%, of the population, speaks indigenous (native) languages. 6 Religions According to the 2000 census, 62% of the population, or about 1.2 million people, were Roman Catholic; 12%, or 226,683 people, were Protestant. That year there were also 58,701 Seventh-Day Adventists, 20,734 Jehovah's Witnesses, and over 180,000 people who reported no religion. 7 Transportation Tabasco has one international airport. The state also has about 7,912 kilometers (4,914 miles) of roads and 315 kilometers (196 miles) of railroads. 8 History The Olmec civilization developed in Tabasco starting in 1500 B . C . that the Olmec reached its cultural and economic peak. The Maya emerged as the dominant culture in the region © Robert Frerck/Woodfin Camp The Olmec civilization reached its peak in Tabasco around 500 B . C .

This Olmec tomb, constructed of basalt, a dark-colored rock, is part of the archaeological site at La Venta. between 100 and 1000 . D . Toltec culture became dominant in the 13th century, and the Chontales began to grow in the 14th century. Commerce between Nahuas and Maya facilitated the development and rise of sizeable cities, like Cimatán and Teapa. Some 135,000 native indigenous people inhabited the area around 1500. In 1518, Spanish explorer Juan de Grijalva's (c. 1489–1527) five-ship expedition in the Caribbean first reached Tabasco territory. Soon, the Spaniards entered into contact with the Chontales natives who gave them utensils made of gold as gifts. This sparked interest among the Spaniards to explore the territory in search of gold mines. Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés (1485–1547) reached the region a year later and successfully fought against the Chontales.

The Spanish military might convinced a local indigenous leader, called Tabasco, to present Cortés with a present of twenty native women. Among them was Malinche, who later became Cortés's mistress and mother of his son Martín. Malinche is often unjustly accused of providing Cortés with vital information to defeat the Aztecs. Her ability to learn Spanish and communicate with Cortés is the reason for those unfounded claims. Indigenous uprisings and the Spanish preoccupation with dominating the central valley of Mexico delayed the conquest of Tabasco until the late 16th century. For a brief period, Tabasco was put under the authority of the province of Guatemala. By the end of the 16th century, the indigenous population was barely around 7,500, and there were no more than one hundred Spanish colonizers. To promote agricultural activity, the Spanish began introducing African slaves. Its geographic location and the growing trade that existed in the region made Tabasco a prime target of British, French, and Dutch pirates. The pillage by pirates and the uprisings by the indigenous population and African slaves hindered the economic development and population growth in the region.

Those uprisings also reflected the deplorable living conditions of the indigenous and enslaved populations. New uprisings during the 18th century provoked the Spaniards to increase the slave trade and promote new settlements by colonizers. The 1810 independence movement did not reach Tabasco. It was only in 1821 that the region became independent of Spanish colonial rule. In 1824 Tabasco became a federal state. Political instability and confrontations between local military leaders characterized much of the 19th century. For a brief period of time, US troops occupied the region during the Mexican-American War (1846–48). In 1863, French invading troops occupied the region to enforce the monarchial rule of Emperor Maximilian (1832–1867). Liberal forces successfully brought an end to monarchical rule in 1867.

Tabasco was soon brought under control, first by Mexican president Benito Juárez (1806–1872) loyalists, and later by forces loyal to Porfirio Díaz (1830–1915), the man who ruled Mexico between 1876 and 1910. The Mexican Revolution, which started in 1910, had limited impact in this scarcely populated region. The revolutionary victors quickly obtained the support of the local elites before the new constitution of Mexico was written in 1917. The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), the dominant political party in the country for many years, exercised overwhelming power in Tabasco during most of the 20th century, especially after large oil fields were discovered in the state. 9 State and Local Government The state governor is democratically elected every six years for a nonrenewable term. There are twenty-one legislators in the state's unicameral (single chamber) Chamber of Deputies. Fourteen members are elected from single member districts and seven are elected by proportional representation for nonrenewable three-year terms.

Although there are formal provisions for separation of power, the governor has historically exercised enormous prerogatives and attributions. Accusations of electoral fraud have questioned the legitimacy of the democratic system in the state in recent years. The seventeen municipalities that comprise Tabasco hold democratic elections for municipal presidents and council members every three years. Immediate re-election is not allowed. Although some decentralization initiatives are producing positive results, the state still has a long way to go to achieve successful decentralization. More effective decentralization has consolidated in the more populous municipalities. © Peter Langer/EPD Photos Rural habitat in Tabasco. 10 Political Parties The three main political parties in all of Mexico are the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), the National Action Party (PAN), and the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD). The PRI has dominated politics in Tabasco. Roberto Madrazo, the current president of the PRI, was a former governor of Tabasco (1995–2000) . Madrazo's election as governor was marked by accusations of massive fraud against Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who was then the PRD candidate and as of 2004 was the mayor of Mexico City .

