Latin American and Caribbean Physical Geography

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names Further reading

Chapala

Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names | 2005 | | Copyright

Chapala, Jalisco/Mexico The origin of the name is not clear, but it has been suggested that it comes from a local chief called Chapalac whose name comes from an onomatopoeic Aztec word chapatal referring to the sound of waves breaking on the shores of Lake Chapala; or that it comes from a local word chapatla ‘Place where the Pots abound’, a reference to the local practice of throwing sacrificial bowls into the lake to appease the gods.

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JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Chapala." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Chapala." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Chapala.html

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