ABOUT THE MEXICAN STATE OF TAMAULIPAS

The central and southern portions of Tamaulipas are mountainous, but there are extensive, fertile plains in the north. The sandy, lagoon-dotted coastal zone is sparsely inhabited. The coastal plains along the Gulf have a large presence in the state, whereas inland the landscape is adorned by cactus species and pasture. Predominant fauna in the region include the cougar (Puma concolor), long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), American badger (Taxidea taxus), North American beaver (Castor canadensis), plain chachalaca (Ortalis vetula) and quail. In the western part of the state, the Sierra Madre Oriental displays warm valleys and high sierras with peaks reaching10,760 ft in the Pedragoso Sierra; 10,630 ft in the Borregos Sierra; 10,560 ft in La Gloria Sierra; 10,430 ft in Cerro el Nacimiento; and 9,800 ft above sea level in the Sierra el Pinal. The Sierra de Tamaulipas and the Sierra de San Carlos are isolated mountain ranges in eastern Tamaulipas. The Río Grande river defines the Tamaulipas-Texas border, including a narrow strip of territory that extends northwestward between Nuevo León and Texas.

 Tamaulipas, which is part of the fertile lowland area known as “La Huasteca,” has an ideal agricultural climate and is México’s main producer of sorghum; other major crops are citrus fruits, cotton, and vegetables. Tamaulipas has more area of irrigated cropland than any other Mexican state and more than half the state’s land area is devoted to raising cattle, goats, pigs, and sheep. Tamaulipas’ prime location on the Gulf of México makes it a center of the country’s fishing industry. The primary harvests include shrimp, crayfish, oysters and crabs. Freshwater fish such as tilapia and catfish are also abundant throughout the state. Tamaulipas also produces a large proportion of México’s natural gas and significant quantities of petroleum.

The cross-border trade boom that began in the 1990s brought population growth to several cities on the border with Texas: Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa , and Matamoros. Other major centers are Tampico and Ciudad Madero, which adjoin on the Gulf coast.

The central zone contains the capital, Ciudad Victoria, and is home to much forestry and farming, as well as some industrial development. About 30% of the population lives here, both in the capital and in Ciudad Mante. Ciudad Victoria is the capital of  the Mexican State of Tamaulipas. and lies in the western part of the state at 1,053 feet above sea level on the San Marcos River, about 300 miles north of México City. A settlement was founded on the site in 1750, and in 1825 it was named for the first president of México, Guadalupe Victoria. Ciudad Victoria is also a tourist center and a base for hunting, fishing, and swimming activities centered on Lake Vicente Guerrero, located about 30 miles to the northeast. The city has a cultural center with a library, theatre, and art gallery. Among the other cultural institutions are a museum containing exhibits on the Huastec culture and the state library, which is housed in a green-tiled building with Aztec motifs. Ciudad Victoria is a significant educational center, home to the Autonomous University of Tamaulipas (which also has campuses in other cities in the state), the Regional Technical Institute of Ciudad Victoria, the University of Valle de Bravo, and other institutions of learning. Ciudad Victoria is a regional transportation hub, accessible by railroad, air, and several major highways.  The Tropic of Cancer crosses the southern part of the municipality of Victoria.

Matamoros, Tamaulipas is situated on the southern bank of the Rio Grande 28 miles from the Gulf of México and across from Brownsville, Texas. Matamoros, founded in 1824, was the scene of bitter fighting in the Mexican-American War and was occupied by U.S. troops in 1846. The municipality of Matamoros features many historical buildings and attractions. The Main Square downtown is home to monuments honoring Miguel Hidalgo, founder of the Mexican War of Independence movement, and Benito Juárez, considered by many to be México’s greatest leader. The Teatro de la Reforma (also called ”The Opera Theatre”) in Matamoros was originally built in 1865. In 1904, it witnessed a historical moment when México’s national anthem was performed there for the first time by its composer, Don Jaime Nuño. The Cathedral of Nuestra Señora del Refugio, which was built in 1832, is another point of interest in the state. In 1958, Pope John XXIII created the new dioceses for Matamoros and designated the church as a cathedral. The Puerta México, or New Bridge, inaugurated in 1928, connects Matamoros with the city of Brownsville, Texas. It is now one of México’s chief ports of entry for tourists and for the import and export of goods. The manufacturing and commercial center of an extensive cotton- and sugarcane-growing area, it has tanneries, cotton mills, and distilleries.

Nuevo Laredo, city and port of entry,  Tamaulipas lies along the Rio Grande, across from Laredo, Texas. The city serves as a commercial center for the regional cattle industry and as a natural gas production center. It is the site of numerous maquiladoras (foreign-owned manufacturing plants) that produce electronics and other consumer goods for export. As a major port of entry, Nuevo Laredo also provides a variety of products and services for tourists.

One of the most beautiful beaches along the Tamaulipas shoreline and an ideal spot for sport fishing is La Barra del Tordo. The Carrizal River meanders along the beach’s shores, forming a complex ecosystem with rich and abundant vegetation and fauna, including the Lora turtles that come to the beach every year to reproduce. Among the state’s more inviting beaches are Altamira and the Golden Dunes, located in Altamira, and Miramar, which draws countless visitors annually. Bagdad Beach, east of Matamoros, hosts the ever-popular El Festival del Mar (Festival of the Sea) each year.

Tampico’s historical downtown features architectural landmarks, such as the Cathedral of Tampico, the Maritime Customs Building, and Pirámide de las Flores (Flower’s Pyramid), that showcase the city’s culturally diverse past and attracts tourists from all over the world. Also of importance are the tourism and fishing industries, as well as much commercial shipping, based in Tampico and Altamira.

More then half  of the state has a hot, sub-humid climate. In the center, north, and towards southwest, an arid and semi-arid climate is predominate.  A temperate sub-humid climate is found in the extreme southwest of the state while in the extreme southeast, a hot, humid climate is present. Annual temperature in the state is around 74.3 °F while annual precipitation is 31 inches, mostly concentrated between June to September.

 The little village of La Pesca, in the municipality of Soto La Marina, about midway between Brownsville, Texas and Tampico, is a rapidly growing tourist area with lovely beaches and excellent fishing both in the Gulf of México and the Rio Soto La Marina.

There is much history and many attractions for tourists in the Mexican State of Tamaulipas as well as offering Americans and Canadians quality, low cost medical and dental services to 1000's of visitors who travel across the border to Matamoros, Reynosa and of course, the highly sought after, Nuevo Progreso.