State (pop., 2000: 2,753,222), northeastern Mexico.
Located on the Gulf of Mexico, it covers 30,650 sq mi (79,384 sq km). The capital is Ciudad Victoria . Though largely mountainous, it has extensive, fertile plains in the north and a sandy, lagoon-dotted coastal zone. Large areas are irrigated, and agriculture is the main economic activity; products include sorghum, soybeans, sugarcane, cotton, coffee, and fruit. Fisheries and copper mining also are important. It produces one-third of Mexico's natural gas and large quantities of crude oil.