Campeche

Campeche is a federal state located in southeast Mexico.

It is one of the 32 federal entities that make up the country. The state sits along the western coast of the Gulf of Mexico. It shares borders with several other places. To the southwest, it borders the state of Tabasco. To the northeast, it meets Yucatán. To the east, it touches Quintana Roo. To the south, it borders the Petén department of Guatemala. To the southeast, it borders the Orange Walk District of Belize.

The geography of Campeche is mostly composed of relatively flat land. Much of the surface consists of sedimentary rock. A large portion of this rock is of marine origin. While much of the state is flat, there are several elevated areas. The highest elevations are located near the borders with Guatemala and Quintana Roo. These include peaks such as Cerro Champerico and Cerro El Gavilán. In the south, the municipality of Champotón contains the Sierra Alta, also known as the Puuc. These rolling hills extend northeast toward the state of Yucatán. Other hill groups include the Sierra Seybaplaya in the center of the state.

The state contains several distinct ecosystems. The coastal region includes the Gulf shoreline and the Campeche Bank. This offshore area features coral reefs and small islands called cays. Mangroves dominate the coastal swamps, while palms grow in other areas. The mountain region in the north and east contains the Dzibalchen and Sierra Alta chains. This area includes the Los Chenes region, which is known for natural wells called cenotes. The rainforest region covers the center and south. It contains many types of forests, such as perennial tall tree rainforests. These forests feature precious tropical hardwoods like mahogany and red cedar.

Water is a vital part of the Campeche landscape. Many rivers flow through the state, especially in the south and southwest. The largest basin is the Grijalva, which includes the Candelaria, Chumpán, and Mamantal rivers. The Usumacinta River also flows through the state, though it frequently changes its course. One branch, the Palizada River, has the largest volume of water. In the southwest, the Laguna de Términos serves as a massive lake-lagoon system. This system formed about five thousand years ago from accumulated river sediment. It is separated from the Gulf of Mexico only by the Isla del Carmen. The lagoon is brackish, meaning it contains both fresh and salt water.

The history of the region began with the Maya people. They migrated from areas like Guatemala and Honduras. Major Mayan cities included Edzná, Xtampak, Calakmul, and Becán. The Maya civilization reached its highest point between 600 AD and 900 AD. After this period, the cities were abandoned for unknown reasons. Spanish explorers arrived in the area in 1517. They initially called the area San Lázaro. The formal conquest and the founding of the city of Campeche began in 1540. During the colonial period, Campeche was a very important commercial port. It exported tropical hardwoods, dyewood, gold, and silver. It also received luxury goods like Italian marble and Austrian crystal.

Campeche is home to a wide variety of wildlife. In the rainforests, you can find jaguars, omacots, pumas, and Yucatan spider monkeys. Many bird species live here, including toucans and pelicans. The reptiles of the state include crocodiles, iguanas, and various sea turtles. The Bay of Campeche is also rich in aquatic life, such as fish and mollusks. However, much of this wildlife has been lost. This is due to the destruction of habitats from agriculture and forest exploitation. It is also caused by uncontrolled hunting. To protect what remains, the state has four protected areas. These include the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve and the Laguna de Términos Reserve.

Today, the state has a modern political and economic structure. The executive power is held by the governor of Campeche. The legislative power belongs to the Congress of Campeche. This is a unicameral legislature made up of 35 deputies. The economy has changed significantly over the last century. In the 1970s, petroleum was discovered offshore. This discovery led to a major economic revival. It made the coastal cities of Campeche and Ciudad del Carmen important economic centers. The state capital, also named Campeche, was named a World Heritage Site in 1997.