Aguascalientes

Aguascalientes (Spanish pronunciation: ['a?was ka'ljentes] is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in the center of the country. The name means "hot waters" in Spanish and originated from the abundance of hot springs in the area, the corresponding adjective for the state and its inhabitants is hidrocalido. The state capital is the city of Aguascalientes. The state is located about 300 miles (480 km) from Mexico City.It covers 5,471 square kilometers (2,112.4 sq mi) and has a little more than one million inhabitants. Most of its inhabitants live in the densely populated metropolitan area of its capital city.The state as it is now was created on October 27, 1857 when it was separated from Zacatecas. It bears the name Aguascalientes taken from its largest city and capital also called Aguascalientes.

Baja California

Baja California[10] (Spanish pronunciation: ['baxa kali'fornja], English: /'b??h?? kæl?'f?rnj?/) officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California (English: Free and Sovereign State of Baja California) is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North Territory of Baja California. It has an area of 70,113 km2 (27,071 sq mi), or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises the northern half of the Baja California peninsula, north of the 28th parallel. The state is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the east by Sonora, the U.S. State of Arizona, and the Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez), and on the south by Baja California Sur. Its northern limit is the U.S. state of California.

Baja California Sur

Baja California Sur (Spanish pronunciation: ['baxa kali'fornja 'sur], officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California Sur (English: Free and Sovereign State of Baja California Sur), (literally: South Lower California), is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state on October 8, 1974, the area was known as the South Territory of Baja California. It has an area of 73,475 km2 (28,369 sq mi), or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises the southern half of the Baja California peninsula, south of the 28th parallel. It is bordered to the north by the state of Baja California, to the west by the Pacific Ocean, and to the east by the Gulf of California, also known as the "Sea of Cortés." Also, the state has maritime borders with Sonora and Sinaloa to the east across the Gulf of California.

Campeche

Campeche (Spanish pronunciation: [kam'pet?e]) is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Yucatán to the north east, Quintana Roo to the east, and Tabasco to the south west. To the south it is bordered by the Petén department of Guatemala and to the west by the Gulf of Mexico. The area of Campeche is 57,924 square kilometers (22,364.6 sq mi), and the population is only 805,182 inhabitants in 2010. This makes Campeche one of the states with the lowest population densities in Mexico (fifth behind Baja California Sur, Durango, Sonora, and Chihuahua). The capital city of the state is the city of San Francisco de Campeche, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.[9] In addition to the city of Campeche, the state of Campeche includes the cities of Ciudad del Carmen, Champotón, and Escárcega, the towns of Bolonchén, Calkiní, Dzitbalché, Hecelchakán, Hopelchén, Lerma, Tenabo, and Sabancuy, and many ruins of the Maya civilization such as Becán, Calakmul, Silvituc, Dzibilnocac, Edzná, Hocchob, Holactún, Río Bec, Uxul, Xicalango, Xpuhil, and Xtampak.

Chiapas

Chiapas (Spanish pronunciation: ['t?japas]) officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas (English: Free and Sovereign State of Chiapas) is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is the southernmost State of Mexico, located in the Southwestern Mexico. Chiapas is bordered by the states of Tabasco to the north, Veracruz to the northwest, and Oaxaca to the west. To the east Chiapas borders Guatemala, and to the south the Pacific Ocean, Chiapas has an area of about 73,289 km2 (28,297 sq mi).[4] The 2005 Mexican census population was 4,293,459 people. In general Chiapas has a humid, tropical climate. In the north, in the area bordering Tabasco, near Teapa, rainfall can average more than 3,000 mm (120 in) per year. In the past, natural vegetation at this region was lowland, tall perennial rainforest, but this vegetation has been destroyed almost completely to give way to agriculture and ranching. Rainfall decreases moving towards the Pacific Ocean, but it is still abundant enough to allow the farming of bananas and many other tropical crops near Tapachula. On the several parallel "sierras" or mountain ranges running along the center of Chiapas, climate can be quite temperate and foggy, allowing the development of cloud forests like those of the Reserva de la Biosfera el Triunfo, home to a handful of Resplendent Quetzals and Horned Guans.

Chihuahua

Chihuahua is the name of both a state in Mexico and that state's capital city. This article is about the City of Chihuahua. For the state of Chihuahua, see Chihuahua (state). For other meanings of Chihuahua, see Chihuahua (disambiguation). The city of Chihuahua (Spanish pronunciation: [t?i'wawa]) is the state capital of the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It has a population of about 825,327. The predominant activity is industry, including domestic heavy, light industries, consumer goods production, and to a smaller extent maquiladoras.

