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Coahuila

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Coahuila, officially known as Coahuila de Zaragoza, is a major state in Mexico. It is the third-largest state in the nation by land area. The state's official name honors General Ignacio Zaragoza. Coahuila is home to many different landscapes and industries. It plays a vital role in the Mexican economy. The state is divided into 38 municipalities, or local administrative districts.

The geography of Coahuila is defined by several distinct regions. The Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range runs through the state from the northwest to the southeast. This range contains high elevations and pine-oak forests.

Pinus ponderosa 9681
Pinus ponderosa 9681

The northern parts of these mountains, called Sierra del Burro and Sierra del Carmen, reach the United States border. To the east of these mountains, the land slopes toward the Rio Grande. This area includes the Tamaulipan mezquital, which is a dry shrubland ecoregion.

Cylindropuntia spinosior, with flower, Albuquerque
Cylindropuntia spinosior, with flower, Albuquerque

West of the Sierra Madre Oriental, the landscape changes significantly. This region sits on the Mexican Plateau and is part of the Chihuahuan Desert. A large endorheic basin called the Bolsón de Mapimí covers much of this western area. An endorheic basin is a drainage area where water does not flow to the ocean. Instead, rivers like the Nazas and Aguanaval flow into internal lakes.

Cynomys ludovicianus
Cynomys ludovicianus

The city of Torreón is located in the irrigated Laguna Region near the Nazas River.

Plaza Mayor Torreón 05
Plaza Mayor Torreón 05

The history of the region involves many different groups of people. The name Coahuila comes from native terms. Some historians suggest the name means "flying serpent" or "place of many trees."

Acer grandidentatum branches
Acer grandidentatum branches

Spanish exploration began after the conquest of Tenochtitlan. The first Spanish settlement was at Minas de la Trinidad in 1577. Saltillo was settled later in 1586. In the 1820s, Coahuila was part of a larger state that included Texas. Texas remained part of Coahuila until it seceded in 1836.

Coahuila is an essential center for mining and manufacturing. It is the top mining state in Mexico. The state contains 95% of the nation's coal reserves.

Northern black-tailed rattlesnake
Northern black-tailed rattlesnake

The city of Torreón is a global leader in mining. It is the world's largest silver producer and Mexico's largest gold producer. The southeastern region, including Saltillo, is a major hub for the automobile industry. Large companies like General Motors and Stellantis have assembly plants there.

The state also has a massive agricultural and dairy presence. While much of the land is arid or semi-arid, rivers support irrigation. This allows for the large-scale farming of cotton. In the southern Parras district, people produce wines and brandies. The dairy industry is also very large. One company, Lala, produces 40% of the milk consumed in Mexico.

Opossum with grapes
Opossum with grapes

Demographically, Coahuila is a large but sparsely populated state. The 2020 Census recorded a population of 3,146,771 people. Because the state is so big, the population density is low. There are only about 15 people per square kilometer. The population is mainly Mestizo. The state is home to several major urban centers. Saltillo is the capital, while Torreón is the largest city.

Edificio D Ibero Torreón
Edificio D Ibero Torreón

Monclova is the third largest city and was a former capital.

Nature in Coahuila supports a wide variety of wildlife. The mountains and deserts provide habitats for many species. You might find a mountain lion or a black bear in the forests.

MountainLion
MountainLion
Schwarzbär-Omega Park
Schwarzbär-Omega Park

The skies are home to the golden eagle.

Aquila chrysaetos Flickr
Aquila chrysaetos Flickr

In the more arid areas, you can find prairie dogs and various reptiles.

Cynomys ludovicianus
Cynomys ludovicianus

The state also protects its natural beauty through biosphere reserves like Maderas del Carmen and the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin.

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🖼️ Images & Media (21)
Himno de Coahuila.ogg
File:PRI logo (Mexico).svg
PRI logo (Mexico).svg
File:Morena logo (Mexico).svg
Morena logo (Mexico).svg
File:PT Party (Mexico).svg
PT Party (Mexico).svg
File:Acer grandidentatum branches.jpg
Acer grandidentatum branches.jpg
File:Figa de moro 01.JPG
Figa de moro 01.JPG
File:Singapore Botanic Gardens Cactus Garden 2.jpg
Singapore Botanic Gardens Cactus Garden 2.jpg
File:Cylindropuntia spinosior, with flower, Albuquerque.jpg
Cylindropuntia spinosior, with flower,...
File:Pinus ponderosa 9681.JPG
Pinus ponderosa 9681.JPG
File:Schwarzbär-Omega Park.jpg
Schwarzbär-Omega Park.jpg
File:MountainLion.jpg
MountainLion.jpg
File:Tamiasciurus douglasii 000.jpg
Tamiasciurus douglasii 000.jpg

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