Northwest Mexico

[[File:Noroeste de Mexico.PNG|thumb|350px|{{legend|#006400|border=solid 1px black|Northwest Mexico.}}]]

'''Northwest Mexico''' ({{lang-es|Noroeste de México}}) is a region of the [[United Mexican States]], formed by the states of [[Durango]], [[Sinaloa]], [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]], [[Sonora]], [[Baja California]] and [[Baja California Sur]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Etnografia del Noroeste de México. |url=http://www.uaim.edu.mx/web-carreras/carreras/turismo%20empresarial/Septimo%20Trimestre/ETNOGRAFIA%20DEL%20NOROESTE%20DE%20MEXICO.pdf |publisher=Universidad Autonoma Indigena de México|accessdate=September 30, 2010}}</ref> The region is a mountainous area with large desert areas and stunning natural formations like [[Copper Canyon]], [[Sierra Madre Occidental]] and [[Pinacate Peaks]]; vast deserts such as [[Gran Desierto de Altar]] and [[El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve|El Vizcaíno Desert]]; and it also includes the [[Gulf of California]] and the [[Baja California Peninsula]] that includes numerous large and small islands like [[Guadalupe Island]], [[Tiburón Island]] and [[Isla Ángel de la Guarda|Archangel Island]].

== Description ==
Northwest Mexico in a region with a high [[Human Development Index|HDI]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo, México. |url=http://www.undp.org.mx/spip.php?page=area_interior&id_rubrique=125&id_parent=119 |publisher=PNUD|accessdate=September 30, 2010}}</ref>. Bordered on the north by the [[United States]], south and west with the [[Pacific Ocean]] and the states of [[Nayarit]],<ref>{{cite web |title=México es un país localizado en América del Norte. |url=http://www.yep4110mexico.org/outbounds/archivos/Aspirantes/Guia%20de%20Estudio.pdf |publisher=Rotary International |accessdate=September 15, 2010}}</ref> and east with the states of [[Coahuila]] and [[Zacatecas]].

