Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila
The site, covering 34,658 hectares between the foothills of the Tequila volcano and the deep valley of the Rio Grande, is part of a vast blue agave landscape that has been shaped by the culture of this plant, which has been used to produce tequila since the 16th century and to make fermented beverages and cloth for at least 2,000 years. The landscape contains a number of operating distilleries, reflecting the growth of international tequila consumption in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, agave culture is considered part of the national identity. The area includes a vibrant blue agave field and the urban settlements of Tequila, Arenal and Amatitán, which include large distilleries where the agave "pineapple" was fermented and distilled. The site is also a testimony to the Tequila culture, which shaped the Tequila region between 200 and 900 AD, especially through the construction of agricultural terraces, housing, temples, ceremonial mounds and ball courts.