Juchitán

Juchitán: city hall

Juchitán, in full Juchitán de Zaragoza, city, southeastern Oaxaca estado (state), southern Mexico. It is on the Juchitán River (or De los Perros River), near the southern coast of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, at 125 feet (38 metres) above sea level. Juchitán has long been one of the principal centres of the Zapotec Indians.

Tourism is important to Juchitán. Visitors are attracted there by the scenery, the availability of regional handicrafts, and the religious festivals. Juchitán is also a commercial and manufacturing centre for its agricultural hinterland. Sesame is the main crop, but corn (maize) and beans are also widely cultivated. Cattle, pigs, goats, and sheep are raised. The city is situated on that section of the Pan-American Highway linking Mexico City with Guatemala City and on the railroad leading from the trans-isthmian route to the Guatemalan border. It also has an airfield. Pop. (2000) 64,642; (2010) 74,825.