Veracruz, Veracruz

Veracruz Puerto de Veracruz
City and municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Veracruz
Coordinates: 19°11′25″N 96°09′12″W / 19.19028°N 96.15333°W / 19.19028; -96.15333
Country	Mexico
State	Veracruz
Municipality	Veracruz
Established	22 April 1519[1]
Government
• Municipal President	Ramón Poo Gil (PRI)
Elevation	10 m (30 ft)
Population (2010)
• City and municipality	552,156
• Urban	520,708
• Metro	702,394 (metro)
Time zone	CST (UTC−6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC−5)
Website	www.veracruz-puerto.gob.mx/

Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state,^[2] 90 km (56 mi) from the state capital Xalapa along Federal Highway 140. It is the state's most populous city, with a population that is actually greater than the municipality's population, since part of the city of Veracruz extends into the neighboring Boca del Río Municipality. At the 2010 census, the city had 554,830 inhabitants, 428,323 in Veracruz Municipality and 126,507 in Boca del Río Municipality.^[3] Veracruz is Mexico’s oldest, largest, and historically most significant port since European colonization.^[2][4][5]

When Hernán Cortés arrived in Mexico in 1519, he founded a city here, which he named Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, referring to the area’s gold and dedicated to the "True Cross", because he landed on the Christian holy day of Good Friday, the day of the Crucifixion. It was the second Spanish settlement on the mainland of the Americas but the first to receive a coat-of-arms.^[2] During the colonial period, this city had the largest mercantile class and was at times wealthier than the capital of Mexico City.^[6] Its wealth attracted the raids of pirates, against which fortifications such as Fort San Juan de Ulúa were built. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Veracruz was invaded on different occasions by France and the United States; the last invasion occurred in 1914.^[2] For much of the 20th century, the production of petroleum was most important for the state's economy^[7] but, in the latter 20th century and into the 21st, the port has re-emerged as the main economic engine. It has become the principal port for most of Mexico’s imports and exports, especially for the automotive industry.^[5]

Veracruz has a blend of cultures, mostly indigenous, ethnic Spanish and Afro-Cuban. The influence of these three is best seen in the food and music of the area, which has strong Spanish, Caribbean and African influences.^[4][8][9]

Etymology

The name Veracruz (originally Vera Cruz), derives from the Latin Vera Crux (True Cross). Having established the settlement of Villa Rica (Rich Village) on Good Friday 1519, Cortés dedicated the place to the True Cross as an offering.

History

The Spanish captain Juan de Grijalva, along with Bernal Díaz del Castillo, first arrived in 1518 at the island later known as San Juan de Ulúa^[10] The Spanish gave it that name because they landed on the Christian feast of John the Baptist, and in honor of the captain.^[11] de Ulúa is derived from the local name for the Aztecs, coluha or acolhua. According to tradition, when the Spanish arrived, they found two young men who had been sacrificed. When they asked the locals what had happened, they said the Aztecs had ordered the sacrifice. The word for Aztec evolved into Ulúa.^[11][12]

Because the first expedition detected the presence of gold in the region, a second expedition under the command of Hernán Cortés arrived in 1519.^[10] Cortés and his men landed at the shore opposite the island where Grijalva had moored, which has the pre-Hispanic name of Chalchihuecan.^[2] Cortés, Francisco de Montejo and Alonso Hernández Portocarrero founded the settlement, naming it Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz. The name Villa Rica (rich village) referred to the gold that was found here and Vera cruz (True Cross) was added because the Cortés expedition landed on Good Friday, a Christian holy day.^[2] When Cortés and his soldiers elected a “Justicia Mayor” and a “Capitán General,” they created the first city council on the American continent.^[11] The city was the first on mainland America to receive a European coat of arms, which was authorized by Carlos V in Valladolid, Spain on 4 July 1523.^[2]

The original settlement was moved to what is now known as Antigua, at the mouth of the Huitzilpan or Antigua River shortly thereafter.^[2] This separated the city from the port, as ships could not enter the shallow river. Ships continued to dock at San Juan de Ulúa, with small boats being used to ferry goods on and off the ships. When large-scale smuggling of goods took place to avoid customs officials,^[11] the Spanish Crown ordered the settlement returned to its original site to cut down on that traffic.^[2] Docks and an observation tower were constructed on the island to ensure that goods went through customs officials.^[11]

