The railway heritage in Mexico and its role in the configuration of industrial and cultural landscapes
Description
The construction of the railways in Mexico was an event of national importance, not only for its role in the economic history, but for their contribution in shaping cultural landscapes of industrial character. The railway system made many cultural exchanges possible in various regions, setting an important natural, social and cultural environment. In recent years most of the vast industrial railway heritage has become obsolete and unused, and has suffered rapid and alarming deterioration. Jalisco is located in the west of the country and has the largest lake in Mexico. Two trunk railway lines and many branches communicating the haciendas and towns passed through the region. Some of these routes have been abandoned. The projects, “Vía verde del Mariachi” and “Vía verde de Chapala” seek to recognize the importance of the cultural industrial landscapes created by the railroad in this part of México. Aims to recover the memory of the railway routes and the design of a network of more than 200 kilometers of non motorized routes along 11 municipalities have included projects to rescue and conserve the tangible and intangible heritage of these regions. These constitute integral conservation projects focused on recognizing the value of the natural, cultural and industrial landscapes linked to the railway history in Mexico.ITESO, A.C.