Los Mochis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Los Mochis is a coastal city in northern Sinaloa, Mexico, located at 25°47′24″N, 109°0′0″W. It serves as the municipal seat of the municipality of Ahome. As of the 2005 census, the population was 231,977, or almost 60 percent of the municipality's population.

1 Overview
2 History
3 Famous Residents / Natives
4 Sister Cities
5 External links

[edit] Overview

Los Mochis is the western terminus of the Chihuahua-Pacific Railroad, which passes through the scenic Copper Canyon. This railway was originally conceived by Albert K. Owen and approved by President Porfirio Díaz as a trade route linking the cattle markets in Kansas City with the nearest port on the Pacific Ocean, Topolobampo.

Today the Pacifico Norte irrigation region (Sinaloa-Sonora) in which the "El Fuerte valley" is the largest district and is the principal agricultural area of Mexico, containing over 70% of all irrigated land and producing sugar cane, cotton, rice, flowers, and many types of vegetables. The valley is one of the largest producers of mangoes in Mexico.

Nearby Topolobampo is the second largest natural deepwater port in the world, known for its commercial fishing and increasingly important role in shipping.

A popular activity among youth in Los Mochis is the "Leyvazo", wherein people park their cars or cruise along Leyva Boulevard in downtown Los Mochis. People also gather for a drink or barbeque under "Los Álamos" which are poplar trees that line the highway to Topolobampo Bay. As well as these activities, many residents of the city enjoy to visit the nearby beach of El Maviri. Many people visit this semi-desert island to spend a day at the beach or enjoy the seafood delicacies.

[edit] History

A colony of international renown was begun in the region in the late 19th century by a visionary named Albert K. Owen, a civil engineer from the United States. Built upon the principles of Utopian socialism, it floundered after surviving some 30 years.

The city proper was first settled in 1893 by a businessman named Benjamin Johnston, who came to find his fortune in sugar cane. He built a sugar refinery around which the modern city has developed.

In 2001, construction began on a four-lane highway which will eventually connect the port with the US state of Texas.