Coahuila

Coahuila, formally Coahuila de Zaragoza (Spanish pronunciation: [koa'wila ðe sa?a'?osa]), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza (English: Free and Sovereign State of Coahuila de Zaragoza) is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is located in Northeastern Mexico. Coahuila borders the Mexican states of Nuevo León to the east, Zacatecas and San Luis Potosí to the south, and Durango and Chihuahua to the west. To the north, Coahuila accounts for a 512 kilometers (318 mi) stretch of the U.S. - Mexico border, adjacent to the United States state of Texas along the course of the Rio Grande (Río Bravo del Norte). With an area of 151,563 square kilometers (58,518.8 sq mi), it is the nation's third-largest state. It comprises 38 municipalities (municipios). In 2010, Coahuila's population is 2,655,187 inhabitants. The capital of Coahuila is Saltillo, and its largest city is Torreón. Coahuila also includes the cities of Monclova (a former state capital), Piedras Negras, and Ciudad Acuña.

Colima

Colima (Spanish pronunciation: [ko'lima]) is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It shares its name with its capital and main city, Colima. Colima is a small state, sharing a border with the Mexican states of Jalisco to the north and east, and Michoacán to the south. To the west Colima borders the Pacific Ocean. In addition to the capital city of Colima, the state's main cities include Manzanillo and Tecomán. The state has an area of 5,625 square kilometers (2,171.8 sq mi), with a population in 2010 of about 608,535 people.

Durango

Durango (Spanish pronunciation: [du'?a?go]) officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Durango (English: Free and Sovereign State of Durango) is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is located in Northwest Mexico, with a population of 1,555,688, it has Mexico's second-lowest population density, after Baja California Sur. The city of Victoria de Durango is the state's capital.The state of Durango is bordered to the north by Chihuahua, to the north-east by Coahuila, to the south-east by Zacatecas, to the south-west by Nayarit, and to the west by Sinaloa. Most of the state is heavily mountainous and a good part forested; the Sierra Madre Occidental occupies the western and central part of the state. This mountain range contains a good supply of minerals, including the silver that encouraged Spanish occupation of the territory after it was discovered. These mines extend north into Chihuahua and south into the state of Zacatecas. Vast desert basins in the Laguna District are irrigated by the Nazas River. Major crops grown in the area include cotton, wheat, corn, alfalfa, beans, sorghum, and other vegetables. Durango is famous for its scorpions. Mexicans generally refer to the people of Durango as Alacrán de Durango (Scorpions from Durango). The demonym for the natives of Durango is Duranguense(s). The major occupations in Durango are farming, lumbering and ranching

Guanajuato

Guanajuato (Spanish pronunciation: [gwana'xwato]) is a state in the central highlands of Mexico. It is named after its capital city, Guanajuato, which comes from P'urhépecha, meaning “Hill of Frogs.”[2][3] Las Ranas (“the frogs”) is a nickname for people from this state as frogs are their state animal. Guanajuato is the home state of former president Vicente Fox, muralist Diego Rivera, and singer-songwriter José Alfredo Jiménez. After central Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico coast, Guanajuato was one of the first areas of Mexico colonized by the Spanish, in the 1520s, for its rich silver deposits. Guanajuato’s colonial architecture is very well preserved along with more than 35 old churches in its capital alone. In addition to the state capital city of Guanajuato, the state includes the cities of Silao, San Luis de la Paz, Acámbaro, Celaya, León, Yuriria, Salamanca, Irapuato, San Miguel de Allende, Salvatierra—the first city of Guanajuato, Cortazar, Cueramaro, Tarimoro, and Dolores Hidalgo, the cradle of Mexican independence. The first battle in Mexico’s war for independence resulted in a march from Dolores Hidalgo upon the capital of the state and the subsequent burning of the granary which held all the Iberian-born Spaniards (approximately 500 men, women and children), by peasants who had been put to work in very harsh conditions.

Guerrero

The State of Guerrero (Spanish pronunciation: [ge're?o]) is a state in the southern region of Mexico. The state capital is Chilpancingo de los Bravo. Other important cities include Acapulco, Petatlan, Cd. Altamirano, Taxco, Iguala, and Zihuatanejo. The modern entity did not exist until 1849, when it was carved out of territories from the states of Mexico, Puebla and Michoacán. The state received its name in 1849 in honor of Vicente Guerrero Saldaña .[2] Today, it is home to a number of indigenous communities, including the Nahuas, Mixtecs and Amuzgos. It is also home to communities of Afro-Mexicans in the Costa Chica region. Geographically, the state is mountainous and rugged with flat areas limited to small mesas and the coast line. This coastline has been important economically for the area, first as the port of Acapulco in colonial and post-Independence area and today for the tourist destinations of Acapulco, Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa. Tourism is the single most important economic factor of the state and Acapulco’s tourism is important to the nation’s economy as a whole. However, other sources of employment are scarce in the state, which has caused its ranking as number one in the emigration of workers to the United States.

