Durango

Durango is a large state in Mexico.

It has many big mountains. Some parts have thick green forests.

Other parts are very dry. You can find a desert tortoise there.

Many rivers start in the mountains. These rivers flow to the sea.

It is a place of many wonders.

Durango is a large state in northwest Mexico.

It is the fourth largest state in the country. It sits near the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains. These tall peaks cover much of the land.

Much of the state is mountainous and has thick forests. These forests have pine and oak trees. Many rivers start in these high mountains. Some rivers flow to the Pacific Ocean. Others flow to the Gulf of Mexico.

Durango has many different types of land. The center has wide valleys and flat plains. These areas are good for farming corn and beans.

The northeast is a dry semi-desert. It has flat land and many cacti. You can find a desert tortoise living there.

The far west has deep canyons and ravines. These areas are hot and wet. They receive the most rain in the state. The capital city is Victoria de Durango. It sits near the base of the mountains.

Durango is a large state in northwest Mexico.

It is the fourth largest state in the country. It makes up about 6.3% of all Mexican land. The state is landlocked, meaning it has no ocean borders. It sits near several other states like Chihuahua and Sinaloa. The capital city is called Victoria de Durango.

This city is named after Guadalupe Victoria, the first President of Mexico. The state has about 1,832,650 people living there. This makes it one of the least crowded states in Mexico.

The land in Durango has many different shapes. Much of the state is covered by the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains.

These mountains cover about two-thirds of the whole area. The mountains block moisture from the Pacific Ocean. This changes how much rain different parts of the state get. In the west, the land has deep canyons and ravines. These areas are hot and very wet. In the east, the land is much hotter and drier. The center of the state has wide valleys and flat plains.

Different animals and plants live in these different areas. In the dry semi-desert of the northeast, you can find nopal cactus and barrel cactus.

A desert tortoise lives in the Mapimí Biosphere Reserve there. The mountains have thick forests of pine, oak, and cedar trees. You might see pumas, deer, or wild turkeys in the woods. In the central valleys, many birds like geese and ducks visit the wetlands.

These valleys also have rivers with fish like catfish and bass. The state is divided into four main ecological regions. These are La Quebrada, the Sierra, the Valleys, and the Semi-desert.

People have used the land in Durango for a long time. In the past, many mining towns began in the western mountains.

Miners looked for valuable things like silver and gold. These mines were very busy during the 18th century. Today, many people still work in farming and ranching. Most people grow crops like corn, beans, and chili peppers. In the Valleys, farmers grow apples, pears, and peaches. Some people also raise large herds of cattle. These animals are often sent to the United States.

Durango is a place where the mountains and deserts meet. It connects the high peaks of the Sierra to the dry plains. The state has many important natural resources like iron and marble. Some areas are even protected to help animals like the Mexican grey wolf. You can see how the land changes from high mountains to flat deserts. This makes the state a very interesting place to explore. Whether you look at the deep canyons or the wide valleys, there is much to see.

Durango is officially known as the Free and Sovereign State of Durango. It is one of the 32 federal entities that make up Mexico. The state is located in the northwest portion of the country. It is the fourth largest state in Mexico. It accounts for approximately 6.3% of the entire Mexican territory. Durango is a landlocked state. This means it does not touch any ocean. It is surrounded by the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Zacatecas, Nayarit, and Sinaloa.

The state has a population of 1,832,650 people. This is the 8th lowest population in Mexico. Durango also has the second-lowest population density in the country. Only Baja California Sur has a lower density. The capital city is Victoria de Durango. It is named after Guadalupe Victoria, the first President of Mexico.

Geography in Durango is shaped by the Sierra Madre Occidental. This mountain range covers about two-thirds of the state. These mountains act as a barrier to moisture from the Pacific Ocean. This effect creates different climates across the land. The Sierra Madre Occidental creates the highest peaks in the state. The average elevation is 1,775 meters above sea level. In the Valleys region, the mean elevation is 1,750 meters. In the Sierra region, the mean elevation rises to 2,450 meters. The capital city sits on the foothills at 1,857 meters.

Ecologists divide the state into four distinct regions. These are La Quebrada, the Sierra, the Valleys, and the Semi-desert. The Semi-desert is also called the Bolsón de Mapimí. It sits in the northeast of the state. The terrain here is mostly flat and very dry. It is part of the Chihuahua Desert or a transition zone. This area was once under the sea. Today, it features nopal cactus, maguey, and barrel cactus.

You can find desert tortoises in the Mapimí Biosphere Reserve. Other animals include coyotes, owls, and scorpions.

The Valleys region is located in the center of the state. It consists of river valleys and plains among small mountains. This area is suitable for farming because of irrigation. Rivers like the Nazas, Florido, and Tunal provide water. Farmers grow corn, beans, apples, and pears here.

The region also has hot springs caused by tectonic activity. These include the Zape and Atotonilco springs. Many people in the Guatimapé wetland area belong to Mennonite communities. They are known for making cheeses and cured meats.

The Sierra region is in the west and features rugged terrain. It contains pine-oak forests with pine, oak, and cedar trees. The highest point in the state is Cerro Gordo. This mountain is considered sacred to the Tepehuanes and Huichol people. The westernmost part is Las Quebradas. This area has deep ravines and canyons. It is hot and humid because it receives the most rainfall.

The La Michilía Biosphere Reserve helps protect the endangered Mexican grey wolf here.

History in Durango is closely tied to its natural resources. Many towns began as mining towns. Miners sought silver and gold in the western mountains. During the 18th century, several royal mines were active. This activity brought Europeans to the region. This change displaced indigenous groups like the Acaxes and Xiximes. European diseases caused their numbers to fall.

Today, mining remains important for gold, silver, iron, and mercury. Large deposits of marble are also found in the state.

Agriculture remains the main economic activity for most people. However, only 10% of the land is suitable for crops. Only 15% of the land is suitable for pasture. Most farming happens in the Valleys and the La Laguna region. In La Laguna, cotton was the main crop from the late 19th century until the 1970s. Many cattle herds are raised in pastures and exported to the United States. This mix of mountains, deserts, and valleys makes Durango a complex and diverse part of Mexico.