Avenida de los Insurgentes
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Avenida de los Insurgentes (English: Insurgents Avenue) sometimes known simply as Insurgentes is the largest avenue in Mexico City and said to be the longest in the world with a length of 28.8 km (18 miles) on a north-south axis across the city. Insurgentes has its origins in what was during the early 20th century known as the Via del Centenario which ran from city centre to the southern suburbs.
Many decades later, after it was paved and widened its name was changed to Avenida de los Insurgentes, apparently this happened during the administration of President Miguel Alemán, when the area attracted wealthy urbanites for sophisticated, modern housing. The avenue was named after the Insurgent Army (Ejército de los Insurgentes) that fought for Mexican independence from Spain during the Mexican War of Independence from 1810 to 1821.
The avenue's southern terminus is located near Volcán Ajusco in the intersection with the Viaducto Tlalpan avenue, where it becomes Highway 195 towards Cuernavaca. The northern terminus is located in the intersection with Avenida Acueducto where it becomes the highway to Pachuca.
The avenue crosses five of the 16 boroughs of the city. Many of Mexico City's emblematic colonias (such as Condesa, Roma, del Valle, Napoles, San Ángel, Pedregal) are either crossed or on the side of Insurgentes. The Mexico City Metrobús bus rapid transit system, opened in 2005, runs through the avenue, from San Ángel to Metro Indios Verdes.
[edit] Notable locations
Many of Mexico City's emblematic colonias (such as Condesa, Roma, del Valle, Napoles, San Ángel and Pedregal among others) are crossed or on the side of Insurgentes. Some notable locations include:
- The World Trade Center of Mexico. It's located next Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros. It is one of the tallest buildings in the city with 52 floors. It has its own conference center and shopping mall.
- Teatro de los Insurgentes (Insurgents' Theater)
- Important theater built in 1953 by José María Dávila
- Is the campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. The speed limit in this zone is of 40mph.
- Cuicuilco archaeological area
- It was the ancient village of the Cuicuilcas who used to live in what is today southern part of the city, just 1km away from the campus. Xitle Volcano destroyed the city circa 1100BC. It remains the Imán pyramid.
There are several shopping malls located along the avenue, including Perisur, Galerias Insurgentes and Centro Insurgentes.
Throughout its span, Insurgentes crosses several ejes viales as well as the Circuito Interior and Anillo Periférico highway rings twice.
[edit] External link
- (Spanish) Brief description of the avenue.
