TAMAULIPAS

estado (state), northeastern Mexico, on the Gulf of Mexico. It is bounded by the United States (north), the Gulf of Mexico (east), Veracruz and San Luis Potos (south), and San Luis Potos and Nuevo Len (west). The central and southern portions of its 30,650-square-mile (79,384-square-kilometre) territory are mountainous, but there are extensive, fertile plains in the north. The sandy, lagoon-dotted coastal zone is sparsely inhabited. With varied climates and vegetation, numerous crops (sorghum, soybeans, safflower, corn , sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, coffee, and fruit) can be cultivated, and agriculture is the state's main industry. The Gulf of Mexico fisheries are an important resource. Large areas are irrigated. Livestock raising, preparation of istle (agave) fibre, and copper mining are additional sources of income. Tamaulipas produces a third of Mexico's natural gas and increasing quantities of petroleum. There are petrochemical plants in Ciudad Madero and Reynosa. Many miles of paved highway have been completed, bringing all of the towns within easy reach of each other, and the Monterrey-Tampico railway traverses the state, passing through Ciudad Victoria, the state capital. Other principal cities are Tampico, Ciudad Madero, Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros, and Reynosa. The larger cities all possess airports. Pop. (1990 prelim.) 2,244,208.