:''
'Sinaloa' is a
state in northwestern
Mexico. It is bordered by the states of
Sonora to the north,
Chihuahua to the northeast,
Durango to the east, and
Nayarit to the south. To the west of Sinaloa lies the
Pacific Ocean and the
Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez.
Sinaloa is one of the most prominent states in Mexico in terms of agriculture, and additionally has one of the largest fishing fleets. Culturally, it is known for a style of music known as ''
banda'', and ''
corrido'' is also popular.
One of the most interesting and important cultural expressions of the American continent takes place in Sinaloa: It is the only place in the continent where the ancient
ball game of
Mesoamerica is still played, in a handful of small, rural communities not far from
Mazatlán. The ritual ball game was central in the society, religion and cosmology of all the great Mesoamerican cultures including
Teotihuacan, the
Olmecs,
Aztecs and
Mayas. The Sinaloa version of the ball game (the consensus is that it is very faithful indeed to the original game) is called
Ulama. There are efforts to avoid the extinction of this (at least) 3,500-years old unique tradition by supporting the communities and children that still play it
[1].
The state capital of Sinaloa is
Culiacán. Other large cities in Sinaloa with airports that serve as points of entry include
Mazatlán, a tourist resort, and
Los Mochis, an agricultural center.
History
Early inhabitants
The current state of Sinaloa was inhabited by mostly hunter and gatherer tribes. The major tribes were the Cahitas, Tahues, Totorames, Pacaxees, Acaxees and the Xiximes.
Early conquest
In March
1531,
Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán and his expedition of 300 Spaniards and more than 6,000 Indian allies reached the current-day site of
Culiacán. In September of the same year the Villa San Miguel de Culiacán was built as a strategic center for the continuing northern expeditions and later used as a way-point in the journey from
Álamos, Sonora, to
Guadalajara.
Mexican independence
In
1824, after
Independence and the downfall of the
First Empire, Sonora and Sinaloa formed the
Internal Western State. The capital of the state at the time was
El Fuerte. The Internal Western State was split into current-day Sonora and Sinaloa in
1830.
Municipalities
Sinaloa is divided into 18 ''
municipios'' (
municipalities).
See
municipalities of Sinaloa.
Choix, El Fuerte, Ahome, Guasave, Sinaloa, Mocorito, Angostura, Salvador Alvarado, Badiraguato, Culiacán, Navolato, Cosalá, Elota, San Ignacio, Mazatlán, Concordia, Rosario and Escuinapa.
Major communities
★
Culiacán
★
El Fuerte
★
Escuinapa
★
Guamúchil
★
Guasave
★
Los Mochis
★
Mazatlán
★
Navolato
Famous Sinaloenses
★
Ana Gabriel
★
Arnoldo Martínez Verdugo
★
Banda el Recodo
★
Chalino Sánchez
★
El Coyote
★
Francisco Javier Rodríguez
★
Francisco Labastida
★
Jared Borgetti
★
Joaquín Guzmán
★
Jorge Arce
★
Jose Plata
★
Julio César Chávez
★
Lola Beltrán
★
Lorena Herrera
★
Los Tigres del Norte
★
Manuel Clouthier
★
Oliver Pérez
★
Omar Bravo
★
Patricia Navidad
★
Pedro Infante
★
Sabine Moussier
★
Sara Ramirez
Companies headquartered in Sinaloa
★
Casa Ley
★
Coppel
★
Pacífico
Films
★
2006 - ''
Al Otro Lado'' (To the Other Side). Directed by Natalia Almada.
External links
★
Sinaloa state government
★
Towns, cities, and postal codes in Sinaloa
★
The History of Indigenous Sinaloa
★
PBS Frontline: The place Mexico's drug kingpins call home
★
Bruce Springsteen song titled "Sinaloa Cowboys" about methamphetamine in Fresno county
★
Videomap of Culiacán