Description
Veracruz(Spanish) Veracruz, full name Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave). Officially - Free and Sovereign State of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave (Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave listen)) is one of the 31 states of Mexico. The state of Veracruz covers an area of 72,815 km². The administrative center is the city of Jalapa Henriques.
Origin of the name
In April 22, 1519, the Spaniards under the leadership of E. Cortes founded a city, which was named Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, which in Spanish means “Rich Village of the True Cross.” The villa was similar to the Spanish villas, rich in the amount of Indian gold, the True Cross - because the Spaniards landed on Friday in the Catholic calendar - the day of the True Cross. According to the constitution of 1824 it was adopted official name Free and sovereign State of Veracruz. On July 10, 1863, in honor of the general and governor Ignacio de la Llave, the full name of the state became the Free and Sovereign State of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave.
Geography
Veracruz is a long territory stretching from north to south for almost 650 km between the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Gulf of Mexico. The state's width ranges from 212 to 36 km, with an average width of 100 km. The altitude of the Veracruz territory varies from sea level to the highest point of the country - Orizaba Peak (5610 m). The Gulf Coast is a narrow sandy plain with unstable dunes and many lagoons. There are a number of islands along the coast. The state's mountains are represented by the following ranges: Sierra de Topila, Sierra de Otontepec, Sierra de Huayacocotla, Sierra de Coschiui, Sierra de Chiconquiaco, Sierra de Jalakingo, Sierra de Achocapan, Sierra de -Huatusco, Sierra de Songolica and Sierra de los Tuxtla. The main valleys include: Aculzingo, Cardova, Maltrata, Orizaba and San Andres.
Coast of Lake Catemaco
All of the state's rivers begin in the Sierra Madre Oriental or Central Plateau, flow east, and empty into the Gulf of Mexico. The largest of them are: Actopan, Acatempan, Rio Blanco, Casones, Coatzacoalcos, Rio de la Antigua, Hueyapan, Hamapa, Nautla, Panuco, Papaloapan, Tecolutla, Tonala. Lake Catemaco is also located in the state.
The climate of Veracruz varies greatly depending on altitude, varying from a warm, humid tropical climate on the coast to a cold, mountainous climate in the west of the state. The vegetation is dominated by evergreen tropical rainforests.
Story
Pre-Columbian period
The history of the indigenous peoples of Veracruz is complex. In the pre-Columbian period, the territory of the modern state of Veracruz was inhabited mainly by representatives of four indigenous cultures. The Huastecos and Otomis occupied the north, while the Totonacos lived in the north center. Olmecs (Olmesas), one of the ancient cultures in America, became dominant in the southern part of Veracruz. Remains of these ancient civilizations can be found in archaeological sites such as Pánuco, Castillo de Teayo, El Zapotal, Las Higueras, Quiahuiztlán, El Tajín, Cempoala, Tres Zapotes and San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán.
The first major civilization in what is now Veracruz is the Olmec civilization, whose origins are unknown. Theories vary, and even include a Negroid origin for the Olmec ancestors, who arrived in Campeche and then north to Veracruz more than 3,500 years ago. The Olmecs settled in the region of the Coatzacoalcos River, which became the center of their culture. The main ceremonial center here was San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan. Other major centers in Veracruz included Tres Zapotes in the city of Veracruz and La Venta in Tabasco. The culture reached its peak around 2,600 years ago, and its most famous artistic features are colossal stone heads with Negroid features. In 300 BC, this culture was eclipsed by other developing civilizations in Central America.
Another important group is the Totonac, which has survived to this day. Their region, called Totonacapan, is centered between the Cazones and Papaloapan rivers in the north of the state. The pre-Columbian Totonacs lived by fishing, hunting, and agriculture based on the cultivation of corn, beans, chili peppers, and squash. The main site of the culture is El Tajin, located near Papantla, but the culture reached its apogee in Cempoala (about 8 km inland from the modern port of Veracruz), when it was conquered by the Aztecs. When the Spanish arrived in 1519, the territory had a population of about 250,000 people living in fifty populated areas and spoke four dialects of the Totonac language.
The Huastecs are located far north of Veracruz and live in parts of the states of Tamaulipas, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosi, Queretaro and Puebla. The language and agricultural techniques of these people and the Mayans are similar, however only a few buildings and pottery remain from the beginning of the culture. This culture also reached its peak between 1200 and 1519, when it was conquered by the Spanish.
In the 15th and early 16th centuries, the Aztecs came to dominate much of the state, dividing the territory into vassal provinces - Tochtepec, Cuetlaxtlan, Cempoallan, Quauhtochco, Jalapa, Misantla and Tlatlauhquitepec. The Aztecs were interested in growing crops here such as cedar, fruits, cotton, cocoa, corn, beans and vanilla. However, the Totonacs chafed under Aztec rule, especially the reigns of rulers from Axayacatl to Moctezuma II, who sent soldiers to put down the rebellion. The Huastecs were more successfully conquered by the Aztecs and pushed into the provinces of Atlan and Tochpan.