As in other parts of Mexico, the indigenous peoples suffered from epidemics of European infectious diseases and maltreatment, which decimated the population after contact. The Spanish began to import African slaves via the port of Veracruz to work on sugarcane plantations. In the 16th century, this state had more slaves than any other in Mexico.^[10]

By the end of the 16th century, the Spanish had constructed roads to link Veracruz with other cities such as Córdoba, Orizaba, Puebla, Xalapa and Perote. Their gold and silver were the principal exports.^[10][11] This caused the city problems with pirates, prompting the construction of Fort San Juan de Ulúa on the island where Grijalva landed in the mid 16th century.^[2] Major public buildings were constructed at the beginning of the 17th century: the municipal palace, the monastery of Nuestra Señora de la Merced, and the Hospital de Nuestra Señora de Loreto. In 1618, a fire nearly reduced much of the city to ashes. In 1640, the Barlovento Armada was stationed here for further protection against pirates.^[2] Through the rest of the colonial period, this was the most important port in New Spain, with a large wealthy merchant class that was more prosperous than that of Mexico City.^[6] The pirates Van Hoorn, Laurens de Graaf and Michel de Grammont attacked Vera Cruz in 1683.

The 19th century was marked by armed conflicts. During the Mexican War of Independence, Spain placed troops here to maintain Mexico City’s sea link with Spain. In 1816, Antonio López de Santa Anna commanded royalist troops countering the insurgency. In 1820, insurgents took the city, despite Santa Anna’s attempts to stop them. The last viceroy of New Spain, Juan O'Donojú, arrived here in 1821, where he signed the Treaty of Córdoba with Agustín de Iturbide at Fort San Juan de Ulúa. In 1823, Spanish troops remaining at Fort San Juan de Ulúa fired on the newly independent Mexican city of Veracruz. The city’s defense against the attack earned it its first title of “Heroic City.” During the Pastry War in 1837, the city mounted a defense against a French attack, and earned its second title of "Heroic City."^[2]

In 1847, during the Mexican–American War, United States forces invaded the city. It was defended by generals Juan Morales and José Juan de Landero, but they were forced to surrender a few days later. The government of Mexico recognized Veracruz with a third title of “Heroic City.”^[2]

Ten years later, civil war between liberals and conservatives forced Benito Juárez’s government to flee the capital of Mexico City. Juárez went to Veracruz and governed from there in 1857.^[10] In the 1861 Spain sent its troops to occupy the port in an effort to secure payment of debts, which Juárez had suspended. French military forces accompanied them Maximiliano I and occupied the city when the emperor and his wife Carlota of Belgium arrived in 1864.^[2]

The conflicts and damaged trade relations with Europe took its toll on the port of Veracruz. By 1902, the port facilities had deteriorated and it was considered one of the most dangerous on the American coast. President Porfirio Díaz contracted with foreign enterprises to modernize the port’s infrastructure.^[11]

In 1914, during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920), the US attacked and occupied the port in an effort to try to preserve trade. The city gained its fourth title of "Heroic City".^[2]

After the Revolution, most port workers became unionized. Through most of the 20th century, federal and state legal and political initiatives intended to better workers’ lives had effects on the operations of the port. Eventually, unions came to have great power over the operations and tariffs charged. By the latter part of the 20th century, competing unions made the operations of the port difficult. Some blocked access to the port from federal roads and financial corruption was a problem.

In the 1970s, a federal commission was established to design a new administrative system for the ports of Mexico. The legislature passed laws authorizing the federal government to take control over important ports such as Veracruz. The federal government modernized the port, adopting automation of loading and unloading. This resulted in a reduction of 80% of the port's jobs and labor resistance through strikes. The dockworkers' unions unified, negotiating for members to have a stake in a new company to manage the port's functions, named the Empresa de Servicios Portuarios de Veracruz, S.A. de C.V. The old Compañia Terminal de Veracruz was dissolved in 1988 and the new organization was fully in place by 1991.^[11]

In September 2010, Hurricane Karl, a small, strong Category 3 hurricane, caused widespread flooding and damage affecting approximately half a million people. Sixteen were confirmed dead with another eleven missing. Sixty-five municipalities in the state were declared disaster areas. Preliminary damage estimates total up to $3.9 billion USD and $50 billion MXN.^[13]

Much of the most recent commercial development has been in newer areas in the south of the city and in the neighboring municipality of Boca del Río, linked by a ten-kilometer road along the shore that caters to tourists and business travelers. The hotels in Veracruz are more rustic and traditional; the modern ones are in Boca del Río, especially near Playa Mocambo.^[14]

