Where did the Tarascan people develop a culture distinct from the Aztec and Maya regions?

The Tarascan people (also known as the Purépecha) developed their distinct culture in the northern region of the Mexican state of Michoacán.12

This area is characterized by high volcanic plateaus and lakes with an arid, cool climate. While they share certain agricultural staples common to Middle America—such as corn, beans, and squash—the Tarascan people remain culturally distinct from the Aztec and Maya regions, notably through their unique Tarascan language, which is a language isolate with no known relatives.134