Colonial period
Veracruz is considered the place where mestizaje began, that is, the mixing of indigenous peoples with the Spaniards. During Mexico's colonial times, Veracruz was one of the main ports of entry for African slaves, who replaced indigenous slaves. One of the reasons for the replacement of native Mexicans was that millions of Indians were dying from smallpox brought by the Spanish. The Spanish imported between 500,000 and 1 million West African slaves from Mexico between 1535 and 1767 (intermarriage between natives and Africans began almost immediately) into New Spain. There were no laws prohibiting interracial marriage, therefore the correct term is Afro-mestizo, which includes all 3 races: indigenous, African and Spanish.
The Totonacs were the first natives with whom the Spaniards came into contact on the American mainland. The very first contact with Captain Juan de Grijalva took place on the coast north of the modern city of Veracruz. While suffering oppression from the Aztecs, the Totonac ruler Tlacochcalcatl welcomed Hernán Cortés and promised 50,000 warriors to help defeat Tenochtitlan. The Spanish helped the Totonacs drive out Aztec tribute collectors and capture some Aztec outposts.
The Spanish founded the port city of Veracruz on the coast as the first municipality under the direct control of the King of Spain. Cortez began his campaign in the interior of Tenochtitlan. During the conquest, the remaining Totonac peoples allied with the Spaniards, but the Huastecs, despite also being under Aztec rule, fought against them. After the fall of Tenochtitlan, Cortes sent a regiment to conquer the Huastecs.
Much of the Totonac and Huastec culture survived the colonial period and continues to this day. One reason for this was that the lands north of Veracruz were covered with dense vegetation and had relatively few of the resources that the Spaniards were looking for.
Much of the state's history revolves around the port city, which Cortés founded in 1519. Veracruz became the principal and often the only port for the movement of goods between the colony of New Spain and Spain itself. This port had a monopoly on trade over almost the entire coast of New Spain. Gold, silver, chocolate, vanilla, chili peppers and more were exported, while European goods such as sheep, cows, wheat and more were imported. From Caribbean slaves, pineapples and sugar cane were imported. This made the port a desirable target for pirates during the colonial period. This led to the creation of a fortress in San Juan de Ulúa and the strengthening of the city as a whole.
Backbreaking labor and European diseases decimated the indigenous population of the province of Veracruz, prompting authorities to import African slaves starting in the 16th century. However, these slaves became a major headache as they often ran away from the plantations and formed groups that attacked travelers. Efforts against these groups began in the late 16th century, but the main rebellion broke out in 1606 in the areas of Villa Rica, Nueva Veracruz, Antón Lizardo and the Rio Blanco River area. ). However, the most serious of these occurred in the Orizaba area, where there were about 500 runaway slaves. In 1609, their leader named Gaspar Yanga led a rebellion against the Spanish, but was defeated in battle. Guerrilla attacks continued, eventually forcing the government to sign an amnesty treaty and give Africans the right to form their own communities. This was the first time slavery was abolished in America.
Statue of the leader of the rebellion Yanga
In the first half of the 17th century, cities such as Córdoba, Orizaba and Xalapa were founded or expanded to protect trade routes between Mexico City and the port of Veracruz. During this time, the Spanish and mixed populations increased while the indigenous population continued to decline. Almost all of New Spain's trade was to be with Spain only, with the exception of some limited trade commissioners from England and other Spanish colonies. This situation remained in effect until 1778, when the Decreto de Libre Comerico abolished many of these restrictions on trade with Europe. This made the port more important than it was. Outside the port, and in other areas of the province, the economy was based on agriculture, livestock raising and trade. In 1720, the first fair was opened in Xalapa, making it a center of trade. This led to it becoming the main city of the province of Veracruz.
Independence period
During the Mexican War of Independence, the population of the province did not support the rebels, although some clashes occurred in various areas in early 1811. The main conspiracy against the colonial authorities was uncovered in the port in 1812. The rebels then took Ayahualulco and Ixhuacán. This forced the royalist troops to withdraw to Xalapa. In the end, this city and its port were cut off from Mexico City. Much of the province remained in rebel hands for the rest of the war, although the port's merchant class did not support the effort. In 1821, Juan de O'Donojú, the last viceroy of New Spain, arrived in port to leave for Spain. However, until 1823, Spanish troops continued to occupy Fort San Juan de Ulua.
