History Of Durango City by Francis Lua
Durango is the fourth largest state in Mexico. The name Durango is Basque in origin and means Fertile lowland bathed by rivers surrounded by elevations or mountains. This describes the topography of this state quite well. The western half of the state is dominated by the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range. Eastern Durango is mostly semiarid plains. The northeastern corner of the state that borders the state of Coahuila is an area known as the Laguna District. This fertile region is made up of vast desert basins irrigated by the Nazas River.
Durango, a destination that has served as an important filming location, lies in Mexico northwest region, 268 km southwest of Torreon, Coahuila, and 310 km northwest of the city of Zacatecas. The climate is mostly dry, with rainfall in the summer. The average year round temperature is 18 degrees or 64 Fahrenheit.
In this city you will see some of the northern region most unique architecture, such as that of Durango Cathedral, the Templo de Santa Ana and the Casa del Conde del Valle de Suchil. The diverse designs offer a precious mosaic of colonial and contemporary architecture. Other edifices, such as the Casa de Gobierno, house museums with amazing art exhibits, old furniture, archaeological pieces, religious art, historical archives and collections that reflect the artistic talent of the region ethnic groups.
In Durango surrounding areas you can do various outdoor recreational activities, including fishing trips at the Guadalupe Victoria Dam, camping outings at El Saltito waterfall and mountain biking excursions at Chupaderos. The latter has gorgeous settings that have been used as film location sites. You also can explore the vast Zona del Silencio Zone of Silence, a mysterious region where you can observe singular plant and animal species.
The state of Durango was first colonized in 1562 by Francisco de Ibarra. Early European settlers met strong resistance from the native populations, but the wealth of mineral resources and grazing lands continued to attract colonists. The region which is made up of modern day Durango and the state of Chihuahua was known as Nueva Viscaya, with the city of Durango acting as the capital for this colonial province.
Durango is a leading producer of ferrous metals such as iron, copper, silver and gold. The mountains of this state are extremely rich in minerals. Lumbering, ranching and farming are other occupations for the majority of residents in Durango. Cotton is the chief crop in the Nazas Valley, with wheat, sugarcane, tobacco, corn and other vegetables grown there as well.
About the Author
Francis Lua
Find out more information at my website which is at http://www.vacatio-super.com
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