Notable sites

Veracruz is not as popular a tourist destination as many other resort areas.^[4] However the city has been promoting itself as a tourist location with new attractions such as the Veracruz Aquarium and the City Museum and the renovation of old ones such as Fort San Juan de Ulúa and the Naval Academy.^[7]

The cultural center of the city is its main plaza, officially named Plaza de las Armas but commonly called the Zocalo. In this tree-filled square, in which have camped a number of foreign invading armies, is occupied from morning to night with people playing dominos, selling food, cigars, etc. playing music, dancing and other activities. It is more crowded in the evening where just about every night the danzón is danced. This dance was brought over to Mexico from Cuba by refugees in the 1870s. It was originally restricted to the lower classes but eventually gained accepted by all levels of society. This is sponsored by several dance schools dedicated to keeping the tradition alive. Around the plaza there are numerous shops and restaurants as well as the municipal palace and the cathedral.^[4][15]

The Municipal Palace was built for the city council in 1608, though the building was extensively remodeled in the 18th century. Its architectural style is a sober Baroque with a tower at one of the corners. It is said that this tower was used to keep watch on the ships entering and leaving the port. It has a large courtyards surrounded by wide arches and is the oldest city government building in Mexico.^[15]

The city's cathedral, named Virgen de la Asunción, is also located on the Zocalo. This cathedral was begun in the 17th century and finished in 1731. It was modified in the 19th century but did not become a cathedral until 1963. The building has five naves, with an octagonal cupola covered in Puebla tiles. The tower was begun in the early 20th century and has its own small cupola. The main façade is Neoclassic with two levels and a crest. The lower level contains an arched entrance flanked by two Doric columns and the upper level contains the choral window, above which is a medallion. The interior is simple with crystal candelabras.^[16]

In the port area are the Pemex Tower, the old lighthouse, which was the seat of government for Venustiano Carranza, and the Crafts Market. Also here on Marina Mercante Street is the Old Customs Building, the Postal and Telegraph twin buildings as well as the old railroad terminal, which was luxurious enough that it had its own hotel in the 1920s. The Juarez Hemicycle Monument is also here, in front of the Civil Registry Building that contains the first birth certificate issued in the country.^[17]

The malecón (boardwalk) stretches for kilometers along the Gulf of Mexico leading away from the city center into the suburbs. This area is popular at night, when people stroll and exercise, enjoying the ocean breezes. Near the city center, the malecón is crowded with merchants selling knick-knacks, souvenirs, jewelry made with seashells and t-shirts.^[4]

Fort San Juan de Ulúa is located on an island, now connected to land, of the same name. The island is part of the La Gallega coral reef and has about 2,500 meters of beach. The full reef covers about 100 hectares and varies in depth between sixty and ninety centimeters, forming a natural break.^[11] In the pre-Hispanic era, this island was a sanctuary dedicated to the god Tezcatlipoca.^[15] The site where the Spanish first landed is now the container ship terminal of the port.^[11] However, most of the island is occupied by the fort. This fort was where the Spanish first landed to conquer Mexico and was also their last stand during and just after the Mexican War of Independence.^[15] For the time in-between, the location also serves as a reminder of the days of piracy and the Inquisition.^[4] The fort was begun here in 1582 to protect the city from pirates.^[15] The danger of attack by foreign powers prompted the Spanish to enlarge the fort in 1635. It was finished in 1707.^[4]

After the War of Independence ended in 1821, the Spanish kept control of the island and fort, and occasionally would bombard Mexican forces on land. This area was finally handed over to Mexico in 1825. The fort next saw action in 1838 during the Pastry War with the French. In 1847, it would witness the invasion of U.S. forces during the Mexican-American War.^[15]

In the 19th century, the fort was converted into a military prison.^[15] The fort’s narrow stone passageways lead to a series of dungeons with walls 24-feet thick in some places. Those cells which were darker and hotter were reserved for those charged with more serious crimes. A few of the most dreaded dungeons were nicknamed "Heaven", "Purgatory" and "Hell". Some of prison’s more famous prisoners include Fray Servando Teresa de Mier and Benito Juárez, both political prisoners. But the most famous is Jesús Arriaga, better known as "Chucho el Roto".^[4] Most people visit San Juan de Ulúa due to the legend of this bandit.^[18]