While the Spanish still held San Juan de Ulua, Agustín de Iturbide was declared Emperor of Mexico in 1822. However, his rule quickly encountered resistance from those who favored a republican form of government, including A. López de Santa Anna, whose stronghold was Veracruz. A few months later, Iturbide was forced into exile and Santa Anna eventually served nine terms as president.
In 1824, the country adopted a new constitution, which proclaimed Mexico a federation consisting of autonomous states that had very broad powers. On January 31, 1824, Veracruz was declared a state. The first governor of the state was the future president G. Victoria (Guadalupe Victoria). During these years, clashes took place in the country, often armed, between conservatives - supporters of a centralized state with strong presidential power and liberals - supporters of a federal structure of the country. In the wake of these events, which most often took the form of a civil war, events took place in Veracruz.
The French invaded Mexico through Veracruz for the first time in 1838, during what became known as the "War of the Cake." The port was blocked. Attempts to defend the country were coordinated from Xalapa. The port was bombed, but an agreement was eventually reached.
During the Mexican-American War, the port was blockaded, this time by the Americans. Initial American attempts to land in 1847 at Alvarado were repulsed, but the Americans eventually managed to land a few kilometers south of Veracruz, which surrendered after a 20-day siege. General Santa Anna's troops were defeated at the Battle of Cerro Gordo. Gordo), and the Americans, led by General W. Scott (Winfield Scott), passed through Xalapa to Mexico City.
The municipalities of Tuxpan and Chicontepec belonged to Puebla until 1853, when they were transferred to Veracruz. In 1855, the state government palace was built. During the War of Reform, the main protagonist was Ignacio de la Llave, after whom the second part of the state's name is given. In 1858, the port became the seat of the liberal government led by Benito Juárez after he was forced to withdraw from Mexico City during the War of Reform. Their control of the port and customs duties allowed the Liberal troops to gather resources. Conservative troops attacked the state, but were driven back from the port and Xalapa.
Benito Juarez
This war destroyed Mexico's economy, and it was unable to pay its foreign debt to the European powers. As a result, the government of B. Juarez declared a default, that is, the inability to pay the debt. Spain, England and France were outraged by this act, and decided in October 1861, in order to force payment of loans, to occupy the Mexican Gulf Coast. In December, Spanish troops under the command of General M. Gasset occupied the port of Veracruz without much resistance, and then, a month later, French and British troops also entered Mexico. The Spanish and British left after making deals with Juarez, and the French moved towards the accession of Emperor Maximilian I in Mexico. However, this was short-lived and the French were driven out through Veracruz in 1866/67. In 1863, the state was officially named Veracruz Llave. After the French were expelled, the state government was located in the port of Veracruz. In 1878 the capital was moved to Orizaba, and later moved to Xalapa in 1885.
During the presidency of P. Diaz (Porfirio Díaz), during the so-called period of the Porfiriat, towards the end of the 19th century. The state was undergoing economic modernization efforts. Roads and railroads were built, telegraph and telephone lines were installed, cities were improved, where electric lighting, running water were introduced, sidewalks were paved, etc. The discovery of oil in the northern part of the state attracted foreign firms that brought innovations in the equipment and technology necessary for its extraction. However, most of the wealth this modernization brought was to multinational companies and local wealthy families. The workers and peasants gained almost nothing from this, and continued to live in the most difficult conditions. During the same period of time, uprisings against the Díaz government in the state's agricultural south were brutally suppressed.
Unrest against the Díaz regime continued until the Mexican Revolution, which overthrew his rule. The main event leading to the war in Veracruz was the cigar makers' strike in 1905, when more than 5,000 workers at El Valle Nacional did not show up for work. Governor T. A. Dehesa tried unsuccessfully to negotiate a settlement to the dispute. The strike continued for a month until the strikers won. This victory called others to action, leading to strikes at factories in Rio Blanco, Nogales, Santa Rosa, and Conton de Orizaba that led to violence in 1907. There were no major battles in the Mexican Revolution of 1910-17 in the state, although there were skirmishes and attacks on the port. In 1914, the rebel forces of Cándido Agular occupied a number of municipalities in the state, and in 1917, V. Carranza moved the federal government there temporarily.
In April 21, 1914, an incident with American sailors in Tampico led to US President Woodrow Wilson ordering soldiers to land on Veracruz and hold it for six months. Mexico later responded by severing diplomatic relations.
