Quintana Roo

Free and Sovereign State of
Quintana Roo

Estado Libre y Soberano
de Quintana Roo
—  State  —

Flag
Coat of arms
Location within Mexico
Country  Mexico
Capital Chetumal
Municipalities 9
Largest City Cancún
Admission October 8, 1974[1]
Order 30th
Government
 - Governor Félix González Canto (PRI)
 - Federal Deputies PRI:2
PAN:1
 - Federal Senators PRI: 1
PVEM: 1
PRD: 1
Area
Ranked 19th
 - Total 50,212 km2 (19,387 sq mi)
Population (2005)
 - Total 1,135,309 (Ranked 26th)
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
HDI 0.854 - high
Ranked 7th
ISO 3166-2 MX-ROO
Postal abbr. Q. Roo
Website Quintana Roo Government

Quintana Roo (Spanish pronunciation: [kinˈtana ˈro]) is a state of Mexico, on the eastern part of the Yucatán Peninsula. It borders the States of Yucatán and Campeche to the north and west, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the nation of Belize to the south. Quintana Roo also claims territory which gives it a small border with Guatemala in the south west of the state, although this disputed area is also claimed by Campeche.

The capital of Quintana Roo is the city of Chetumal. Quintana Roo also contains the resort city of Cancún, the islands of Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, the towns of Bacalar, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Juárez, Akumal, Xcalak, and Puerto Morelos, as well as the ancient Maya ruins of Chacchoben, Chakanbakán, Chamax, Coba, Dzibanché, El Meco, Ichpaatán, Kohunlich, Muyil, Oxtankah, Tancah, Tulum, Tupak, Xel-Há, and Xcaret. The Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve is also in Quintana Roo.

The state covers an area of 50,351 square kilometers (19,440.6 sq mi), and the 2005 census reported a population of 1,135,309. The statewide population is currently expanding at a rapid rate due to the construction of hotels and the demand for workers. Many immigrants to the state come from Yucatán, Campeche, Tabasco, and Veracruz. The state, known as a resort area, is frequently hit by severe hurricanes due to its exposed location, the most recent and severe being Hurricane Dean in 2007, making landfall with sustained winds of 175 mph, with gusts up to 200 mph.

The state is named after the Mexican patriot Andrés Quintana Roo.

Contents

Municipalities

The State of Quintana Roo is divided into 9 municipalities (Spanish: municipios), each headed by a municipal president.

Tourism, ecotourism, and globalization

Tourism

Quintana Roo's tourist boom began in the 1970s [2] Tourism resulted in the development of coastal hotels and resorts, in addition to ecotourism inland and in coastal regions, which have increased the development of the region as well as increased the gross domestic product [3]. Quintana Roo ranks sixth among Mexican states according to the United Nations Human Development index (HDI) [4].

Biotic situation of the Yucatán Peninsula

The Yucatán Peninsula is one of the most forested areas of the world when considering biotic mass per hectare [2]. Yet, anthropological, biological and governmental experts have determined that Quintana Roo is 'facing a faunal crisis' [2]. Many medium to large game animals are disappearing due to hunting and habitat loss. Animals dependent on old growth forests are quickly becoming extinct. While its population is relatively small, Quintana Roo is experiencing both a migratory population influx and an increase in tourism [4][2]. This only increases the pressure on the plants and animals native to Quintana Roo.

Ecosystems and animals

There are four generalized ecosystems in Quintana Roo—tropical forests, or jungle, savanna, mangrove forests, and coral reefs. One of the byproducts of traditional and large-scale agriculture is the creation of additional habitats, such as second growth forests and fields/pastures [5]. Tourism has caused Quintana Roo to become famous around the world in the last thirty or so years for its beaches and coastline. Biological experts consider the coastline of Quintana Roo one of the best manatee habitats worldwide [6]. Queen conchs are also noted for their inhabitation of coastal territory [6]. The wide variety of biotic organisms such as these has decreased drastically in the last fifteen years [7][3].

Avifauna

Also affected by the loss of habitat due to both agriculture and development, birds are one of the regions most varied animal assets [2]. Hundreds of species reside in Quintana Roo permanently, with still hundreds of others either wintering there or using it as a stop over on the long journey into South America [6]. As a result, many birders come to the area annually search of the rare and unexpected [2].

Effects of tourism

Many debates on the cause of the environmental damage in Quintana Roo look to point a finger, either at the regional government or to outside investors [3]. However, resorts and hotels at Quintana Roo have created jobs and increased economic activity, which in turn has resulted in growth for Quintana Roo [7][3]. Many credit ecotourism for both saving and supporting the ecological beauty and variety [2].

Tourism projections and the native Maya

Projections for the tourism economy of Quintana Roo were exceedingly optimistic. It houses multiple tourist attractions from the Maya ruins to the lush forests to the beautiful beaches. However, long-term effects were not calculated or foreseen. The effect on the local environment was not properly considered. Economic stresses of development and population were virtually ignored [7]. The effect on the native population was not properly considered. The 'economic marginalization' of the Maya has had drastic effects on their sense of place and identity [3]. For tourism to truly benefit the region of Quintana Roo, attention must go to both the environment [7][2][6] and the area's original occupants.

Notes

  1. ↑ "Poder Legislativo del Estado de Quintana Roo" (in Spanish). http://www.congresoqroo.gob.mx/dependencias/DIR_biblioteca/historia/palacio.pdf. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Anderson, E. N. and Felix Medina Tzuc. 2005. Animals and the Maya in Southeast Mexico. University of Arizona Press. Tucson, Arizona.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Daltabuit, Magali and Oriol Pi-Sunyer. 1990. Tourism Development in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Cultural Survival Quarterly 14.2, 9-13.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Encyclopedia Britannica 2008. "Quintana Roo". Encyclopedia Britannica Online. http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9062295. Retrieved February 21, 2008.
  5. ↑ Villa Rojas, Alfonso. 1945. The Maya of East Central Quintana Roo. Carnegie Institute of Washington Publication 559. Washington D.C.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Schlesinger, Victoria. 2001. Animals and Plants of the Ancient Maya--A Guide. University of Texas Press. Austin, Texas.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Juarez, Ana M. 2002. "Ecological Degradation, Global Tourism, and Inequality: Maya Interpretations of the Changing Environment in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Human Organization 61.2, 113-124.

References

Further reading

External links

 State of Quintana Roo
Chetumal (capital)
Municipalities
(Seats)

Cozumel (San Miguel de Cozumel) · Felipe Carrillo Puerto (Felipe Carrillo Puerto) · Isla Mujeres (Isla Mujeres) · Othón P. Blanco (Chetumal) · Benito Juárez (Cancún) · José María Morelos (José María Morelos) · Lázaro Cárdenas (Kantunilkín) · Solidaridad (Playa del Carmen) · Tulum (Tulum)

 Quintana Roo en México.svg
Places of Interest

Akumal · Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park · Bacalar · Banco Chinchorro · Chacchoben · Coba · Isla Contoy · Isla Holbox · Kohunlich · Mahahual · Muyil · Puerto Morelos · Punta Allen · Punta Sur · Riviera Maya · San Gervasio · Sian Ka'an · Tulum · Xcalak · Xcaret · Xelha · Yo'okop
States of Mexico
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Federal District