CHIHUAHUA

state, northern Mexico. The state is bounded on the north and northeast by the United States (New Mexico and Texas), on the east by Coahuila, on the south by Durango, and on the west by the states of Sinaloa and Sonora. Chihuahua is Mexico's largest state (94,571 square miles [244,938 square km]) and is for the most part an elevated plain that slopes gently toward the Rio Grande (Ro Bravo del Norte). Western Chihuahua, however, is broken by the Sierra Madre Occidental and its spurs, which form high, fertile valleys. The elevated plateaus and valleys have heavy rainfall, but over most of the state there is less than 20 inches (500 mm) annually. An impermeable clay substratum prevents much of the rain's absorption by the soil, so what little rain does fall is carried along the bare land surface in torrents. The state's Barranca de Cobre (Copper Canyon) resembles the Grand Canyon in scale (it reaches as much as 4,600 feet in depth) but is almost inaccessible. The only river of consequence is the Conchos, which flows north and northeast into the Rio Grande. In Spanish colonial times, Chihuahua, along with Durango, formed part of Nueva Vizcaya province. It was not separated from Durango until after Mexico's independence was achieved (1823). Indian influence in the state is now slight, and the fierce Apache tribes that once roamed the area are almost extinct. The people of Chihuahua have been active in most of the revolutionary outbreaks in Mexico during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Scarcity of water has been a serious obstacle to agricultural development in the state outside the districts where irrigation is practicable. Livestock raising is an important industry in the mountainous districts of the west, where there is excellent pasturage for much of the year. Irrigated cotton farming and meat-packing were developed in the 1950s. The state's principal industry is the mining of iron, lead, zinc, gold, silver, copper, and other minerals. Chihuahua, the state capital, is linked by railroad, highway, and air to cities in central Mexico and the United States. Other important cities in the state are Hidalgo del Parral and Jurez, which lies across the Rio Grande from El Paso, Texas. Pop. (1988 est.) 2,238,300. Chihuahua, long-coat (left) and smooth-coat (right). smallest recognized dog breed, named for the Mexican state of Chihuahua, where it was first noted in the mid-19th century. The Chihuahua is thought to have been derived from the Techichi, a small, mute dog kept by the Toltec people of Mexico as long ago as the 9th century AD. Typically a saucy-looking, alert dog that is sturdier than its small build would suggest, the Chihuahua stands about 13 cm (5 inches) and weighs 0.5 to 2.7 kg (1 to 6 pounds). It has a rounded head, large, erect ears, prominent eyes, and a compact body. The coat is variable in colour and may be either smooth and glossy or long and soft. See the Table of Selected Breeds of Toy Dogs for further information. city, capital of Chihuahua state, northern Mexico. The city stands at 4,692 feet (1,430 m) above sea level in a valley of the Sierra Madre Occidental. Originally settled in the 16th century and officially founded in 1709, Chihuahua was a prosperous mining centre during the colonial era. It was twice captured by U.S. forces during the war between Mexico and the United States (1846-48). Now the centre of a cattle-raising area, the city contains the Autonomous University of Chihuahua (1954) and numerous noteworthy public buildings, including the Church of San Francisco, one of the best specimens of 18th-century architecture in Mexico. In the plaza is a monument to the Mexican independence leader Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and his companions of the 1810 revolution, who were executed there. The city of Chihuahua can be reached by air, highway, and railroad. Pop. (1980) 385,603.