After the revolution, agrarian reform took place here, including the redistribution of land and the creation of peasant communities. In 1928, the right-wing socialist Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) came to power in the state, and Adalberto Tejeda Olivares became its governor. This party subsequently did not lose its powers of power, always winning elections. Oil companies in the north of the state were nationalized in the 1930s during the presidency of Lázaro Cárdenas and merged into the state corporation PEMEX. In 1950, many roads were built. The University of Veracruz (Universidad Veracruzana) was also expanded. In 1960, the Museum of Anthropology was opened in Xalapa. In the 1970s, an international airport was opened in the city of Veracruz. Today, the state of Veracruz, rich in natural resources, is an important component of the Mexican economy. Approximately 35% of Mexico's water supply comes from Veracruz. In addition, the state has four ports for ocean-going ships and two international airport. Veracruz is an important supplier of iron and copper, while also producing large quantities of non-metallic ores - sulfur, quartz, feldspar, calcium, kaolin and marble. The main area where oil is produced is the northern part of the state of Veracruz. The port of Veracruz, with its attractive climate, cuisine and archaeological areas, is a popular resort for Mexicans and foreigners. Veracruz has a very advantageous location on the Gulf Coast. It is one of the main ports for exporting goods to the USA, Latin America and Europe. Veracruz accounts for 75% of all port activity in Mexico. The state's main exports are coffee, fresh fruits, fertilizers, sugar, fish and crustaceans.
In the state of the same name on the Gulf Coast. About 450,000 people live there. Since ancient times, Veracruz has been a favorite place of romantics and adventurers, fearless travelers and sea robbers. This port city is constantly bustling with life, and its streets always smell delicious of the sea.
Couples with children and lovers of a relaxing holiday love to come to Veracruz on vacation. There is a large selection of hotels here. Their infrastructure is well developed and offers swimming pools, restaurants, bars, gyms, and shops to the services of vacationers. The climate in this area of Mexico is tropical. The weather can change quickly during the day. The holiday season does not stop all year. The average air temperature is 25 °C.
The city was founded at the beginning of the 16th century by Hernan Cortes, who gave it the name La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz. Veracruz became one of Spain's most important ports on the Atlantic coast. He was attacked several times by sea robbers, and the fortress of San Juan de Ulua was built to protect against them. Veracruz successfully survived the raids of foreign conquerors. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was occupied by the American army for more than six months.
A tour of the city should begin with a visit to its main attraction - the Fort of San Juan de Ulua. It is located in the north of Veracruz. The citadel was built in the mid-16th century during the colonial era. Later there was a prison there. Today, the fortress houses a museum that tells the history of Veracruz from the pre-Columbian period.
Another interesting attraction of the city is the military fortress of Santiago (Baluarte Santiago), built in the 17th century. Of the nine bastions of Veracruz, only she could survive. Today it houses a museum where precious jewelry is exhibited. The city authorities often hold cultural events, seminars and concerts here.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Asuncion (Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion) was founded in 1731. It is located in the main square, called Zocalo. The façade of the cathedral is made in the neoclassical style. Its lower floor is decorated with an arched entrance and columns. On the upper level there are tall windows and an image of the Virgin Mary. The interior decoration of the temple is modest; only the luxurious Baccarat chandeliers are striking.
On the main square is the Municipal Palace (Palacio Municipal) - one of the oldest government buildings in Mexico. It appeared in 1627. The Palacio Municipal is a massive Baroque building. On one of the corners of the palace there is beautiful tower. It offered an excellent view of the sea and the ships sailing into the port. 
A favorite vacation spot for citizens and tourists is Camacho Boulevard, which is located on the embankment. Particularly memorable are evening walks along it, when the soft light of lanterns envelops the boulevard and fills it with a romantic atmosphere. Here you can see monuments and the Pemex Tower (Torre Pemex).
It was built in 1952 and today houses the office of one of Mexico's oil companies. Not far from the tower is the Carranza Lighthouse (Faro Carranza) - a beautiful two-story building with a clock. Opposite the lighthouse there is a monument to the leader of the Mexican revolutionaries, Venustiano Carranza. On Mondays, naval officers hold a parade here.
On Arista Street there is the Altar of the Motherland (Altar de la Patria) and the Museum of Naval History (Museo Historico Naval), which displays models sea vessels, military equipment and displays telling the story of the war with American troops.
Not far from Ornos beach there is the Aquarium (Acuario) - this is an interesting complex that tourists with children love to visit. Here you can see a huge number of species of marine life: turtles, stingrays, sea and river fish, amphibians and even manatees. They live in huge pools, of which nine are filled fresh water, and sixteen - sea. Those interested can even dive with sharks.
Holidays on the beaches of Veracruz will be somewhat unusual. Swimming here is difficult due to the constant surf and very long shallows. However, children will be delighted; they love to jump into the waves rushing onto the shore. There are usually a lot of people on the city beach. But there is no need to despair.
Along the coast you can see a lot of small boats. They can take tourists to Cancuncito, a sand spit that has the best beach in the city with fine sand and the clearest sea. Sontecomapan Beach (Barra de Sontecomapan) is one of the most beautiful in Mexico. The sea in this place is shallow; numerous bars and restaurants offer their services on the beach. Sea turtles also live here.
