Archbishop Chacón Municipality

The Arzobispo Chacón municipality is located south of the state of Mérida. Its capital is the town of Canaguá. The delimitation of the municipality contains the largest surface area of the state, at the same time, the smallest population with just over 15,000 inhabitants, which is why it has the lowest population density in the Andean zone in Venezuela.

The main economic activities of the municipality are based on the rural characteristics of the territory, the main driving force is agriculture, which stands out for its production of coffee and celery, among others. Some of the most notable towns in the region, called "Pueblos del Sur" They are located in the entity so tourist activity is conducive and develops on a smaller scale, also contributing to the extension of the Tapo-Caparo National Park which covers a large part of the municipal surface.

The municipality is located within the Mérida Mountain Range, so its relief is between 2,000 and 3,000 m s. n. m. although in the limits of the municipality to the south and east, the height decreases due to the Andean foothills. It has a dry climate with temperatures between 12.5°C and 24°C.

Canaguá

It is the capital of the Arzobispo Chacón Municipality. The name Canaguá is due to the three water springs that exist in the community and that is why the aborigines formerly gave it the name Canaguá, which means water channels. However, its etymology is really unknown.

History

Pre-Columbian era

The southern region of the state was inhabited by various native tribes: the Guaraques, the Chacantaes, the Mucutuyes, the Mucuchachíes, the Mucuñoes, the Mucurias or Mucarios; all of them probably from the Tatuy ethnic group, who were distinguished by their advances in agriculture, ceramic creation and making "socks" or plants, similar to the soles of a shoe, which allowed them to travel great distances. Although in the towns that make up the municipality, there is really no evidence that any settlement existed.

Colonialism

The first settlers of this area were probably Spanish settlers, with a high degree of literacy, and described (by themselves) "tall stature, white complexion", with a strong religious conviction, a cause to which the prosperity is attributed in each settlement of the current municipality during the pre- and post-colonial era. One of them, called Trino Belandria, was in charge of the structural renovation of the roofs of the buildings, replacing the thatched roof of the houses (built from bareque) with wood and tile. This popularized the method, spreading to every nearby town.

The distribution of the lands, suitable for agriculture, was carried out fairly in the town of Bailadores, where they were auctioned for their extension in estancias (old measurement), where 40 of These were sold in 100 patacones (currency of the time).

After Venezuelan Independence

Canaguá and its nearby towns remained outside the pro-independence campaigns, being surrounding areas far from the main roads along which Simón Bolívar's army would move, during the so-called 'Crossing of the Andes'# 3. 4; that led to the separation between the territory and the Spanish crown; However, the subsequent collateral effects, both economic and social, did not exempt the populations of the municipality.

The Decree of Elevation to the Parish of Canaguá, dated June 27, 1872, was prepared by Doctor Lope María Tejera, Provisional President of the State and in charge of the Executive Branch. Although the exact date on which Canaguá was founded as a village is unknown, there are references to the origin of its inhabitants, most of whom came from the towns of Bailadores and Pregonero. Being a modest village whose economy depended on surrounding communities such as Bailadores, its growth led the authorities to elevate it to a Civil Parish.

Mr. José Antonio Belandria was appointed as the first Civil Head of the community, who established it as an official parish on August 1, 1964.

Economy

The economy of the municipality is based on activities related to agriculture and to a lesser extent tourism; The main crops in the territory are aimed at the production of coffee with about 1,114 MT of production per year for 2001, followed by celery and sugarcane with 13,600 MT, while to a lesser extent cassava, banana, banana, sugarcane are produced., potatoes, corn, peas among other vegetables and fruits, bringing together another 14,714 MT of production per year.

On the other hand, livestock and poultry farming is developed alongside agriculture; in 2001 there were more than 2,500 heads of cattle and 10,000 heads of chickens.

Industries

Among the industries that took place in the area during the 19th century, those dedicated to the manufacture of objects stand out. leather, the sale of hats (Imported from Italy), as well as making sacks. Activities aimed entirely at rural activity.

The arrival of electricity is attributed to the inhabitant Don Hermes Corti Martínez. Later Father Rivas (monk from the headquarters of the Catholic Church in the municipality) made another similar installation, intended for a Cultural Center, Church and Parish House, both stopped working when the national electricity company (Cadafe) was installed. at the initiative of the 42nd President of the Republic of Venezuela, Rafael Caldera Rodríguez.

