Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Veracruz
- Veracruz is the name of both a state in Mexico and that state's largest city. This article is about the state. For the city, see Veracruz, Veracruz.
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The state of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave is one of the 31 states of Mexico.
It is located in the eastern part of the country, between 17°10' and 22°38' North and between 93°55' and 98°38' West. It has a mainland area of 72,815 km² and includes several islands in the Gulf of Mexico totalling another 58 km².
Veracruz borders the states of Tamaulipas to the north, Oaxaca and Chiapas to the south, Tabasco to the southeast, Puebla, Hidalgo, and San Luis Potosi to the west, and the Gulf of Mexico to the east. Its capital is Xalapa. With 6.9 million inhabitants, the state of Veracruz is the third most populous in the nation, after the Federal District and the state of México.
On the coastal plains and throughout most of the state, the climate is hot and humid. On the foothills of the mountains, the climate is cool and humid. The climate only becomes cold in the mountain regions, where it also rains copiously. From June to October, Veracruz is affected by cyclones.
Its formal name is Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave or, more simply, Veracruz – in honor of General Ignacio de la Llave, who died in 1863 during the French invasion of Mexico.
Important cities
- Coatepec: A colonial city in the heart of coffee country.
- Tlacotalpan: A river port and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Veracruz: The largest Mexican port on the Gulf of Mexico.
- Xalapa: The state capital.
Also in Veracruz are the city of Papantla and the Pre-Columbian ruins of El Tajín.
The centers of the ancient Olmec civilization were located in what is today Veracruz and the neighboring state of Tabasco.
Municipalities
The state of Veracruz is subdivided into 210 municipalities (municipios). See municipalities of Veracruz
External links
- Veracruz state government (in English)
- Towns, cities, and postal codes in Veracruz (in Spanish)
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