Late February and early March are a very fun time in Veracruz. A carnival is held here, which is not inferior in its entertainment to the Brazilian one. Costume processions, hundreds of dancers, and fiery Latin American songs charge you with optimism and energy for the whole year.
The state of Veracruz is located on a 700-kilometer-long coastal lowland and the adjacent eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains. The coastline in this section of the Gulf of Mexico is poorly dissected.
In the center of Veracruz - stretching from western to east coast countries between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt (Sierra Volcanica Transversal - Transverse Volcanic Sierra) connects to the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains. There are two large volcanoes here: the most high point countries - the active stratovolcano Orizaba, which Veracruz shares with the neighboring state of Puebla, and the extinct volcano Cofre de Perote (4282 m).
The state is crossed by many short rivers flowing from the Eastern Sierra Ma-Dre to. Significant areas are swamped.
Because the topography ranges over a relatively short distance from tropical coastal plains to the snow-capped highlands of the Sierra Madre Oriental, the state's climate is varied.
Story
Before the arrival of the Spanish conquerors on the lands of the current state, it was inhabited by representatives of mainly four Indian cultures. The Huastecs and Otomi lived in the north, the Totonacs lived in the center, and the Olmecs predominated in the south.
Back in the 2nd millennium BC. e. On the coastal plains, a mysterious culture formed that flourished during the Preclassic period of Mesoamerican history - from approximately 1500 to 400 BC. e. It is conventionally called Olmec, but this is just the name of one of the small tribes that later lived in this territory, whom the Aztecs mistakenly considered to be the authors of ancient structures. This civilization left behind mysterious sculptures, among which two dozen basalt heads stand out. Some of them are 3 m high and weigh up to 40 tons. The period of existence of the Olmec culture is from 1000 to 300 BC. e., she disappeared as mysteriously as she appeared.
From the 1st to the 11th centuries. n. e. there was a Veracruz culture of the classical period of pre-Columbian America, its centers were Remohadas. She left behind many reliefs depicting a ritual ball game and subsequent human sacrifice.
By the time the Spaniards arrived in 1519, most of what is now Veracruz was occupied by the Totonac people, who lived in 50 cities (the ruins of their capital Cempoalu have been preserved), and were dependent and within the borders of the Aztec Empire, which in the 15th - early 16th centuries. captured the rich coastal territories of the Totonacs, where cotton, cocoa, maize and chile were grown. The Totonacs paid tribute to the Aztecs in the form of textiles, clothing, maize and honey.
The first Spaniard to arrive here was Juan de Grijalva (circa 1489-1527), one of the first conquistadors. In 1518, the expedition he led reached the Papaloapan River and met Totonac fishermen.
In 1519, the Totonacs helped Hernán Cortés, the conqueror of Mexico, and his men found La William Rica de la Vera Cruz (Rich City of the True Cross), the first city founded by the Spanish in Mexico. It became the main Atlantic port of New Spain and today remains one of the most important commercial and industrial centers of the country.
The Totonacs, who hated the Aztecs, together with the Spaniards defeated the Aztec garrisons. And when the Franciscan monks began missionary activity in 1523, they willingly accepted the Catholic faith.
Unlike them, the Huastecs did not become allies of the Spaniards and began to destroy the conquerors. The Huastec uprisings were brutally suppressed.
The state of Veracruz is made up of three geographical stripes, each of which contributes to its prosperity. The first is the sea coast with oil platforms and terminals. The second is a fertile plain with an excellent climate, where there are numerous plantations. The third is the mountains, where ancient cities are hidden on forested slopes, attracting tourists.
The state is home to indigenous peoples who have carried through the centuries the memory of their ancestors, who left pagan customs and the language they still speak to today’s Indians.
The indigenous peoples of the state are numerous, they have largely preserved their traditions and folklore. The Totonac language, for example, was preserved mainly in places that were of no interest to the Spaniards: in difficult areas and where there was no gold and silver. The Indians of Veracruz themselves remained loyal to the Spaniards and did not rebel. Therefore, most of Totonacapan remained in relative isolation, which contributed to the preservation of many forms of local Totonac culture, in particular dances and songs. Some current Totonac holidays retain outward elements of ancient sacrificial rituals, with most Totonacs being Catholic.
Despite the bloody battles with the Spaniards, the Huastecs survived, largely preserving their traditional culture and language - one of the Mayan dialects. Huastec music and dance have had a significant influence on Mexican folklore.
