Location & Population |
Choix is located about 500 miles south of the US-Mexico boarder, and 150 miles away from the west coast. Choix is not a very big town, but with around 12,000 people, it is the largest in the county. Scattered throughout the county are many villages, ranging greatly in size. There are around 100 villages with at least 50 habitants, and many smaller settlements that can hardly be called a village. The county’s total population is a little over 30,000.
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Climate |
For those who aren’t accustomed to the heat, the most comfortable time of the year is during the few winter months (December-February). The nights are chilly and crisp, dropping down into the 40’s, while during the day it warms up into the 70’s. As the winter turns into spring, the days get warmer and warmer, sometimes climbing over 100. But, the nights still cool down, making it easier to sleep.
May and June are the hottest, driest, months of the year, temperatures sometimes reaching 110. On the worst days, even the nights feel stuffy and don’t cool down. The parched ground awaits the summer rains. Farmers watch expectantly as the clouds start to billow over the mountains. They burn all the piles of brush in their fields and prepare their horses, plows and seed. The evening horizons are illuminated with electrical shows and rumbles are heard in the distance. This is a sure sign that the rainy season is just around the corner. At the end of June, the first storm finally arrives. The wind tears through the trees, and takes down any dead or weak branch. Here and there, palm and aluminum roofs are blown off if not secured well. Dust and sand and dead leaves are flung everywhere, as if an invisible giant was sweeping out his house. Then, the rain comes. It starts with a few drops which turns into a sprinkle. Then the clouds open up and it just pours. The wind pounds the rain against the windows which finds a way inside and puddles on the floor. We all scramble around, finding rags and floor towels to sop up the water before it turns into a stream. Finally, the storm is over. We step outside and look at the night sky. Lightning illuminates the stormy sky, hiding the twinkling stars. Even the moon has to wait behind the curtain. But by morning, the sky is usually clear and sunny, only to last until the next storm front. The rainy season pitters out near the end of September. During those 3 months of rain, the land is totally transformed. Plants spring up everywhere, and Choix changes from a desert to a jungle. October and November are still hot months, but not as muggy. As the year nears a close, the weather starts cooling down, entering the chilly winter months again. |
Wildlife &
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As Choix is located in such a dry climate, it does not have much big wild game. There are some small deer, but they are not commonly seen. The long-eared hare aren’t as elusive as the deer, but do not let people get too close. Of course there are many different kinds of lizards which mischievous boys like to kill with slingshots if given the chance. A not so common lizard-like creature that lives in the area is a Gila-Monster. The Mexicans use its skin for making wallets and knife pouches.
Snakes come in many different colors and sizes. On one occasion, we found a rattlesnake on our front porch over 4 feet long. The boa constrictor, along with the black snake and rattlesnake, are also prized for their skins which are turned into belts, wallets, or knife pouches. During the rainy season, the toads come out in the droves along with some frogs, eating many insects each night. There are also the bats that swoop around the lights eating the many insects that are attracted to the heat. You always have to be careful for the scorpions and every once in a while, someone gets stung. The sting affects different people in different ways. To some, it hurts like a bad bee sting, while some have trouble breathing and need to go to the hospital. Some other insects are the tarantula, the matavenado, and the centipede. An interesting fruit that grows in the area is the pitalla. It grows on cacti and is covered with thorns. When it gets ripe, the thorns fall off and the fruit splits open, signaling that it is ready to pick. Many people earn good money during the pitalla season which lasts from mid-May through the end of June. Another fruit that grows in the area is guamuchiles. They grow in trees in pods, and when ripe, are similar to a raisin. |
Economy |
The main sources of legal income in this area are cattle ranching, mining, and seasonal crops. During the rainy season, many plant crops like sesame seed, watermelon, and peanuts. Those who have a lot of money buy the crops cheap from the farmers and store it in storage buildings. Then, when the price for the crop goes up, they sell it and earn more money than the farmers themselves.
Around 20 years ago, a huge dam was constructed near Choix. The lake behind the dam produces a lot of fish and brings some tourism to the area for bass fishing. Of course there are the illegal jobs. A huge percentage of Choix is involved in the drug realm, some planting it, others smuggling it. Then there are the hit-men who do the dirty work and earn high wages. |
Violence |
Over the decade or so, Mexico has made an effort to crack down on the drugs. As a result, the violence has escalated at an alarming rate. Fear and death are destroying Mexico’s families as many perish at the hands of the drug-lords.
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