Hidalgo

The state of Hidalgo (Spanish pronunciation: [i'ðal?o]) is located north northwest of Mexico City in the center of the country of Mexico.[2] It was created in 1869 as part of the breakup of the large territory of “Mexico,” the remains of which are now Mexico State.[3] The state stretches north and east from the northern extreme of the Valley of Mexico and has three main geographical regions, which vary in topography and climate based on altitude.[4] Its capital is Pachuca, which is in the center of the state’s mining industry, a traditional economic staple along with agriculture. Today, the main economic engine is industry, which is located mostly in the Urban Industrial Corridor of the South, which stretches from Pachuca south toward Mexico City.[2] The rest of the state still relies on agriculture for subsistence[2] and the state has a number of relatively intact native cultures such as the Otomi. There are also two notable immigrant cultures, those of the descendents of Cornish miners in the 19th century[5] and a small Jewish enclave which claims to be descended from Sephardi Jews which came to New Spain in the 16th century.[6] The state contains a number of ecotourism, cultural and archeological attractions including the Huasteca area, the ruins of Tula, natural hot water springs, old haciendas and mountain ranges.

Jalisco

Jalisco (Spanish pronunciation: [xa'lisko]) is one of the 31 Mexican states, which together with the Mexican Federal District form the 32 federal entities of the United Mexican States. Jalisco was the ninth state to join the federation. Jalisco is located in central-western Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Nayarit to the northwest, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes and San Luis Potosí to the north, Guanajuato to the east and Colima and Michoacán to the south. To the west, Jalisco has a significant share of coastline on the Pacific Ocean. Jalisco is the fourth most populous federal entity in Mexico. It is also one of the most developed in terms of cultural, trade and economic levels in the country. Some municipalities in the state have a standard of living comparable to that found in countries like Spain and Italy, but, like in the rest of Mexico, these living standards are not representative of all of the state's municipalities because of the widespread economic inequalities found in the state. The capital of Jalisco is the city of Guadalajara, whose metropolitan area includes the municipalities of Guadalajara, Juanacatlán, El Salto, Tlaquepaque, Tonala, Tlajomulco de Zuñiga, Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos and Zapopan, forming the second largest metropolitan area in México after México City. The state's name, meaning "sandy plain," derives from the Nahuatl words xalli (meaning "sand" or "gravel") and ixtli (meaning "face," or, by extension, "plain") with the suffix -co (place)

México

México State or State of México(often abbreviated to "Edomex", from Estado de México in Spanish) is a state in the center of the country of México. The state's capital is the city of Toluca. The state’s origins are in the territory of the Aztec Empire, which remained a political division of New Spain during the colonial period. After Independence, parts of the state were broken off to form the states of Hidalgo, Guerrero and Morelos. After México City was chosen as the capital of the new nation, its territory was separated out as well. These territorial separations have left the state with the size and shape it has today, with the Toluca Valley to the west of Mexico City and a panhandle that extends around the north and east of this entity. The official name of the state is simply “México” according to the Mexican federal constitution, but to distinguish from both the city and the country it is most often called “Estado de México.” There are two possible origins for the name “Mexico.” The first is that it derives from metztli (moon) and xictla (navel) to mean from the navel of the moon. This comes from the old Aztec idea that the craters on the moon form a rabbit figure with one crater imitating a navel. The other possible origin is that it is derived from “Mextictli” an alternate name for the god Huitzilopochtli. After the Spanish Conquest, the term came to be used for Tenochtitlan/Mexico City and all the pre-conquest lands it controlled.

Michoacán

Michoacán (Spanish pronunciation: [mit?oa'kan]) is located in the center west of Mexico, stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the central highlands of the country. Its capital is Morelia. The name Michoacán is from Nahuatl and means "place of the fishermen" referring to those who fish on Lake Pátzcuaro.[2] In pre-Hispanic times, the area was the home of the P'urhépecha Empire, which rivaled the Aztec Empire when the Spanish arrived. After the Spanish conquest, the empire soon became a separate province which became smaller over the colonial period. The state and several of its residents played a major role in the Mexican War of Independence. Today, the state is still home to a large population of P'urhépecha people as well as Otomis and Nahuas. The economy is based on agriculture, fishing, mining and some industry. The major tourism draw for the state is the Lake Pátzcuaro area, which was the center of the P'urhépecha empire.