Favorable climatic conditions allow Veracruz plantations to harvest at least two crops per year. And some crops, for example maize, have four. Which in turn pushed the development of the first agricultural Paleo-Indian cultures and led to the emergence of the Olmec culture in the 3rd millennium BC. e. The state occupies a leading position in the country in growing coffee (in mountain basins with special climatic conditions), sugar cane, corn and rice. Dye and rubber trees grow in tropical forests. But the greatest income is provided by the extraction and processing of oil and natural gas in the south of the state, including offshore. Of utmost importance is the export of oil and petroleum products through the port of Coatzacoalcos, around which four petrochemical plants are built: this is the largest concentration of such production in the world. The city is home to the head office of the largest Mexican state-owned company, Pemex, which concentrates 85% of all oil refining there. There are also four ocean ports in the state.
The city of Veracruz is the main industrial center and the main seaport of the state and country for export goods to the United States, Latin American countries and Europe. Veracruz accounts for 75% of the turnover of all Mexican ports. It was through him that black slaves were brought into colonial Mexico. In the XVII-XVIII centuries. The rich city more than once became the prey of pirates. To protect against corsairs, a powerful fort of San Juan de Ulua was built in the harbor, which, however, did not save the city from being captured and plundered by the pirates of the Dutchman Laurens de Graff and the Frenchman Michel de Grammont in 1683. The ruins of the fortress can still be seen today, it repeatedly destroyed and restored. The first Spanish city in Mexico, it also became their last frontier when the royalists fled from here to Spain in 1821. In addition to achievements in the field of commerce, the port was also the place where the Mexican danzón dance originated and the portales style of architecture with its characteristic open terraces appeared.
The capital of the state of Xalapa is located at an altitude of 1430 m on the forested slopes of the Sierra Madre Oriental. A distinctive feature of the local climate is a fine drizzle called chipi-chipi, which should mean “drip-drip.” The drizzle makes Xalapa cool and foggy, and in the summer it attracts sweltering people from the coast.
Add to list World Heritage Two sites in Veracruz are listed by UNESCO: the ancient city of El Tajin and the zone of historical monuments of colonial architecture in the city of Tlacotalpan. 
General information
Location
: eastern Mexico.
Administrative division:
212 municipalities.
Administrative center
: Jalapa-Enriquez - 424,755 people. (2010).
Major cities: Veracruz - 428,323 people, Coatzacoalcos - 305,260 people. (2010), Poza Rica de Hidalgo - 200,119 people. (2015), Minatitlan - 157,840 people, Cordoba - 140,896 people, Orizaba - 120,995 people. (2010).
State formation
: 1823
Languages: Spanish (official), indigenous.
Ethnic composition
: mestizos, whites, Afro-Mexicans, Totonac Indians, Huastecas, Nahuas, Otomi, Zapotecs.
Religion: Catholicism - 82.3%, other faiths - 10%, Judaism - 0.7%, other religions - 0.1%, outside religion - 1.9%, undecided - 5% (2010).
Currency
: Mexican Peso.
Rivers: San Juan, Papaloapan.
Lake: Catemaco.
Major airports
: International General Heriberto Jara (Veracruz).
Neighboring states and waters
: in the north - Tamaulipas, in the east - the Gulf of Mexico, in the southeast - Tabasco, in the south - Chiapas and Oaxaca, in the southwest - Puebla, in the west - Hidalgo and San Luis Potosi.
Numbers
Square: 71,820 km 2 .
Width: from 212 to 36 km, average - 100 km.
Population: 7,643,194 people (2010).
Population density
: 106.4 people/km 2 .
Length of coastline
: 690 km.
Highest point
: 5610 m, Orizaba Volcano (Citlaltepetl).
Climate and weather
Tropical, mountainous.
Rainy season: June-October.
Average January temperature
: coastal lowland +21°C, mountain slopes +15.5°C.
Average annual temperature in July
: coastal lowland +27.5°C, mountain slopes +20°C.
Average annual precipitation
: coastal lowland - 2250 mm, mountain slopes - 1800 mm.
Average annual relative humidity
: 75-80%.
Economy
GRP: US$29.825 billion, per capita - US$3903 (2008).
Minerals
: oil, natural gas, gold, silver, iron, coal.
Industry: oil and gas production, oil refining (Coatzacoalcos, Poza Rica and Minatitlan), ferrous metallurgy, light (cotton), food.
Agriculture
: crop farming (sugar cane, coffee, oranges, bananas, pineapples, cocoa, vanilla, rice), livestock farming (cattle breeding, pig breeding).
Forestry.
Marine fishing (port of Tuspan).
Service sector: tourism, transport, trade, logistics (Veracruz seaport, 16.1 million tons (2004)).
