Michoacán

Michoacán is a state in southwestern Mexico with Pacific coastal plains and Sierra Madre mountain ranges. Lakes and volcanoes dot the interior while pine forests cover higher elevations and tropical vegetation marks lower zones.

The area belonged to the Purépecha Empire before Spanish conquest and became a Mexican state after independence in 1824. Independence fighter José María Morelos came from this region and led important military campaigns.

Purépecha communities preserve their own language and sell handmade ceramics and wood carvings at local markets following ancient patterns. Dancers and musicians perform at village festivals and church services wearing masks and playing traditional instruments.

Coastal areas tend to be hot and humid while mountain zones offer cooler weather and get chilly at night. Main highways connect larger towns but remote villages often require longer drives on narrow mountain roads.

Millions of monarch butterflies overwinter each year in mountain forests and cover entire trees in dense orange layers. Visitors can observe the butterflies in protected reserves between November and March when they arrive from North America.

Location: Mexico

Inception: December 12, 1823

Capital city: Morelia

Elevation above the sea: 926 m

Shares border with: State of Mexico, Guerrero, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Colima

Website: http://michoacan.gob.mx

GPS coordinates: 19.21000,-101.91000

Latest update: December 3, 2025 08:59