Jesús Arriaga, better known as "Chucho el Roto", was held at Fort San Juan de Ulúa where he died. It is not known whether he died of natural causes, as a result of a fight with other prisoners or by other means. Chucho was a Robin Hood figure who lived during the 19th century.^[19] He stole from the rich and gave to the poor, inspiring songs and poetry such as the verses penned by Rafeal de Zayas Enriquez. Chucho was arrested in Querétaro after a jewelry store heist. He was sent to the Belen Prison in Mexico City, then to Veracruz. He was also renowned as a seducer of women, especially those who were rich and lonely. Most of his targets were jewelry shops, pawnshops and the homes of the wealthy.^[19]

Along with Fort San Juan de Ulúa, the city used to be walled in for protection against pirates and invasions. All that is left of these walls is the "Baluarte", a small fortress. The 1635 structure has thick, sturdy walls with cannons outwards to the sea. Inside is a tiny museum that has an exquisite exhibition of pre-Hispanic jewelry discovered by a fisherman in the 1970s.^[20]

The Veracruz Aquarium was built in 1992 and is the largest and most important in Latin America.^[4][17][21] The Freshwater Gallery consists of thirteen exhibitions containing 562,177 liters of water. These exhibitions contain aquatic species from Asia, Africa, South America as well as Mexico. The Reef Tank is best known for its sharks. The Salt Water Gallery contains fourteen tanks with tanks dedicated to the species of Veracruz, the Red Sea and the Pacific Ocean. There is also another exhibit dedicated to sharks, which contains 25 species that swim around visitors as they pass through a glass tunnel built through the tank. There is also an exhibit dedicated entirely to manatees.^[21]

The Heroica Escuela Naval (Heroic Naval School) was founded here in 1897 by José María de Vega, then Secretary of the Navy.^[2] The school was founded because at the time, Mexico was dependent on the hiring of foreign sailors and foreign training of its officers to staff its Navy as prior attempts to establish an academy had failed. The project to establish the school here was approved by Porfirio Díaz to train both Navy and Merchant Marine officers, to be based on similar schools in Western Europe.^[22]

The City Museum (Museo de la Ciudad) is located at the intersections of Zaragoza and Esteban Morales streets in the historic center. It is housed in a two-story building which is of neoclassic design built between the mid and latter 19th century. The main façade on Zaragoza Street has an enormous main door with posts, framed by Ionic pilasters, which reach to the upper floor, and toped by a pediment and a cornice. The building was originally constructed to be an asylum, but in 1861, the French invaded Veracruz and the building was commandeered for other purposes until 1870. The asylum then operated here for almost 100 years, until the construction of new facilities in the south of the city, and work was undertaken to restore and modify the building for a museum. The City Museum was inaugurated in 1970 and contains exhibits relating to the history of the city of Veracruz.^[23]

The Agustín Lara House Museum exhibits works, photographs and personal effects of the poet Agustín Lara, located in what was his house just outside Veracruz city in Boca del Río.^[15] News clips, caricatures and a replica of the radio studio where he hosted "La Hora Azul" ("The Blue Hour") are among the items on display. Lara was one of the city's most famous sons as a popular songwriter and singer in Mexico. Lara began his career playing the piano in brothels and later became a bullfighter. Lara had seven wives, one of whom was Mexican screen diva María "La Doña" Félix, for whom he wrote the song, "María Bonita". To be a gentleman, when he and Félix were about to break up, he married her to "make an honest woman of her" even though they had lived together for years.^[4]

Veracruz is primarily a commercial port, but there are some beaches and other sea attractions. The most contentious attraction is the island called Isla de Sacrificios, which lies just off the coast of the city and measures 450 meters long and 198 meters wide. The island is part of a system of twenty three coral reefs called the Veracruz Reef System which is a national park.^[24] It is possible to kayak to the Isla de Sacrificios to observe seagulls, pelicans and the fish that inhabit the coral reef.^[25] In 1983, a study and initial cleanup project was undertaken at the island, which collected fifty tons of trash. Shortly thereafter, the island was closed to the public and since then, there has been a struggle between authorities, tour operators and fisherman as to the fate of the island. There are those who would like to build hotels, restaurants and other facilities for ecotourism. However, access to the island has been restricted to research, teaching and the occasional sporting event.^[24]

Other small islands and shoals off the coast include: Isla de Enmedio, Isla Verde, Anegada de Adentro, Santiaguillo and Anegada de Afuera, the last two next to Anton Lizardo beach. All of them are enclosed into the Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano national park and make fine sites for SCUBA diving. There are several operators offering scuba equipment and tours both in Veracruz and in Boca del Rio as well. The best season for scuba diving is May to August.