Attractions
Natural
National Parks of Pico de Orizabo (1937)
Cofre de Pirote (1937)
Canyon del Rio Blanco (1938) and Sistema-Arrecifal-Veracruzano (1992)
Nansiyaga-Katemakoi Nature Reserve
Ecoregion Veracruz Dry Forests
Poza Reina Lagoon
Texolo and Salto de Heypantla waterfalls
Beaches of Tuxpan, Costa Esmeralda, San Antolin and Boca del Rio
Historical
Ruins of Olmec cities (San Lorenzo and Tres Zapotes, around 1000 BC)
City of culture Veracruz El Tajin (1st century)
Totonac cities of Cempoala, Papantla and Xalapa (1200-1300)
Colonial architecture of the city of Tlacotalpan (XVI century)
Naval Museum of Latin America "Canonero Guanajuato" (Boca del Rio, ship 1932, museum since 2011)
City of Veracruz
Fort San Juan de Ulua (1528-1565)
Municipal Palace (1608)
Town Hall (1627)
Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady (XVII century, reconstruction of the XIX century)
Faces of giants stone heads, created by Olmec craftsmen, differ from each other, they have many details. They have round and flat faces and wide noses, which raise a lot of questions among anthropologists, since they have pronounced features of the Negroid race. The masters gave their faces a generally extremely arrogant expression. This is why it is believed that they depict leaders. These heads, as well as some inscriptions on basalt stelae, gave rise to theories of the extraterrestrial origin of either the Olmecs themselves or those they carved into stone.
Veracruz provides approximately 35% of the capital Mexico City with fresh water.
During civil wars and revolutions, Veracruz passed either to Mexican generals or to foreign occupiers. In 1815, it was besieged by Spanish colonial troops. In 1838, the port was blocked by a French squadron. In 1847, during the Mexican-American War, the US Navy landed troops in the port. In 1861, Spain, England and France occupied the port in response to Mexico's refusal to pay international debts. A banal port fight between Mexican and American sailors in 1914 served as a reason for US President Woodrow Wilson to land American troops in Veracruz, where they stayed for six months as a “show of force.”
The city of Papantla, founded in the 13th century. Totonakami, is the birthplace of the ritual dance of this people. In Spanish it is called "voladores de papantla", or "flyers of Papantla". Four dancers climb a 30-meter pole. At its top there is a platform rotating around its axis. Voladores flyers tie themselves to the platform upside down, descend to the sound of a pipe, describing circles around the pillar. The dance is regularly demonstrated in the central square of Papantli.
The Salt de Heyipantla waterfall is the largest in Veracruz: width - 40 m, height - 50 m. It became the location for filming one of the most impressive scenes of the film "Apocalypse" (2006) about the decline of the Mayan era.
The name of the city, Coatzacoalcos, translated from the Nahuatl Indian language literally means “the place where the snake hides.”
According to legend, the main Aztec god Quetzalcoatl sailed in these places on a raft made of snake skin.
The city of Cordoba played a key role in the history of the country: in 1821, the Treaty of Cordoba was concluded here, officially ending the anti-colonial war for Mexican independence. The agreement was signed by the Spanish governor Juan O Donojo and the hero of the war of independence and the future first ruler of independent Mexico, Agustin Cosme Damian de Iturbide y Aramburu.
The pyramid of niches at El Tajin consists of seven tiers and 365 square niches carved into blocks of stone. Scientists believe this coincidence is not accidental: probably famous building was something like a giant calendar.
Useful information for tourists about Veracruz in Mexico - geographical location, tourist infrastructure, map, architectural features and attractions.
Veracruz is a large Mexican port city in the state of Veracruz. It is located on the Gulf Coast. Veracruz is the second most important port in the country after Manzanillo. The city is home to more than 700 thousand inhabitants. Veracruz is a city of brave sailors, in the past a haven for pirates, and today one of the largest agricultural and industrial centers in Mexico.
The history of the city of Veracruz began in 1519, when the village of La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, which in Spanish means “The Rich Port of the True Cross,” was founded by the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés on Good Friday. Subsequently, Veracruz became the main Atlantic trading port of New Spain, where the most valuable Philippine silks and spices at that time were delivered, and precious metals and stones mined in Mexico were sent back to Europe.
Being an actively developing and very rich port, Veracruz was repeatedly subjected to pirate raids. To prevent such attacks, the city was fortified with the powerful fortress of San Juan de Ulua and impregnable bastions, but even they did not save the city from being captured and plundered by the pirates of Laurens De Graaf in 1683.
In the XVII-XIX centuries. The city was actively developing - a municipal palace, monastery buildings and a city hospital were built. Veracruz is called the “four times heroic city” in honor of the battles that took place near its walls. So in 1815 it successfully defended itself from Spanish colonial troops, in 1838 from an attack by the French fleet, in 1847 from American troops during the Mexican-American War, and in 1914 it was occupied by American troops for seven months.
In 1872, a railway was built to Veracruz, connecting it with the capital of Mexico City. In the XX century. this city became the largest Atlantic port in the country.