== States ==
{| align=center | class="wikitable sortable"
! State
! Official Name
''Estado Libre y Soberano de'':
! Flag
! Capital
! Largest city
! Area<ref>{{cite news |url= http://cuentame.inegi.gob.mx/monografias/default.aspx?tema=me|title= INEGI}}</ref>
! Population (2009)<ref>[http://www.conapo.gob.mx/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=36&Itemid=234 CONAPO]</ref>
! Order of Admission<br />to Federation
! Date of Admission<br />to Federation
|-
| [[Baja California]]
| align=center | ''Baja California''
| [[File:Flag of Baja California.svg|border|100px]]
| align=center | [[Mexicali]]
| align=center | [[Tijuana]]
| align=right | <span style="display:none">071446</span>{{convert|71446|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
| align=right | <span style="display:none">0</span>3,122,408
| align=center | <span style="display:none">0</span>{{nts|29}}
| <span style="display:none">18520116</span>16-01-[[1952]]<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.bajacalifornia.gob.mx/portal/nuestro_estado/historia/transformacion.jsp |title= Transformación Política de Territorio Norte de la Baja California a Estado 29}}</ref>
|-
| [[Baja California Sur]]
| align=center | ''Baja California Sur''
| [[File:Flag of Baja California Sur.svg|border|100px]]
| align=center | [[La Paz (Baja California Sur)|La Paz]]
| align=center | [[La Paz (Baja California Sur)|La Paz]]
| align=right | <span style="display:none">073922</span>{{convert|73922|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
| align=right | <span style="display:none">0</span>558,425
| align=center | <span style="display:none">0</span>{{nts|31}}
| <span style="display:none">19741008</span>08-10-[[1974]]<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www2.sepdf.gob.mx/efemerides/consulta_efemerides.jsp?dia=8&mes=10 |title= Secretaria de Educación Publica}}</ref>
|-
| [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]]
| align=center | ''Chihuahua''
| [[File:Flag of Chihuahua.svg|border|100px]]
| align=center | [[Chihuahua (Chihuahua)|Chihuahua]]
| align=center | [[Ciudad Juárez]]
| align=right | <span style="display:none">247455</span>{{convert|247455|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
| align=right | <span style="display:none">0</span>3,376,062
| align=center | <span style="display:none">0</span>{{nts|18}}
| <span style="display:none">18240706</span>06-07-[[1824]]<ref name=googlebooks>{{cite news |url= http://books.google.com.mx/books?id=i_GK_-6deKIC&lpg=PA227&ots=eyvDzsrMIz&dq=22%20De%20Mayo%20De%201824%20durango&pg=PA227#v=onepage&q=&f=false|title= La Diputación Provincial y El Federalismo Mexicano}}</ref>
|-
| [[Durango]]
| align=center | ''Durango''
| [[File:Flag of Durango.svg|border|100px]]
| align=center | [[Victoria de Durango]]
| align=center | [[Victoria de Durango]]
| align=right | <span style="display:none">123451</span>{{convert|123451|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
| align=right | <span style="display:none">0</span>1,547,597
| align=center | <span style="display:none">0</span>{{nts|17}}
| <span style="display:none">18240522</span>22-05-[[1824]]<ref name=googlebooks/>
|-
| [[Sinaloa]]
| align=center | ''Sinaloa''
| [[File:Flag of Sinaloa.svg|border|100px]]
| align=center | [[Culiacán Rosales]]
| align=center | [[Culiacán Rosales]]
| align=right | <span style="display:none">057377</span>{{convert|57377|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
| align=right | <span style="display:none">0</span>2,650,499
| align=center | <span style="display:none">0</span>{{nts|20}}
| <span style="display:none">18301014</span>14-10-[[1830]]<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.biblioteca.tv/artman2/publish/1830_135/Ley_Reglas_para_la_divisi_n_del_Estado_de_Sonora_y_Sinaloa.shtml|title= 500 años de México en documentos}}</ref>
|-
| [[Sonora]]
| align=center | ''Sonora''
| [[File:Flag of Sonora.svg|border|100px]]
| align=center | [[Hermosillo]]
| align=center | [[Hermosillo]]
| align=right | <span style="display:none">179503</span>{{convert|179503|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
| align=right | <span style="display:none">0</span>2,499,263
| align=center | <span style="display:none">0</span>{{nts|12}}
| <span style="display:none">18240110</span>10-01-[[1824]]<ref name=googlebooks/>
|}

== Major Cities ==

<div align=center>
{| class="toc" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=2 width=800px style="float:center; margin: 0.5em 0.5em 0.5em 1em; padding: 0.5e
|colspan=4 style="background:#4b6791; color:white; font-size:120%" align=center|'''Major Cities of Baja California'''
|-
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|[[File:Tijuana2007.PNG|125px]]
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|[[File:Mexicaliatnight.jpg|125px]]
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|[[File:Garita-tecate.jpg|125px]]
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|[[File:Ensenada-mexico-night-flag-sm.jpg|125px]]
|-
|style="background:#e5ebf2;" align=center|[[Tijuana]]
|style="background:#e5ebf2;" align=center|[[Mexicali]]
|style="background:#e5ebf2;" align=center|[[Tecate]]
|style="background:#e5ebf2;" align=center|[[Ensenada]]
|-
|}
</div>

<div align=center>
{| class="toc" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=2 width=800px style="float:center; margin: 0.5em 0.5em 0.5em 1em; padding: 0.5e
|colspan=5 style="background:#4b6791; color:white; font-size:120%" align=center|'''Major Cities of Baja California Sur'''
|-
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|[[File:Lapazbajac.jpg|125px]]
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|[[File:Loreto,_BCS,_City_Hall.jpg|125px]]
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|[[File:Los_cabos_arch.jpeg|125px]]
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|[[File:Mulege_oasis.jpg|125px]]
|-
|style="background:#e5ebf2;" align=center|[[La Paz, Baja California Sur|La Paz]]
|style="background:#e5ebf2;" align=center|[[Loreto, Baja California Sur|Loreto]]
|style="background:#e5ebf2;" align=center|[[Los Cabos Municipality|Los Cabos]]
|style="background:#e5ebf2;" align=center|[[Comondú Municipality|Comondú]]
|-
|}
</div>

