Valles Centrales Region, Valley region in Oaxaca, Mexico
The Valles Centrales is a valley system in Oaxaca formed by three river valleys arranged in a Y-shape, lying between mountain ranges including the Sierra Juárez and Sierra Madre del Sur. The region spans numerous municipalities with varied geography, from agricultural zones to small craft towns.
The Zapotec civilization founded Monte Albán in this region around 400 BC, establishing a major settlement that shaped the area's cultural foundation. This early center of power and trade left a lasting influence on the communities that followed.
Communities throughout the area keep alive a strong tradition of hand-weaving textiles, with artisans producing wool blankets, shawls, and clothing using natural and synthetic dyes. You can see and purchase these items in local markets and directly from workshops.
The region consists of many smaller towns spread across varied terrain, best explored by car or local buses navigating hilly roads and mountain passes. The dry season offers the best conditions for visiting, when roads are more accessible and the landscape is at its greenest.
The area contains four interconnected water basins that function as a natural network supplying drinking water and irrigation throughout the entire region. This integrated hydrological system remains fundamental to agriculture and daily life across all three valleys.
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