The port of Veracruz, with its attractive climate, cuisine and archaeological areas, is a popular resort among Mexicans and foreigners.
Veracruz is a very beautiful and interesting city. The romance of distant travels and adventures hovers here. For many years now main point for excursions are the ruins of the once powerful fortress of San Juan de Ulua on the coast Caribbean Sea. The impregnable fortress has been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt over its 200-year history.
While walking along the local streets, it is worth visiting the central city square of Sacala, where the town hall, the Plaza de Armas palace, the Municipal Palace and the Plaza Lerdo palace are located. In addition, the square is home to the most luxurious nightclubs and restaurants, and it is considered the starting point for all sightseeing tours of the city.
A unique city attraction is also the newly built Aquario de Veracruz, which houses a variety of marine life that inhabit the country's coastal waters, and rare species fish The aquarium is surrounded by a park with ponds, tropical vegetation, inhabited by many species of animals and birds.
Among the city's cultural attractions, it is worth visiting the outstanding Museum of Naval History, located in the center of Veracruz, and the Veracruz City Museum, which tells its visitors the entire history of the city.
Before the colonization of Mexico, representatives of four tribes lived in the state of Veracruz: Huastec, Otomi, Totonac and Olmec, as evidenced by numerous monuments in the state. Veracruz was the first Spanish city, founded by Cortes - La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz - which meant Rich City of the True Cross. This name was formed due to the golden wealth of the Totonac settlements and the Feast of the True Cross, on the day of which Cortez landed on the shores of Mexico.
The main attraction of the city for many years remains the fortress of San Juan de Ulua, the most impregnable fortress on the Caribbean coast and throughout Mexico a hundred years ago. The current appearance was not its original appearance; over the course of 200 years, the fortress was partially destroyed in battles and was restored, undergoing another reconstruction. You feel all the power and inaccessibility of the fortress when you approach the port from the sea. For tourists, Fort San Juan de Ulua is open every day; by purchasing a ticket you can join a group, or you can conduct your own exploration of the fort.
The central square of the city of Sacala is interesting, where the city hall, the Municipal Palace, the Plaza de Armas palace and the Plaza Lerdo palace are located. The square is crowded at any time of the day, the most expensive hotels in Veracruz are located here, the most luxurious restaurants and nightclubs are located here, everything starts from here sightseeing tours around the city.
The Municipal Palace, which opens with openwork arches onto the central square of the city, attracts the attention of tourists. The palace is a magnificent sight when illuminated in the evening and at night.
Most Popular tourist route around the city not only during the day, but also at night - a recently completed embankment, several kilometers long, where along the entire route a whole string of street vendors offers various souvenirs, silver jewelry and handicrafts.
A unique attraction of Veracruz is the recently built Aquario de Veracruz aquarium outside the city, which houses not only the marine life that inhabits the coastal waters of Mexico, but also rare species of fish that may disappear from the face of the earth due to the unfavorable ecological state of the Earth's water resources. The area adjacent to the aquarium is a park with tropical vegetation inhabited by birds and animals, and with ponds in which flocks of exotic fish live.
Excursions from Veracruz
On the territory of the city itself there are practically no traces of ancient Indian settlements, but very close to Veracruz there is the ancient city of El Tajin, which means “City of Thunder”, which every tourist who comes to relax on the Gulf Coast strives to visit. In 1992, the city was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, which is in danger of destruction and extinction. In the center ancient city there is a palace and temple complex, among the buildings of which stands out the Pyramid of Niches, which is a seven-tier structure 25 m high, decorated with 364 niches carved in solid stone and painted red with relief images of snakes. On the territory of the city, archaeologists found 18 areas for sports ball games with bas-reliefs depicting fragments of the game, household items, and sculptures.
The La Venta Museum-Reserve is worth a visit, where stone Olmec heads are displayed, which tell a lot about the origins of the indigenous population and provide grounds for research by anthropologists.
A separate trip offers an excursion to the island of Sakrifisios, located in the Gulf of Mexico opposite Veracruz. Isla Sacrificios - Island of Sacrifice - the name has been preserved since pre-colonial times, here the Totonacs made their sacrifices to the gods, as evidenced by the preserved ancient sacrificial altar. During the Spanish colonization, the island was a repair base for ships. There is a lighthouse on the island, which, being an architectural landmark, still warns sailors at night about the proximity of the shore. On the island, sharks are kept in a free lagoon and undergo acclimatization before being delivered to the aquarium. Many tourists are attracted to the island by the exciting spectacle of shark “games”.
At Plaza Acurio Beach, you can buy a place in a canopy boat that offers sightseeing tours of Veracruz Bay, visiting the crystal-clear Caecusito Shoal and the Island of the Victims.