For 400 years, the island has suffered ecologically from the pillaging of its coral reefs and archeological pieces and pollution. Current pollution problems are mostly due to untreated wastewater that flows into the ocean from the city and from the polluted Jamapa River. Its coastline has been modified and more than 200 hectares of reefs in its littoral zone have been pillaged. Coral and other marine species have been taken for commercial and craft purposes, as well as by fishermen. Some of these reefs are already dead due to pollution. Since the island was closed, there has been some recuperation of marine life here.^[24]

Ruins here have not been extensively studied but cover more than 700 years of history. In the pre-Hispanic era, the island was considered sacred and sanctuary on which to perform religious rites. Human sacrifice was frequently performed and the remains buried here. There was a small altar here but it has not been found. The Spanish built a hospital here, but all that is left of this is part of one wall. Later, a storage faculty to store gunpowder was built, as well as an obelisk during the French Intervention, but these have crumbled as well. Only a small lighthouse currently exists. About 800 archeological pieces have been partially excavated on the island but cannot be exhibited because the humidity and weather would damage them.^[24]

Reopening the island is difficult because the ecosystem here is delicate, and any construction could damage archeological sites and valuable pieces. Any plans to reopen the island to visitors will require the participation of the Veracruz Reef System Park, to which it belongs, as well as Secretariat of the Navy, INAH, the Veracruz Aquarium and other government agencies negotiating with the local associations of hotels, tour operators and fishermen. So far, government agencies have blocked efforts to develop anything on the island. An ecotourism project consisting of guided tours is considered the most viable, such as that proposed by the Veracruzana University and the Aquarium, but there is concern on the part of INAH and the Secretariat of the Navy.^[24]

On the mainland, there are a number of beaches. Playa Martí is located between the city of Veracruz and Boca del Río, five km from the historic center. This beach is equipped with goals and nets for soccer and volleyball. The Playa de Hornos is located next to the Veracruz Aquarium. It is safe to swim here and there are tables, chairs and umbrellas to rent, as well as food stands. During the high seasons there are lifeguards and banana boats to rent. There are also boats that take tourist to the Isla de Sacrificio and Canuncito. Villa del Mar is just south of Playa de Hornos and is more popular.^[25]

Culture

Because of its importance as Mexico's principal Caribbean and Atlantic sea port, Veracruz has always been a locus for the mixture of different cultures, particularly native Mexican, Spanish and African. During the colonial period, African slaves were brought to work in the fields and shipyards. Since Mexico's independence from Spain in 1821, other groups of immigrants, such as Italians and Cubans, have made their homes in the city.^[4][7][8]

Sugar and rum production which in colonial times demanded slave labor and an immigrant workforce after independence has brought forth this mixture of cultures.^[9][26] Moreover, as the home of the Naval Academy of Mexico, one can see not only Mexican sailors but also foreign travelers wandering the town.^[26] The city has a reputation for being boisterous, with people in the squares listening to music late into the night - only then to wake up early the next morning to drink coffee at sidewalk cafes.^[14]

Veracruz recipes use corn, beans and squash, much like the rest of Mexico, but Veracruzians' diets are also typically supplemented by indigenous tropical foods such as chili peppers, tomatoes, avocados, pineapples, papaya, mamey, sweet potatoes, peanuts and sapote fruit, all of which have been present since pre-Columbian times. The Spanish introduced herbs such as parsley, thyme, marjoram, bay laurel and cilantro as well as saffron, wheat, rice, almonds, olives/olive oil, garlic and capers.^[8] These are far more prevalent in Veracruz cooking than in other parts of the country.^[9]

A signature dish of the area Huachinango a la Veracruzana (red snapper Veracruz-style) uses local fruits and vegetables (tomatoes, chili peppers) and Spanish ingredients (olive oil, garlic and capers). Other popular dishes include arroz a la tumbada, a rice dish baked with a variety of seafood and caldo de mariscos, a seafood soup reputed to cure hangovers.^[8]

