JALISCO

estado (state), west-central Mexico. It is bounded by the states of Nayarit and Aguascalientes and Zacatecas (north), Guanajuato (east), Michoacn and Colima (south), and by the Pacific Ocean (west). Its capital is Guadalajara (q.v.). The Sierra Madre Occidental traverses the state, separating the narrow, heavily forested coastal plain from a high plateau region that is part of the great Anhuac tableland and has an average elevation of about 5,000 feet (1,500 m). The coastal zone is tropical and humid, while the inland plateaus are generally drier. The sierra region is largely volcanic, and earthquakes are frequent. Among the many lakes is Chapala, Mexico's largest and a popular resort. Jalisco was first invaded by Spaniards about 1526 and was incorporated into Nueva Galicia, which also included Aguascalientes and Zacatecas. In 1889 its area was much reduced by the separation of the territory of Tepic, now Nayarit state, from its coastal zone. Jalisco's economy is based on a variety of crops: corn (maize), wheat, and beans on the uplands and sugarcane, cotton, rice, and tobacco in the warmer districts. Forest products are obtained along the coast, livestock are raised in the uplands, and silver, gold, mercury, copper, and various precious stones are mined. Among the state's varied industries are textile mills and cement and electric-power plants. Rail and highway networks in Jalisco are extensive, linking Guadalajara with Mazatln, Mexico City, and other inland urban centres. The population includes a large percentage of Indians and mestizos. Area 31,211 square miles (80,836 square km). Pop. (1990) 5,302,689.