Morelos

Morelos (Spanish pronunciation: [mo'?elos]) is one of the 31 constituent states of Mexico. Morelos has an area of about 4,941 square kilometers (1,907.7 sq mi), making it the second-smallest of the country's states. Morelos is bordered by State of Mexico to the north-east and north-west, the Federal District to the north, Puebla to the east, and Guerrero to the south-west. According to the 2005 census, the population of the state was 1,612,899 people. The state was part of the very large province then State of Mexico until 1869, when its territory was separated and named in honor of José María Morelos y Pavón, who defended the city of Cuautla from royalist forces during the Mexican War of Independence. Most of the state is dominated by a warm climate year-round, which is good for the raising of sugar cane and other crops. It also has attracted visitors from the Valley of Mexico since Aztec times. Today, many people from Mexico City spend weekends in the state and own second homes, especially in the Cuernavaca area. The state is also known for the Chinelos, a type of costumed dancer, which appear at festivals, especially Carnival, which is celebrated in a number of communities in the state. It is also home to Tepoztlán, a “New Age” town and a World Heritage Site, the Monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl.

Nayarit

Nayarit (Spanish pronunciation: [na?a'?it]) is one of Mexico’s 31 states and is located on the central west coast, bordering the Pacific Ocean. Nayarit is surrounded by the states of Sinaloa to the northwest, Durango to the north, Zacatecas to the northeast and Jalisco to the south with the Pacific Ocean bordering it to the west. Also in Nayarit are the cities and towns of Tepic, Ixtlan del Rio, Xalisco, Tuxpan, Santiago Ixcuintla, Acaponeta, Compostela, Tecuala, Ahuacatlán, Santa María del Oro, Amatlán de Cañas, San Blas, Matanchen, Zacualpan, Chacala and as well as the island settlement of Mexcaltitán. Also belonging to the state are the Islas Marias, Islas Tres Marietas and Isla Isabel, all in the Pacific Ocean. Its capital is Tepic, which is located inland and south on the Tepic River. Nearby is the Sangangüey volcano and the crater lake.

Nuevo León

Nuevo León (Spanish pronunciation: ['nweßo le'on], New León) is a state located in northeastern Mexico. It borders the states of Tamaulipas to the north and east and San Luis Potosí to the south, and Coahuila to the west. To the north, Nuevo León accounts for a 15 kilometer (9 mi) stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the U.S. state of Texas. The capital of Nuevo León is Monterrey, other important cities include Guadalupe, Santa Catarina, San Nicolás de los Garza, and San Pedro Garza García, all of which are part of the Monterrey Metropolitan area.

Oaxaca

Oaxaca Spanish pronunciation: [oa'xaka] ( listen)) officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca (English: Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca) is one of the 31 states which with the Federal District comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. Located in the southern part of the country, bordering the states of Guerrero to the west, Puebla to the northwest, Veracruz to the north, Chiapas to the east, and the Pacific Ocean in the south. With an area of 93,967 km² (36,820.2 sq mi), Oaxaca is the fifth largest state in the republic. According to the 2005 census it had a population of 3,506,821 inhabitants. The state is named for its capital and largest city. The state is best known for its indigenous peoples and cultures. The most numerous and best known are the Zapotecs and the Mixtecs, but there are sixteen that are officially recognized. These cultures have survived better to the present than most others in Mexico due to the state’s rugged and isolating terrain. Most live in the Central Valleys region, which is also an important area for tourism, attracting people for its archeological sites such as Monte Albán, native culture and crafts. Another important tourist area is the coast, which has the major resort of Huatulco. The state also has some of the largest biodiversity in Mexico.

Puebla

Puebla (Spanish pronunciation: ['pweßla]) (formal name state “Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla” (Free and Sovereign State of Puebla)) is a Mexican state located in the center-east of Mexico, just east of the Federal District of Mexico City. It has a roughly triangular shape, with the wide part to the south and borders Veracruz to the east, Hidalgo, Mexico State, Tlaxcala, and Morelos to the west, and Guerrero and Oaxaca to the south. The state's largest cities are the capital of Puebla and Tehuacan and contains 217 municipalities. The center of the state consists of the Cuetlaxcuapan Valley, which means “place where serpents shed their skins” in Nahuatl.[2] The origins of the state lie in the city of Puebla, which was founded by the Spanish in this valley in 1531 to secure the trade route between Mexico City and the port of Veracruz. The city and valleys between Mexico City and the Gulf coast flourished economically, with the city of Puebla as its cultural and economic center. By the end of the 18th century, the area had become a colonial province with its own governor, which would become the State of Puebla, after the Mexican War of Independence in the early 19th century. Since that time, the area, especially around the capital city, has continued to grow economically, mostly through industry, despite being the scene of a number of battles, the most notable of which being the Battle of Puebla. Today, the state is one of the most industrialized in the country, but since most of its development is concentrated in Puebla and other cities, many of its rural areas are very poor, forcing many to migrate away to places such as Mexico City and the United States. Culturally, the state is home to the China Poblana, mole poblano, active literary and arts scenes and festivals such as Cinco de Mayo, Ritual of Quetzalcoatl, Day of the Dead celebrations (especially in Huaquechula) and Carnival (especially in Huejotzingo). It is home to five major indigenous groups: Nahuas, the Totonacas, the Mixtecas, the Popolocas and the Otomi, which can mostly be found in the far north and the far south of the state.

