Sahuayo (Nahuatl: Tzacuātlayotl) is a city in the state of Michoacán, in western México, near the southern shore of Lake Chapala. It serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of the same name. Sahuayo was an important center for the Cristero War or "La Cristiada" and the city always has been an active center of commerce for the Chapala lake, specially crafts, sandals (huaraches), hats (sombreros), made by Sahuayenses. The name means "turtle shaped pot " it has been called the Athens of Michoacán because of its many important poets, writers and painters. Today it is the seat for Arts propositions Association. The city had a 2005 census population of 59,316 persons, while the municipality had a population of 61,965. The area of the municipality is 128.05 km² (49.44 sq mi)