<div align=center>
{| class="toc" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=2 width=800px style="float:center; margin: 0.5em 0.5em 0.5em 1em; padding: 0.5e
|colspan=5 style="background:#4b6791; color:white; font-size:120%" align=center|'''Major Cities of Chihuahua'''
|-
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|[[File:Monumento_a_Benito_Juarez_Cd_Juarez.jpg|125px]]
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|[[File:Panoramica_de_chihuahua.jpg|125px]]
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|[[File:Creel Chihuahua Mexico.jpg|125px]]
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|[[File:PalAlvarado.jpg|125px]]
|-
|style="background:#e5ebf2;" align=center|[[Ciudad Juárez]]
|style="background:#e5ebf2;" align=center|[[Chihuahua, Chihuahua|Chihuahua]]
|style="background:#e5ebf2;" align=center|[[Creel, Chihuahua|Creel]]
|style="background:#e5ebf2;" align=center|[[Parral, Chihuahua|Hidalgo del Parral]]
|-
|}
</div>

<div align=center>
{| class="toc" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=2 width=800px style="float:center; margin: 0.5em 0.5em 0.5em 1em; padding: 0.5e
|colspan=5 style="background:#4b6791; color:white; font-size:120%" align=center|'''Major Cities of Durango'''
|-
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|[[File:Panoramica_plaza_de_armas_Durango.jpg|125px]]
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|[[File:Wulfenite-Mimetite-246461.jpg|125px]]
|-
|style="background:#e5ebf2;" align=center|[[Durango, Durango|Victoria de Durango]]
|style="background:#e5ebf2;" align=center|[[Gómez Palacio, Durango|Gómez Palacio]]
|style="background:#e5ebf2;" align=center|[[Mapimí, Durango|Mapimí]]
|-
|}
</div>

<div align=center>
{| class="toc" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=2 width=800px style="float:center; margin: 0.5em 0.5em 0.5em 1em; padding: 0.5e
|colspan=5 style="background:#4b6791; color:white; font-size:120%" align=center|'''Major Cities of Sonora'''
|-
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|[[File:Lipal.JPG|125px]]
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|[[File:Callesonoracentro.jpg|125px]]
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|[[File:Nogales.jpg|125px]]
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|[[File:File-parroquiasn.jpg|125px]]
|-
|style="background:#e5ebf2;" align=center|[[Hermosillo]]
|style="background:#e5ebf2;" align=center|[[Ciudad Obregón]]
|style="background:#e5ebf2;" align=center|[[Nogales, Sonora|Nogales]]
|style="background:#e5ebf2;" align=center|[[San Luis Río Colorado]]
|-
|}
</div>

<div align=center>
{| class="toc" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=2 width=800px style="float:center; margin: 0.5em 0.5em 0.5em 1em; padding: 0.5e
|colspan=5 style="background:#4b6791; color:white; font-size:120%" align=center|'''Major Cities of Sinaloa'''
|-
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|[[File:CuliacanNoche.JPG|125px]]
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|[[File:Mazatlan_panorama_from_El_Faro_1.jpg|150px]]
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|[[File:LMM_International_4.JPG|125px]]
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="#f9f9f9"|[[File:Navachiste.gif|125px]]
|-
|style="background:#e5ebf2;" align=center|[[Culiacán]]
|style="background:#e5ebf2;" align=center|[[Mazatlán]]
|style="background:#e5ebf2;" align=center|[[Los Mochis, Sinaloa|Los Mochis]]
|style="background:#e5ebf2;" align=center|[[Guasave, Sinaloa|Guasave]]
|-
|}
</div>

== See also ==
* [[Eastern Mexico]]
* [[North-Central Mexico]]
* [[Northeastern Mexico]]
* [[South-Central Mexico]]
* [[Southeastern Mexico]]
* [[Southwestern Mexico]]
* [[Western Mexico]]

== External Links ==
* [http://www.sectur.gob.mx Secretaría de Turismo]
* [http://www.visitmexico.com Consejo de Promoción Turística de México]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Northwestern Mexico| ]]
[[Category:Regions of Northern Mexico]]
[[Category:Regions of Mexico]]

[[es:Noroeste de México]]