Querétaro

Querétaro (Spanish pronunciation: [ke'?eta?o]; former formal name: Querétaro Arteaga) is a state in central México. Its capital is the city of Santiago de Querétaro, although in general parlance the name "Querétaro" is used for both the city and the state. The name is thought to come from a phrase in the Otomi language meaning "place of the ball game", or from a phrase in the P'urhépecha language translated as "place of the great city".[citation needed] Querétaro is bordered to the north by the state of San Luis Potosí, to the west by Guanajuato, to the east by Hidalgo, to the southeast by Mexico State, and to the southwest by Michoacán. The capital city of Santiago de Querétaro is located some 257 kilometres (160 mi) to the northwest of Mexico City. Other important cities include San Juan del Rio and El Pueblito.

Quitana Roo

Quintana Roo (Spanish pronunciation: [kin'tana 'ro]) officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Quintana Roo (English: Free and Sovereign State of Quintana Roo) is one of 31 states with the Federal District comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. Located on the eastern part of the Yucatán Peninsula, it borders the States of Yucatán and Campeche to the north and west, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the nation of Belize to the south. Quintana Roo also claims territory which gives it a small border with Guatemala in the south west of the state, although this disputed area is also claimed by Campeche. The capital of Quintana Roo is the city of Chetumal. Quintana Roo also contains the resort city of Cancún, the islands of Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, the towns of Bacalar, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Juárez, Akumal, Xcalak, and Puerto Morelos, as well as the ancient Maya ruins of Chacchoben, Chakanbakán, Chamax, Coba, Dzibanché, El Meco, Ichpaatán, Kohunlich, Muyil, Oxtankah, Tancah, Tulum, Tupak, Xel-Há, and Xcaret. The Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve is also in Quintana Roo. The state covers an area of 50,351 square kilometers (19,440.6 sq mi), and the 2005 census reported a population of 1,135,309. The statewide population is currently expanding at a rapid rate due to the construction of hotels and the demand for workers. Many immigrants to the state come from Yucatán, Campeche, Tabasco, and Veracruz. The state, known as a resort area, is frequently hit by severe hurricanes due to its exposed location, the most recent and severe being Hurricane Dean in 2007, making landfall with sustained winds of 175 mph, with gusts up to 200 mph. The state is named after the Mexican patriot Andrés Quintana Roo.

San Luis Potosí

San Luis Potosí (Spanish pronunciation: ['san 'lwis poto'si]) is a state of Mexico, situated in the center of the country. It is bordered by Coahuila to the north, Nuevo León to the northeast, Tamaulipas to the east, Veracruz to the east, Hidalgo, Querétaro, and Guanajuato to the south, and Zacatecas to the northwest. At the 2005 census the population was 2,410,414.The state and its capital are both named after Louis IX of France (also known in Mexico as San Luis Rey de Francia, Saint Louis, King of France), its patron saint. The Potosí was added in reference to the fabulously rich mines of Potosí, Bolivia, comparing the wealth of these mines to that of the local mines at Cerro de San Pedro. In addition to the state capital San Luis Potosí, the state's largest cities include Ciudad Valles, Matehuala, and Rioverde.San Luis Potosí is bounded on the east by Nuevo León, Tamaulipas and Veracruz, on the south by Hidalgo, Querétaro and Guanajuato, and on the west by Zacatecas. Its shape resembles a Scottish Terrier. The state lies mostly on the Mexican Plateau, with the exception of the southeastern corner of the state, where the tableland breaks down into the tropical valley of the Panuco River. The surface of the plateau is comparatively level, with some low mountainous wooded ridges. The Sierra Madre Oriental runs north and south through the state, and separates the Mexican Plateau from the Gulf Coastal Plain to the east. The Sierra Madre Oriental is home to the Sierra Madre Oriental pine-oak forests. The Panuco River originates on the Plateau, and flows eastward through a gap in the Sierra Madre to drain into the Gulf of Mexico. The easternmost portion of the state lies on the Gulf Coastal Plain, and covered by the Veracruz moist forests. The Panuco and its tributaries drain the southern and southeastern portion of the state. The northern and central portion of the state, including the capital, lie on an interior drainage basin which does not drain to the sea. The mean elevation is about 6,000 ft., ensuring a temperate climate. The state lies partly within the arid zone of the north, while the southern half receiving a more liberal rainfall through the influence of the Nortes, which deliver significant amounts of rain. The rainfall, however, is uncertain at the western and northern regions, and much of the state is poorly provided with rivers. The soil is fertile and in favorable seasons large crops of wheat, maize, beans and cotton are grown on the uplands. In the low tropical valleys, sugar, coffee, tobacco, peppers and fruit are staple products. Stockraising is an important industry and hides, tallow and wool are exported. Fine cabinet and construction woods are also exported to a limited extent. At one time San Luis Potosí ranked among the leading mining provinces of Mexico, but the revolts following independence resulted in a great decline in that industry. The area around Real de Catorce has some of the richest silver mines in the country. Other well-known silver mining districts are Peñón Blanco, Ramos and Guadalcázar. The development of Guadalcazar dates from 1620 and its ores yield gold, copper, zinc and bismuth, as well as silver. In the Ramos district, the Cocinera lode was said to have a total yield of over $60,000,000 in the first decade of the 20th century.