Geography

Canaguá is located south of Mérida State at a distance of 160 km from the capital city, with a temperature that ranges between 16 °C and 22 °C. The town is located at an altitude of 1500 m above sea level.

Within the geography that Canaguá presents, a diversity of factors is included that play a decisive role in the agricultural production of the region, among which we can mention: climate, hydrography, average annual precipitation and the quality of its soils, which are rich in organic matter, making them suitable and conducive to agriculture.

Limits

• To the north:

Following the borders between the Canaguá River and Chacantá, the section between both reaches the Páramo de Mijará, thus bordering Mucutuy; continuing through the Páramo de San José and the El Serrucho moor to the north of the El Rincón hamlet. Along this axis it limits with the Pueblo Nuevo Parish, of the Sucre Municipality.

• To the east:

It borders the Guaraque Municipality, starting from the Las Coloradas moor and following the elevation, its limits divide Río Negro to the Capuri Village of this same municipality; It borders the El Molino River to the site that separates the Village of Mesa de Quintero from Guaraque.

• West:

Part of the Quebrada de las Vivas to the Tenerife moor, El Caballón hill, Aldea Guaimaral, which borders the Uribante municipality to its limits with the Caparo River, continues upstream until it meets the Mucuchachí River and Mucutuy.

Relief

It is characterized by having a fairly rugged topography based on a non-homogeneous relief in all its areas, based on mountains and valleys.

Hydrography

The south of Mérida has many rivers with crystal clear waters such as the Canaguá River, which is born on the peak of Horma, and is formed by a series of Quebradas or springs that are tributaries in summer or winter in the basin of the Canaguá River, the abundance of springs guarantees sufficient availability of water volume. The Canaguá River rises at approximately 2340 m above sea level, moves in a southwest and northwest direction and mostly follows a narrow valley floor, with slopes that fall abruptly. The Canaguá River has an approximate length of 30 km and empties its waters into the Mucuchachí River, considered the most important tributary of the Caparo River in its upper part.

Climate

The average temperature of the area is between 18.5 and 21.4 °C.

Native Species

It has species of floral plants such as orchids, delicate, and roses. In addition to the typical fauna of the Andean mountainous regions, there are native species such as cazadoras, mapanares, lapas and cachicamos, these last two in danger of extinction.

Parishes

The municipality is subdivided into 7 parishes, and these are:

Canaguá Parish

It is the main parish of the municipality in population with about 5,200 inhabitants and the third in size, it is located in the eastern center of the municipality and its capital and main town is the town of Canaguá, also the headquarters of the municipal public powers.

Mucutuy Parish

Located at 1,005 m s. n. m., is a town, founded on a native settlement in the year 1656 by the stranger Pedro Varela. According to the reformulation of the law on national delimitations, established in 1988, the area became a foreign municipality and in 1992, the Parish of the Arzobispo Chacón Municipality. The etymology of its name comes from a native dialect originating from the area. MUCU: YOUR place: stone; what really means "sacred place of stones".

Mucuchachí Parish

Town located 1020 m above sea level. Founded in 1770 by the foreigner Don David de la Peña, in 1815 it was given the name “San José de Mucuchahí.

Chacantá Parish

Its original name was Chaquentá; It was founded in 1620 by the foreigner Alonso de Vázquez and in 1665 it became known as town of Indians. In 1988 it was established as a parish, belonging to the Arzobispo Chacón Municipality according to the Territorial Division of 1992.

El Molino Parish

Whose urban center is the village of Canaguá, in 1988 it was elevated to a Foreign Municipality and according to the law in 1992 it became the Civil Parish of the Arzobispo Chacón Municipality.

Capurí Parish

In 1998, it became the head of the Capurí Foreign Municipality, with the 1992 reform the Capurí Village is today the capital of the Parish of the same name. It is one of the state's leading agricultural producers and also has a prominent landscape. The climate varies from temperate to cold.

Guimaral Parish

Geographically it is located in the middle of a cluster of high and low mountain ranges. And it is located at an altitude of 1400 m s. n. m. In 1988, Guaimaral was created as a Foreign Municipality, whose capital was the town of Guaimaral. However, with the approval of the new law of 1992, it became a civil parish and the capital was moved to the town of El Viento..

Politics and government

Mayors