CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE MODERN TARASCAN AREA—WEST oO 
have attracted human settlement to the valley 
since prehistoric times. Sierra Tarascans, who 
‘all La Cafiada “ErdéSemen”’ (view from above), 
probably visited the valley for chile and early 
maize before the Spanish Conquest. Spaniards 
immediately seized the well-watered plains near 
Chilchota for wheat fields. Today La Cafiada is 
a garden spot of orchards and wheat fields amid 
recky volcanic hills. 
CLIMATE AND VEGETATION 
Meteorological data.—In dealing with meteor- 
ology, northwestern Michoacan will be treated as 
a whole; attempts will be made to point out 
regional differences in temperature and rainfall. 
Meteorological stations in the area are few; data 
are entirely lacking for the Sierra. Consequently, 
only general statements can be made concerning 
the weather and climate of modern Tarasca. 
102°30. 
Zamora 
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102°30' 
Map 3.—Length of frost season in northwest Michoacsn. 
Annual temperature ranges throughout the area 
are small.§ Lowest winter temperatures occur in 
the Sierra, the Tarascan tierra fria, where noctur- 
nal freezing and frosts are common from November 
to March ® (map 3). Winter temperatures in the 
northern plateau and Lake P&tzcuaro areas are 
somewhat milder then those of the Sierra (January 
avereges: Zamora, 16.2° C.; Zinapecuaro, 15.9°; 
Paétzcuaro, 13.9°), and the number of days with 
frost is smaller. winters of the upper 
escarpment (tierra templada) are frost-free (Jan- 
uary average for Uruapan, 16.0° C.). 
The 
Summer 
§ Data from seven stations in the area give annual temperature ranges from 
3.9° C. (Hacienda Tequecsran, 10 km. south of Uruapan) to 7.7° C. 
(Zacapu). The meteorological data given in text are taken from Atlas 
climatolocvieo de México (Mexico, Servicio meteorlogico mexicano, 1939). 
® The mining town of Tlalpujahua (elev. 8,500 feet), on the eastern border 
of Michoacan, 140 km. east of PAtzeuaro, may afford temperature data 
similar to that of the Sierra. December and January are the coldest months, 
with average monthly temperatures of 11.8° and 11.5°, respectively. Maxi- 
mum temperatures occur in April and May (15.0° and 15.9° C.). whieh are 
probably somewhat lower than those occurring in the Sierra. 
101°30' 
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Sonto Juana 
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Tacdmboro 
101°30' 
Isopleths indicate the average length of annual period in 
days, in which frosts oecur. . Data are mainly from reckonings by local inhabitants. 