Sinaloa

Sinaloa (Spanish pronunciation: [sina'loa]) is one of the 31 states of Mexico, located in the northwestern part of the country. The state is bordered to the north by Sonora and Chihuahua; to the south, by Nayarit; to the east by Durango, and to the west, across the Gulf of California, by Baja California Sur. The state covers an area of 57,377 square kilometers (22,153 sq mi), and includes the Islands of Palmito Verde, Palmito de la Virgen, Altamura, Santa Maria, Saliaca, Macapule and San Ignacio. Sinaloa has 2.2 million inhabitants (2005). The capital of the state is Culiacán, while other important cities include Mazatlán and Los Mochis. The coastal plain is a narrow strip of land that stretches along the length of the state and lies between the ocean and the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental Range, which dominates the eastern part of the state. Sinaloa is traversed by many rivers, which carve broad valleys into the foothills. The largest of these rivers are the Culiacán, Fuerte, and Sinaloa. Sinaloa has a warm climate on the coastal side, moderately warm in the valleys and foothills, moderately cold in the lower mountains and cold in the higher elevations. Its weather characteristics vary from subtropical, found on the plains, to cold in the nearby mountains. Temperatures range from 22 °C (72 °F) to 43 °C (109 °F) with rains during the summer. There are numerous species of plants and animals within Sinaloa. Notable among the tree species is the Elephant tree, Bursera microphyll

Sonora

Sonora (Spanish pronunciation: [so'no?a]) officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora (English: Free and Sovereign State of Sonora) is one of the 31 states along with the Federal District comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. The state is located in Northwest Mexico with an area of 179,503 square kilometers (69,306 sq mi),[4] making it around the size of Syria. It is surrounded by the states of Baja California and the Gulf of California to the west, Chihuahua to the east, Sinaloa to the south, and the US states of Arizona and New Mexico to the north. The capital is Hermosillo; other important cities include Ciudad Obregón and Nogales.

Tabasco

Tabasco (Spanish pronunciation: [ta'ßasko]) is a state in Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Veracruz to the west, Chiapas to the south, and Campeche to the north-east. To the east Tabasco borders the Petén department of Guatemala, and to the north the Bay of Campeche (part of the Gulf of Mexico). Tabasco is in the northern half of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.The year 800 BC witnessed the highest point in the development of the pre-Classical civilization of the Olmecas, which took place in the lands of Tabasco and particularly in the civic-spiritual compound of La Venta. With the downfall of the Olmecas, the Maya arrived to the state, and inhabited its territories until the 9th century AD. Nowadays, the major archeological sites containing traces and remains of this extensive period in Mesoamerican history are those of Comalcalco and Pomona.

Tamaulipas

Tamaulipas (Spanish pronunciation: [tamau'lipas]) is one of the 31 states of Mexico and is located in the central-northeastern part of the Mexican federation. It borders the U.S. state of Texas to the north, the Gulf of Mexico to the east, Veracruz to the south, San Luis Potosí to the southwest, and Nuevo León to the west. The name Tamaulipas is derived from Tamaholipa, a Huastec term in which the tam- prefix signifies "place where." As yet, there is no scholarly agreement on the meaning of holipa, but "high hills" is a common interpretation.[citation needed] (However, a native population of Tamaulipas, now extinct, was referred to as the "Olives" during the early colonial period, which is a likely Spanish transformation on holipa.)[citation needed] According to the 2006 census, Tamaulipas has a population of 3,024,238. Its capital is Ciudad Victoria. Other important cities include Reynosa, Matamoros, Nuevo Laredo Tampico and San Fernando The state capital is Villahermosa, other important cities include Cardenas, Comalcalco and Paraiso.The area as Tamaulipas has been inhabited for at least 8,000 years. Several different cultures (north coastal, south coastal, lowlands, and mountains) have passed during that period. Although Hernán Cortés conquered the Aztecs rather quickly, it took a gradual process for Spain to subjugate the inhabitants of Tamaulipas in the 16th and 17th centuries. The first permanent Spanish settlement in the area was Tampico in 1554. More work along these lines was done by Franciscan missionaries, although repeated indigenous rebellions kept the area unstable. What is now Tamaulipas was first incorporated as a separate province of New Spain in 1746 with the name Nuevo Santander. The local government capital during this time moved from Santander to San Carlos, and finally to Aguayo. After Mexico's independence from Spain, Tamaulipas continued to be an unstable region. The fight in the national government between federalist and centralist factions resulted in repeated rebellions. In January 1854, Tamaulipas was declared a state of the union during the civil war between Santa Anna and the liberal guerrilla factions that had been in power before him. Its capital was kept at Aguayo, which would later be renamed Ciudad Victoria. It briefly became a part of the Republic of the Rio Grande.