Coffeehouses are a center of social life in the city, and the Gran Café del Portal and the Café de la Parroquia are the two best known establishments. To request a refill, customers clink the sides of their glasses (not cups) with their spoons. This clinking can be heard from the early morning to late at night. The story behind this custom is that a trolley driver used to ring his bell when he was a block away from the Gran Café del Portal to let the waiters know he was coming. When the driver died, his casket was borne on the trolley and when it passed the establishment, the customers and waiters clinked glasses in his honor.^[4]

The song "La Bamba" made famous by Ritchie Valens has it roots in the Veracruz "son" style of music, which originated in southern Veracruz state, with African and Caribbean influence, and is popular throughout Mexico, Latin America and the United States. Traditional Veracruzian music is called "Son Jarocho". Although there are many types of son music found in Mexico, the Son Jarocho is typically associated with the city of Veracruz. Other types of son include "Son Comercial". This style is faster and flashier than the traditional Son Jarocho and can be heard in Mexican folkdance exhibitions, when Veracruz women with long white dresses and fans dance with partners also dressed in white. The Son Comercial developed in the 1940s from the Son Jarocho, and is so pervasive that today many incorrectly consider it the original. The Casa de Cultura has a workshops for traditional music and son singers can be heard just about anytime on the main plaza (Zocalo)^[27]

The Veracruz Carnaval has been celebrated every year since 1866, during the empire of Maximilian I. At that time, a request was made to sponsor "Festival of Masks" which would consist of dances at the principal social gathering sites of the city such as the main theater. While the events were officially held at these locations, others took advantage of the celebration on the streets, near these sites. Eventually, the event became based in the historic center of the city and focused on the Carnaval Parade of Veracruz. Today, the event begins with the "Burning of Bad Humor" and ends wIth the "Burial of Juan Carnaval".^[28] Carnaval here is the largest in the country.^[7] Filmmaking is also done in the municipality.

Industry

Laguna Verde Nuclear Power Plant (LVNPP) in nearby Alto Lucero, Veracruz, produces about 4.5% of Mexico's electrical energy.

Transportation

General Heriberto Jara International Airport serves the city with daily service to Mexico City as well as international service to Houston and Dallas. The commercial passenger airlines to currently serve VER airport are Aeromexico, Interjet, United Airlines, American Airlines, Aeromar Vivaaerobus and Mayair.

Veracruz is linked to Mexico City by a four-lane toll highway which also passes through Cordoba and Puebla. Half-way between Veracruz and Cordoba it is connected to the La Tinaja-Cosoleacaque toll highway which goes as far as Villahermosa, Tabasco. There is another toll highway to the state capital Xalapa.

Education

The Universidad Veracruzana was established in 1944. It was created by joining a number of professional and higher education establishments together. It is now the main center of higher education in the state of Veracruz, with five campuses and twenty-two satellite locations in the state. The student population is approximately 70,000, offering degrees in sixty different fields.^[29]

Veracruz Institute of Technology was founded in 1946 by Ismael Lagunes Lastra. It started out as the School of Arts and Letters, with a mission to train students for the jobs associated with the developing port and industrial base of the city. It started teaching students at the secondary and high school level, later adding bachelor's degree programs. In 1952, the school received a grant of lands by the federal and state governments to expand. Technical programs were added in the 1960s and have become the main part of the school’s work, Veracruz Institute of Technology is famous due to its bachelor of engineering in biochemical engineering, masters and PhD about food science and biochemical engineering.^[30]

There are many other private universities such as Cristóbal Colón University, mainly dedicated to architecture and administration and UNIMEX, which was founded in 1991 and focuses on marketing, graphic design and law.

The port

Veracruz is Mexico's oldest and largest port and the port most connected with its history.^[2][4][5] During the colonial period, it was the most important port in New Spain, with a large wealthy merchant class that was more prosperous than Mexico City.^[6] From the port of Veracruz were exported turkeys, corn, beans, avocados, and cotton to Spain. From Spain came fava beans, wheat, rice, cattle, pigs, fabric, wine and other goods. In the mid 16th century, so much gold and silver was found in Veracruz that it became the bulk of the exports to Spain. This attracted pirates, mostly from Britain and Holland, such as Francis Drake and John Hawkins.^[6] As the Spanish did initially, Veracruz was the point of invasion for other countries such as France and the United States.^[2]

In the latter half of the 19th century, Veracruz's importance waned as trade to Europe diminished. The port was refurbished at the beginning of the 20th century, but petroleum production was the primary income for the state rather than the port.^[11] This began to change in the latter half of the 20th century, and the port has surged back to the state's economic forefront,^[7]