The PRD is the second most important party in the state. 11 Judicial System The Supreme Tribunal of Justice is the state's highest court. Its nineteen members are appointed by a two-thirds majority vote in the legislature from a three-person list submitted by the state governor. Only highly qualified attorneys, approved by a Council of the Judiciary, can be nominated to serve in the highest court. There has not been alternation in power in Tabasco, and the PRI has exercised enormous influence and power in the oil-rich state. As a result, the judicial system has not traditionally shown evidence of independence and autonomy. 12 Economy General service-based companies account for about 21% of the state economy. Trade activities account for about 18% of the economy, followed by mining at 16%, finance and insurance at 15%, construction at 9%, transportation and communications at 8%, agriculture and livestock at 8%, and manufacturing at 5%. 13 Industry Villahermosa is the commercial and manufacturing center of the state. Manufacturing companies include food processing plants and companies producing wood products, cigars, soap, and clothing. The oil industry continues to play an important role in the state economy and in the nation as a whole.

There is some small-scale handicraft manufacturing, particularly in items made with alligator skin. 14 Labor The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that Mexican workers saw their wages increase 17%, from $2.09 per hour in 1999 to $2.46 per hour in 2000. (The average US worker earned $19.86 per hour in 2000.) After one year, workers are entitled by law to six days paid vacation. 15 Agriculture Most residents are employed in agriculture. Major crops include corn, beans, yucca, and rice. These crops are generally used for local consumption. Export crops include cacao (cocoa beans), sugarcane, bananas, and coconuts. Cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats are the primary livestock animals. 16 Natural Resources Oil and cement are among the most important natural mineral resources of the state. 17 Energy and Power Mexico's existing natural gas reserves are located primarily in the southwestern states of Tabasco and Chiapas. Almost all of the energy in Mexico is provided by the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE). In February 2002, the CFE introduced new electric rates.

For households that use less than 140 kilowatt hours per month, there was no rate increase. (This is about 75% of all households in Mexico, according to CFE). 18 Health The state of Tabasco has 25 general hospitals, 586 outpatient centers, and 61 surgical centers. Most of the Mexican population is covered under a government health plan. The IMSS (Instituto Mexicano de Seguro Social) covers the general population. The ISSSTE (Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de Trabajadores del Estado) covers state workers. 19 Housing Only about one-half of the housing available in the state of Tabasco is in good repair. More than 18% is in need of significant upgrading. Many homes do not have running water or access to electricity. 20 Education The system of public education was first started by President Benito Juárez in 1867. Public education in Mexico is free for students from ages six to sixteen. According to the 2000 census, there were approximately 457,100 school-age students in the state. Many students elect to go to private schools.

The thirty-one states of Mexico all have at least one state university. The Universidad Juarez Autonoma de Tabasco is located in Villahermosa. 21 Arts Many cultural events take place in the Palacio del Gobierno, the Sala de Arte Antonio Ramírez, and the Teatro de Seguro Social in the capital, Villahermosa. Most cities have a cultural center, where local performing arts troupes perform. 22 Libraries and Museums There are 556 libraries and eighteen museums in the state. Centro has a museum of anthropology. El Museo de la Venta in Villahermosa is a combination zoo and archeological museum. Its collections include large heads sculpted from basalt rock by the indigenous Olmec people. The Carlos Pellicer Museum in Villahermosa is a regional museum of anthropology. 23 Media Villahermosa, the capital, has four daily newspapers: Diario Olmeca, El Sureste de Tabasco, Novedades de Tabasco, and Tabasco Hoy. 24 Tourism, Travel, and Recreation There are natural regions of interest to tourists in the state. There is whitewater rafting at Usumacinta.

Archeological sites are found at La Venta (Olmeca culture) and at Comacalco and Ponomá (Mayan culture). The beaches along the Gulf of Mexico attract tourists to the resorts there. Festivals are regularly held in the capital, Villahermosa. La Polvora Lagoon is a park with waterfalls and hiking and activities for children. 25 Sports Villahermosa's baseball team, Olmecas de Tabasco, plays in the 10,500-seat Centenario 27 de Febrero stadium. 26 Famous People La Malinche was the daughter of an Aztec ruler who became the mistress of the Spanish conqueror, Hernán Cortés. Roberto Madrazo was governor of Tabasco from 1995 to 2000, and he was the president of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) as of 2004. 27 Bibliography DeAngelis, Gina. Mexico. Mankato, MN: Blue Earth Books, 2003. Supples, Kevin. Mexico. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society, 2002.