Tlaxcala

Tlaxcala (Spanish pronunciation: [tlaks'kala], Nahuatl, officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tlaxcala (English: Free and Sovereign State of Tlaxcala) is one of the 31 states along with the Federal District comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is located east of the center of the country, bordering the states of Puebla, Hidalgo and Mexico State. It is the smallest state of the republic, accounting for only 0.2% of the country’s territory. The state of Tlaxcala is named after its capital, Tlaxcala, which was also the name of the pre-Hispanic city and culture. The Tlaxcalans allied themselves with the Spanish to defeat the Aztecs, with concessions from the Spanish that allowed the territory to remain mostly intact throughout the colonial period and after Mexican Independence. The state is located in the altiplano region of Mexico, with the eastern portion dominated by the Sierra Madre Oriental.Most of the state’s economy is based on agriculture, light industry and tourism. The tourist industry is rooted in Tlaxcala’s long history with major attractions being archeological sites such as Cacaxtla and colonial constructions in and around Tlaxcala city. The name “Tlaxcala” pre-dates the state by centuries; it derives from the name of the capital city, which was also used to denote the territory controlled by this city in pre-Hispanic times. According to some historians, the name comes from an ancient word “texcalli”, which meant crag; however, an alternative etymology stems from the Nahuatl word “Tlaxcallan” which means place of corn or maize tortillas. The Aztec glyph that referred to this place has both elements, two green hills and two hands holding a corn tortilla.[12] The state’s coat of arms is based on the coat of arms that was granted to the city in 1535. Its different elements have the following meanings: the red background represents courage; the castle symbolizes defensive power; the eagle with its open wings, represents the spirit of vigilance; the border symbolizes protection and compensation; the green palms stand for victory, and the crowns are the symbol of royal authority. The letter I refers to Joanna of Castile, the mother of Carlos V; the letter K represents the name of the king himself; and the letter F belongs to Felipe, the son of Carlos V. The human skulls and cross-bones represent those who died during the Conquest.

Veracruz

Veracruz (Spanish pronunciation: [be?a'k?us]), formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, Veracruz meaning in English, literally: "True Cross") is one of the 31 states that constitute the United Mexican States. Veracruz is bordered by Tamaulipas to the north, the Gulf to the east, Tabasco to the southeast, Oaxaca and Chiapas to the south and Puebla, Hidalgo, and San Luis Potosi to the west. The population of 7 million is the third largest in Mexico. The state is noted for its mixed ethnic and large indigenous populations. Its cuisine reflects the many cultural influences that have come through the state because of the importance of the port of Veracruz. The capital is Xalapa, and other important cities include Veracruz, Coatzacoalcos, Córdoba and Orizaba.The full name of the state is Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave. Veracruz is from the city of Veracruz, which was originally called the Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz. The suffix is in honor of Ignacio de la Llave y Segura Zevallos (1818–1863), who was the governor of the Veracruz from 1861 to 1862. The state’s seal was authorized by the state legislature in 1954, adapting the one used for the port of Veracruz.

Yucatán

Yucatán (Spanish pronunciation: [?uka'tan]) is one of the 31 states of Mexico, located on the north of the Yucatán Peninsula. The Congress of Yucatan was installed on August 20, 1823; and was admitted to the Mexican federation on 21 December 1823, being the 8th state admitted. The Yucatan peninsula includes three states: Yucatán, Campeche, and Quintana Roo; all three modern states were formerly part of the larger historic state of Yucatán in the 19th century. The state capital of Yucatán is Mérida.Before the arrival of the Spanish in the area, Yucatán was the home of the Maya civilization, and in particular the Yucatecan Maya people. Archaeological remains show ceremonial architecture dating back some 3,000 years; some Maya hieroglyphic inscriptions found in the area date back to the Maya Preclassic period (200 B.C.). Maya cities of Yucatán continued to flourish after the central and southern lowland Classic period Maya cities collapsed (900 AD), including the Puuc fluorescence during the Terminal Classic, the rise of Chichen Itza at roughly the same time, and the subsequent rise of other sites, such as Mayapan, during the Postclassic. Several sites continued to be occupied up to and beyond the 16th century arrival of the Spanish. The ruins of well over a hundred Maya sites of varying sizes can still be found on the peninsula, such as Chichen Itza and Uxmal, though most sites have not been extensively investigated. Other important ancient Maya cities were built over by the Spanish, and their sites are still occupied today, such as Izamal (Itsmal in Yucatecan Maya) and Mérida (T'ho in Yucatecan Maya).