In 1991, the federal government took over the port of Veracruz to correct the handling of merchandise through here. Later that same year, the first private shipping companies began operations. In 1993, the Law of Ports was passed regularizing the operations of ports in the country. Under this law was created the Administración Portuaria de Veracruz (Port Authority of Veracruz).^[31]

In the 2000s, the port continues to handle all kinds of cargo, moving 16.1 million tons of products in 2004. This figure is expected to rise once modernization efforts have finished, especially a truck bypass that leads directly from the highway to the port.^[5] Veracruz is the gateway for Mexico's automobile industry, which is concentrated in the center of the country, in the states around Mexico City. This port has several advantages. It is the first to be equipped specifically for shipping automobiles. Located on the south-central coast, Veracruz is closer to car manufacturers and has better access to both import and export markets in the U.S., Europe, Central and South America than other Mexican ports. In 2004, the port handled 70% of the automobiles exported. With traffic expected rise the port authorities unveiled a program to enlarge the port's infrastructure and expand operations by 2010.^[5]

The municipality

As municipal seat, the city of Veracruz is the governing authority for 128 other named localities during the 2010 census, forming a municipality with a territory of 241 km² (93 sq mi).^[2] The population of the municipality is 552,156 inhabitants, of whom 428,323 or approximately 77.6% live in municipality's portion of the city proper.^[3] The municipality is bordered by the municipalities of La Antigua, Boca del Río, Manlio Fabio Altamirano, Medellín, and Paso de Ovejas, with the Gulf of Mexico to the northeast, and has an average altitude of ten meters above seal level. The area is flat with little in the way of elevations and is crossed by the Medio, Grande and Tonayán Rivers. There are also beaches here such as the Sacrificios and Verde. Its climate is tropical with an average temperature of 25.3 °C (77.5 °F). Vegetation is mostly of the rainforest type, with many trees losing leaves during the winter dry season. Fauna mostly consists of birds, small mammals and insects.^[2]

Much of the land in the municipality outside of the city is used for agriculture and livestock. Principal crops include corn, beans, watermelon, oranges, sorghum, mango, pineapple and sugar cane. Livestock raised includes cattle, pigs, sheep, fowl and horses. There is also some forestry. The municipality contains deposits of marble, lime, cement, sand and clay. In and around the city there are a number of industrial sites producing paints and solvents, food products, plastics, petrochemicals and metals.^[2]

Towns and villages

The largest localities (cities, towns, and villages) are:^[3]

Name	2010 census population
Veracruz (part)	428,323
Valente Díaz	25,700
Las Amapolas	14,553
Fraccionamiento Geovillas los Pinos	12,840
Colinas de Santa Fe	6,211
Las Bajadas	4,829
Los Torrentes	4,665
Delfino Victoria (Santa Fe)	3,896
Fraccionamiento Costa Dorada	3,660
Fraccionamiento el Campanario	3,543
Las Amapolas Dos	3,386
Oasis	3,325
Río Medio [Granja]	2,895
Lomas de Río Medio Cuatro	2,882
Vargas	2,519
Total for municipalities	552,156

Climate

Like the majority of the coastal part of Veracruz State and southern parts of Tamaulipas, the city of Veracruz experiences a tropical savanna climate (Koppen Aw).^[32] There is a prominent wet season, typically lasting from June to October, when a vast majority of the yearly precipitation falls, and most afternoons witness rainfall in the form of large tropical thunderstorms; originating in the moist atmosphere above the Gulf of Mexico.^[33][34] The wet season, has slightly hotter temperatures and is more humid, in which the dewpoint can easily exceed 25 °C (77.0 °F).^[33][34] It is also have less foggy days than the dry season (averaging around 4- 7 foggy days).^[33][34] The dry season of the year spans from November to May, has slightly cooler temperatures and less humid days; making it the much more desirable part of the year for visiting tourists as opposed to the stormy, humid wet season. Despite the dryness, winters are foggy and cloudy, averaging 10-17 overcast days and 11-17 foggy days per month during the dry season.^[33][34] Many tourists visit Veracruz during Christmas and March Break, in the midst of the winter's comfortably warm dry season.