Web Sites BREAKING: Industrial Radioactive Material has been stolen in Mexico’s eastern coastal state of Tabasco – Three Percenter Nation Comments MEXICO CITY, April 16 (Reuters) – Radioactive industrial x-ray material has been stolen in Mexico’s eastern coastal state of Tabasco, Mexican authorities said, the latest in a string of such thefts. The material, Iridium-192 was reported stolen on Monday from a pickup truck in Cardenas, Tabasco, authorities said in a statement late on Wednesday. Used for mobile industrial x-rays, the substance would be dangerous if removed from its container, authorities said. A load of the same material was stolen in a pickup truck in an industrial Mexico City suburb last July. Thieves in December 2013 also made off with a truck containing Cobalt-60, a radioactive medical material that the United Nations’ nuclear agency said could provide an ingredient for a “dirty bomb”. That radioactive load was also found dumped by the thieves close to where it was stolen. (Reporting by Anahi Rama and Alexandra Alper Editing by W Simon) Age: Half-life of 73.83 days Appearance: Platinum-coloured, but with a slight yellowish cast.

What is it? A radioactive isotope of the element iridium, which emits beta and gamma radiation as it decays. Is it in the ground? Unlike more stable isotopes iridium-191 and 193, iridium does not occur in nature. So where would I find something like that? In the back of a van in Bacup. Are you sure? Yes. In fact, a small amount of iridium-192, enclosed in a lead-lined yellow canister, was stolen from a van parked in Bacup just last weekend. (feb of 2013) I’m confused. Because you don’t understand how highly radioactive material can be transported so insecurely in this day and age? No, because I don’t know where Bacup is. It’s in Lancashire. Ah. Finally all the pieces are beginning to fall into place. But who would want this stuff? That’s unclear. Iridium-192 has industrial applications, and it’s also used in medicine as a source of radiation to kill cancer cells. But it’s also … now don’t panic, will you? Of course I won’t.

It’s also one of the main lost or stolen commercial radioactive isotopes that could potentially be used in a dirty bomb. Oh my God! What’s a dirty bomb? A non-nuclear device using conventional explosives to spread radioactive material over a wide area. Don’t panic … iridium 192 loses its radioactivity relatively quickly. Photograph: Martin Diebel/Getty Images/f We’re all going to die! Calm down. There is a lot of unaccounted-for iridium-192 in the world – in the US particularly – but this a relatively small amount, and it is probable the thief or thieves don’t even know what they have. Is it dangerous? It should be safe as long as it remains in its lead-shielded casing. In the meantime, police are appealing to the public to keep an eye out for the missing canister. Do say: “Don’t worry. Unlike some radioactive isotopes, iridium-192 loses its potency quite quickly. No respectable dirty-bomb maker would touch it.” Don’t say: “Bacup?

Just take the A681 east through Rawtenstall, and turn left when you see the bright-green glow.” Tabasco hot sauce produced in Avery Island, Louisiana | Louisiana Travel Next Avery Island, the birthplace of Tabasco Brand Products including TABASCO® pepper sauce, has been owned for over 180 years by the interrelated Marsh, Avery and McIlhenny families. Lush subtropical flora and venerable live oaks draped with wild muscadine and swags of barbe espagnole, or Spanish moss, cover this geological oddity, which is one of five "islands" rising above south Louisiana’s flat coastal marshes. The 2,200-acre tract sits atop a deposit of solid rock salt thought to be deeper than Mount Everest is high. Geologists believe this deposit is the remnant of a buried ancient seabed, pushed to the surface by the sheer weight of surrounding alluvial sediments. Although covered with a layer of fertile soil, salt springs may have attracted prehistoric settlers to the island as early as 12,000 years ago.

Fossils suggest that early inhabitants shared the land with mastodons and mammoths, giant sloths, saber-toothed tigers and three-toed horses. A salt production industry dates back to about 1000 AD, judging from recovered basket fragments, polished stone implements, and shards of pottery left by American Indians. Although these early dwellers remained on the Island at least as late as the 1600s, they had mysteriously disappeared by the time white settlers first discovered the briny springs at the end of the next century. After the Civil War, former New Orleans banker E. McIlhenny met a traveler recently arrived from Mexico who gave McIlhenny a handful of pepper pods, advising him to season his meals with them. McIlhenny saved some of the pods and planted them in his in-laws’ garden on Avery Island ; he delighted in the peppers’ piquant flavor, which added excitement to the monotonous food of the Reconstruction-era South.

