Durango Attractions
Mexican State
The large, sparsely populated state of Durango borders on Chihuahua in the north, Sinaloa in the west, Nayarit in the south, and Zacatecas and Coahuila in the east. Extending as far as the western slopes of the Sierra Madre, it consists primarily of dry plateaux covered with lava rock and deeply fissured by ravines. Its inhabitants are mestizos and Creoles, with Tepehuano Indians still living in remote areas.
History
The region now making up the state was populated in pre-Hispanic times by semi-nomadic tribes, in particular the Tepehuano and Acaxe. The first Spaniard to penetrate the area is thought to have been the conquistador Ginés Vásquez del Mercado, who arrived in 1551 to search for precious metals. He was followed by a Basque, Francisco de Ibarra, who established the first settlements, among which were Nombre de Dios (1555) and Durango (1563). A state of almost permanent war with the Indians lasted until 1616 when the Tepehuano finally suffered decisive defeat. Even then Indian uprisings were still common right up until the late 19th c. Prior to becoming separate federal states in 1823, Durango and Chihuahua together made up the province of Nueva Vizcaya.
Economy
Durango has great mineral wealth including gold, silver, copper, iron, zinc, sulphur and antimony. In fertile areas watered by rivers or artificially irrigated, agricultural products such as cotton, maize, tobacco, sugar cane and vegetables are grown. Livestock rearing and agricultural processing also play a part in the economy. Tourism is not yet particularly important.
The large, sparsely populated state of Durango borders on Chihuahua in the north, Sinaloa in the west, Nayarit in the south, and Zacatecas and Coahuila in the east. Extending as far as the western slopes of the Sierra Madre, it consists primarily of dry plateaux covered with lava rock and deeply fissured by ravines. Its inhabitants are mestizos and Creoles, with Tepehuano Indians still living in remote areas.
History
The region now making up the state was populated in pre-Hispanic times by semi-nomadic tribes, in particular the Tepehuano and Acaxe. The first Spaniard to penetrate the area is thought to have been the conquistador Ginés Vásquez del Mercado, who arrived in 1551 to search for precious metals. He was followed by a Basque, Francisco de Ibarra, who established the first settlements, among which were Nombre de Dios (1555) and Durango (1563). A state of almost permanent war with the Indians lasted until 1616 when the Tepehuano finally suffered decisive defeat. Even then Indian uprisings were still common right up until the late 19th c. Prior to becoming separate federal states in 1823, Durango and Chihuahua together made up the province of Nueva Vizcaya.
Economy
Durango has great mineral wealth including gold, silver, copper, iron, zinc, sulphur and antimony. In fertile areas watered by rivers or artificially irrigated, agricultural products such as cotton, maize, tobacco, sugar cane and vegetables are grown. Livestock rearing and agricultural processing also play a part in the economy. Tourism is not yet particularly important.
Puente Ojuela
From Bermejillo the MEX 30 heads west towards Mapimí. Some 20km/13mi along it, a narrow road branches off left to the Puente Ojuela Mine (7km/4.3mi) located in an unusual and bizarre landscape. A swaying, rickety wooden bridge over a gorge is only one of several curious sights at this part abandoned, part still worked mine where they prospect for silver, lead and manganese.
Bermejillo, Mexico
Around the little town of Bermejillo (population: 12,000; 45km/28mi north of Gómez Palacio on the MEX 49), fossil fish and snails are found. Once treated they are then offered for sale.
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Gomez Palacio, Mexico
Apart from the state capital Durango, only Gómez Palacio (population: 138,000) is of much economic significance. Situated on the border with Coahuila close to Torréon, it is a centre of commerce generally and agricultural processing in particular. A cotton fair is held annually in late summer but the city has little of interest to the tourist.
Mapimi, Mexico
The old mining town of Mapimí (Tepehuano: "stone over the hill'; 1360 m (4463 ft); population: 15,000) is situated 23km/14mi west of Bermejillo. The nearby Sierra del Rosario is famous for its weird rock formations and the so-called "Red Caves", their colour produced by iron oxide.