Veracruz receives an average of 1,564 mm (61.6 in) of precipitation annually.^[33] The wettest month of the year is July with an average monthly total of 385 mm (15.2 in) of rainfall, while the driest month of the year is March with an only13 mm (0.51 in) of rainfall.^[33] Temperature-wise, the hottest months of the year are June and August, both sharing mean temperatures of 28 °C (82.4 °F), while the coolest month of the year is January with a mean temperature of 21.2 °C (70.2 °F).^[35]

Climate data for Veracruz, Mexico
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	34.7 (94.5)	33.2 (91.8)	39.2 (102.6)	39.5 (103.1)	39.5 (103.1)	36.7 (98.1)	37.0 (98.6)	36.0 (96.8)	35.4 (95.7)	35.0 (95)	34.0 (93.2)	36.0 (96.8)	39.5 (103.1)
Average high °C (°F)	24.3 (75.7)	24.6 (76.3)	26.5 (79.7)	28.7 (83.7)	30.4 (86.7)	30.8 (87.4)	30.9 (87.6)	31.2 (88.2)	30.8 (87.4)	29.6 (85.3)	27.6 (81.7)	25.5 (77.9)	28.4 (83.1)
Daily mean °C (°F)	21.2 (70.2)	21.6 (70.9)	23.4 (74.1)	25.6 (78.1)	27.4 (81.3)	28.0 (82.4)	27.6 (81.7)	28.0 (82.4)	27.6 (81.7)	26.5 (79.7)	24.5 (76.1)	22.5 (72.5)	25.3 (77.5)
Average low °C (°F)	18.1 (64.6)	18.5 (65.3)	20.6 (69.1)	22.8 (73)	24.6 (76.3)	24.5 (76.1)	23.6 (74.5)	23.9 (75)	23.6 (74.5)	22.7 (72.9)	20.9 (69.6)	19.3 (66.7)	21.9 (71.4)
Record low °C (°F)	5.8 (42.4)	7.2 (45)	2.0 (35.6)	9.0 (48.2)	14.5 (58.1)	17.0 (62.6)	19.8 (67.6)	13.2 (55.8)	17.0 (62.6)	12.0 (53.6)	2.0 (35.6)	0.2 (32.4)	0.2 (32.4)
Rainfall mm (inches)	37.9 (1.492)	17.8 (0.701)	13.1 (0.516)	24.4 (0.961)	74.2 (2.921)	196.3 (7.728)	385.1 (15.161)	320.5 (12.618)	292.6 (11.52)	130.7 (5.146)	32.0 (1.26)	39.6 (1.559)	1,564 (61.575)
Avg. rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm)	5.3	3.1	3.8	3.8	5.0	12.8	18.5	16.4	15.4	10.6	6.2	5.7	106.7
% humidity	80	80	81	80	78	79	79	78	78	74	77	80	79
Mean monthly sunshine hours	145.7	158.1	189.1	207.0	204.6	207.0	204.6	223.2	186.0	192.2	180.0	145.7	2,243.4
Source #1: Hong Kong Observatory (temperature and sun)[35]
Source #2: Colegio de Postgraduados (humidity and extremes),[34] Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (precipitation and extremes)[33]

Sister cities

Flag	City	Region	Country
	Cádiz	Andalusia	Spain[36]
	Tampa	Florida	USA[37]
	Valencia	Valencia	Spain[38]

Consulates

• Belgium
• Cuba
• Finland
• Germany
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Italy
• Netherlands
• El Salvador
• Switzerland

See also

• Boca del Río, Veracruz

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Veracruz, Veracruz.

• Museum of Veracruz (Spanish)

Coordinates: 19°11′25″N 96°09′12″W / 19.19028°N 96.15333°W / 19.19028; -96.15333

v t e Heroic Cities of Mexico Alvarado (Veracruz) Atlixco (Puebla) Caborca (Sonora) Cananea (Sonora) Cárdenas (Tabasco) Chiapa de Corzo (Chiapas) Córdoba (Veracruz) Cosoleacaque (Veracruz) Cuautla (Morelos) Ejutla de Crespo (Oaxaca) Guaymas (Sonora) Huajuapan de León (Oaxaca) Huamantla (Tlaxcala) Juchitán de Zaragoza (Oaxaca) Matamoros (Tamaulipas) Nogales (Sonora) Puebla (Puebla) Tenango del Valle (México) Tlapacoyan (Veracruz) Tlaxiaco (Oaxaca) Valladolid (Yucatán) Veracruz (Veracruz) Ures (Sonora) Zitácuaro (Michoacán)