Zacatecas

Zacatecas (Spanish pronunciation: [?aka'tekas] or [saka'tekas]) is a state of Mexico, located in the northern region. It is bounded to the northwest by Durango, to the north by Coahuila, to the east by San Luis Potosí, to the south by Aguascalientes and Guanajuato and to the southwest by Jalisco and Nayarit. The state is best known for its rich deposits of silver ore, its colonial architecture and its importance during the revolution. Zacatecas has 58 municipalities and the main economic activities are mining, agriculture and tourism. The state shares its name with its capital and chief center of population, the city of Zacatecas, Zacatecas."Zacatecas" is the Nahuatl-derived name for one of the indigenous peoples who inhabited the region before the arrival of the Spanish. The name ultimately derives from the Nahuatl word for a type of grass common in the region, zacatl. The region where this grass grew was originally called Zacatlan, and its inhabitants, Zacateca, pluralized in Mexican Spanish to Zacatecas. Besides the Zacatecas, the Caxcan, Guachichil, and Tepehuan were also reported by the Spanish to be inhabiting the region which comprises the modern state of Zacatecas. On September 8, 1546, with the discovery of its mines, the present city of Zacatecas was founded. It was originally baptized "Minas de los Zacatecas" or "Mines of the Zacatecas". Its rich mineral wealth gave the Spanish Crown a great amount of income (the silver mines in Zacatecas and Potosi, Bolivia, were the Spanish crown's largest sources of income during colonialism), which gave the city of Zacatecas the title of "Ciudad de Nuestra Señora de los Zacatecas". Zacatecas is located in the great central plateau of Mexico, with an average elevation of about 7,700 feet (2,300 m). The state is somewhat mountainous, being traversed in the west by lateral ranges of the Sierra Madre Occidental, and by numerous isolated ranges in other parts – Mazapil, Norillos, Guadalupe and others. There are no large rivers, only the small head-streams of the Aguanaval in the north, and of the Guazamota, Bolaños and Juchipila in the west, the last three being tributaries of the Rio Grande de Santiago. The climate is dry and mostly falls in the semi-arid steppe type, although moisture from the Pacific does influence the state in Summer, particularly western sections. Seventy five percent of the entity has a dry and semi dry climate with a temperature of about 18 degrees Celsius and annual precipitation of 800mm. In some areas in the south area of the state, the influence of the Occidental Sierra Madre results in a pleasant sub humid climate with annual precipitation of higher than 1,000m

DF

Mexico City (Spanish:Ciudad de México) is the Federal District (Distrito Federal), capital and largest city of Mexico. Is also the largest city in the Americas and the world's third largest metropolitan area by population, after Seoul and Tokyo. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole. Mexico City is the most important political, cultural, and financial center in the country. As an "alpha" global Mexico City is one of the most important financial centers in North America which is located in the Valley of Mexico, a large valley in the high plateaus at the center of Mexico, at an altitude of 2,240 metres (7,350 ft). The city consists of sixteen boroughs. The 2009 estimated population for the city proper was around 8.84 million people, and has a land area of 1,485 square kilometres (573 sq mi). According to the most recent definition agreed upon by the federal and state governments, the Mexico City metropolitan area population is 21.2 million people, making it the largest metropolitan area in the Americas and the fifth largest agglomeration in the world. Mexico City has a gross domestic product (GDP) of $390 billion USD in 2008, making Mexico City the eighth richest city in the world. The city was responsible for generating 21% of Mexico's Gross Domestic Product and the metropolitan area accounted for 34% of total national GDP. As of 2008, the city proper, as opposed to the metropolitan area, had a nominal income per capita of $25,258 USD, on par with the GDP per capita of Portugal or of the Czech Republic. The city was originally built on an island of Lake Texcoco by the Aztecs in 1325 as Tenochtitlan, which was almost completely destroyed in the 1521 siege of Tenochtitlan , and subsequently redesigned and rebuilt in accordance with the Spanish urban standards. In 1524, the municipality of Mexico City was established, known as México Tenochtitlán, and as of 1585 it was officially known as La Ciudad de México (Mexico City). Mexico City served as the political, administrative and financial centre of a major part of the Spanish colonial empire. After independence from Spain was achieved, the Federal District was created in 1824. After years of demanding greater political autonomy, residents were given the right to directly elect the Head of Government and the representatives of the unicameral Legislative Assembly by popular vote in 1997. Ever since, the left-wing Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) has controlled both of them. In recent years, the local government has passed a wave of liberal policies, such as abortion on request to any woman up to 12 weeks into a pregnancy, a limited form of euthanasia, no-fault divorce and same-sex marriage.

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