Around 1866 McIlhenny experimented with making a hot sauce from these peppers, hitting upon a formula that called for crushing the reddest, ripest peppers, stirring in Avery Island salt, and aging the concoction he then added French white wine vinegar, hand-stirring it regularly to blend the flavors. After straining, he transferred the sauce to small cologne-type bottles, which he corked and sealed in green wax. "That Famous Sauce Mr. McIlhenny Makes" proved so popular with family and friends that McIlhenny decided to market it, growing his first commercial crop in 1868. The next year he sent out 658 bottles of sauce at one dollar per bottle wholesale to grocers around the Gulf Coast, particularly in New Orleans. The public responded positively and soon McIlhenny had introduced Tabasco sauce to consumers in major markets across the United States. By the end of the 1870s McIlhenny was exporting Tabasco sauce to Europe. So began the fiery condiment that is now a global cultural and culinary icon. Today, Avery Island remains the home of the Tabasco Factory, as well as Jungle Gardens and its Bird City waterfowl refuge.

The Tabasco factory and the gardens are open to the public. For more information, visit the Tabasco website . Find More On Tabasco - Lonely Planet Tabasco Books Welcome to Tabasco They say that the state of Tabasco has more water than land, and looking at all the lagoons, rivers and wetlands on the map you can certainly see why, especially during the rainy season. It’s always hot and sweaty here, but marginally less so when you catch a breeze along the Gulf of Mexico or venture into the southern hills. Travelers to Villahermosa and coastal Tabasco should note the region is subject to seasonal... Read More Top experiences in Tabasco Tabasco Encyclopedia > Places > Latin America and the Caribbean > Mexican Political Geography Tabasco Tabasco (täbäsˈkō) [ key ], state (1990 pop. 1,501,744), 9,783 sq mi (25,338 sq km), E Mexico, on the Gulf of Campeche. Villahermosa is the capital. Tabasco is predominantly a tropical plain, once densely forested, that is broken by numerous rivers, swamps, and lagoons.

The climate is sultry, and rainfall in some areas exceeds 200 in. (508 cm) annually. The state is subject to severe flooding, most recently in 1999 and in 2007, when waters inundated more than three fourths of the state, destroying the state's crops and affecting more than 1 million people. Although Tabasco has modern roads and railways, rivers (especially the Grijalva and the Usumacinta) are still used for travel and transport. Tropical agriculture (bananas, cacao, sugarcane, hardwoods, and fruits) and cattle raising were the leading economic activities, but rich oil fields discovered along the coast have become Tabasco's economic mainstay. The area, first explored by the Spanish in 1518, was conquered in 1530 by Francisco de Montejo . During the 17th and early 18th cent., Tabasco was contested between Spain and England. From 1921 to 1935 it was the virtual fiefdom of the caudillo Tomás Garrido Canabal . The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed.

Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. Chiapas and Tabasco Guide | Mexico Travel | Rough Guides North America » Mexico » Chiapas and Tabasco Although they’re very different states – Chiapas is mountainous, and Tabasco is steamy lowlands – we group them together here, because travellers will usually pass through one or both of them en route to the Yucatán. Endowed with a stunning variety of cultures, landscapes and wildlife, Chiapas has much to tempt visitors, but the biggest draw is how many indigenous traditions survive intact, as well as how much pristine wilderness exists. The state of Tabasco, by contrast, is less aesthetically attractive than its neighbour, and its rural areas see almost no tourists. But its capital, Villahermosa, is a transit hub, and archeology buffs know the region as the heartland of the Olmecs , Mexico’s earliest developed civilization. Chiapas was administered by the Spanish as part of Guatemala until 1824, when it seceded to join newly independent Mexico.

The state is now second only to Oaxaca in Indian population: about 25 percent of its four million-plus inhabitants are thought to be indígenas, of some fourteen ethnic groups, most of Maya origin. Tuxtla Gutiérrez is the capital, but travellers usually head straight for the colonial town of San Cristóbal de las Casas , tucked among the mountains in the centre of the state and surrounded by strongholds of Tzotzil and Tzeltal Maya culture. Ancient customs and religious practices carry on in these villages, yet as picturesque as life here may sometimes seem, villagers often live at the barest subsistence level, with their lands and livelihoods in precarious balance. These troubles helped fuel the 1994 Zapatista rebellion , and although that conflict has long subsided, many of the core issues concerning land use remain unresolved. Now illegal immigration is the bigger issue, and a heavy military presence focuses more on the Guatemalan border and the eastern half of the state.

In Tabasco, Villahermosa is the vibrant, modern capital, with a wealth of parks and museums, the best of which is Parque La Venta , where the original massive Olmec heads are on display. In the extreme southwest, bordered by Veracruz and Chiapas, a section of Tabasco reaches into the Sierra de Chiapas up to 1000m high. Here, in a region almost never visited by outsiders, you can splash in pristine rivers in Tapijulapa and explore the astonishing ruins of Malpasito , a city of the mysterious Zoque culture. Chiapas and Tabasco

Question: Which nation has the coastal state of Tabasco?
Answer: Mexico