The City of Monterrey
I. Location
Monterrey is the capital of Nuevo Leon , a northeastern State with the Texas border on the north, San Luis Potosi to the south, Tamaulipas on the east and the States of Zacatecas and Coahuila to the west.
The state is divided into 51 municipalities. Most of the people live in the Monterrey Metropolitan area, which includes San Nicolás de los Garza, San Pedro Garza Garcia, Guadalupe, Garcia, Santa Catarina, General Escobedo, and Apodaca.
Nuevo Leon has an area of 64,210 square kilometers (3.3% of the total national area) and is 580 meters (1,903 feet) above sea level. The U.S. border is approximately 230 kilometers (143 miles) from Monterrey .
II. Climate
In the summer and fall terms, temperatures are extremely variable, so bring clothes for different climates.
• November-February: 5-15° Celsius (41-60° F)
• May-September: 35-40° Celsius (95-104° F)
• March, April, October: 18-25° Celsius (65-77° F)
It rarely rains, but if it does, it would be during the following months: April, August, September or October.
III. Population
Monterrey is the second largest business hub in the country after Mexico City , and mainly engages in manufacturing and banking. The State population is around 4.5 million people, close to 3.8 million of which live and work in the Monterrey Metropolitan Area. As a whole, Nuevo Leon is a highly urban state.
• Population per square kilometer: 48
• Highest populated municipalities:
Monterrey 30.69%
Guadalupe 17.43%
San Nicolás de los Garza 13.74%
Apodaca 6.71 %
Santa Catarina 5.69%
IV. State map
V. Folklore
As in many other Mexican states, traditional festivities in Nuevo Leon mainly relate to religious holidays. Entertainment involves dancing polkas to the music of local bands playing bass, accordion, and a large drum (tambora).
The typical state dish is carbrito al pastor (broiled baby goat). We advise newcomers not to miss out on the delicious beef dishes: puntas norteñas , arracheras (fajitas), and machacado con huevo (scrambled eggs with beef jerky and salsa). Local candies are also scrumptious.
VI. Quality of life and tourism
The cities of Nuevo Leon are true examples of modern architecture and industries, which contrast well with the beautiful colonial monuments.
The best illustration of this contrast is in Monterrey , the capital and largest urban center in the state. A downtown landmark is the Gran Plaza (or Macroplaza) square, an extensive square surrounded by all sorts of buildings, restaurants, stores and other facilities.
Monterrey buildings are erected following the most recent architectural trends. Faro del Comercio, Teatro de la Ciudad (the city theater), la Biblioteca Central (the state library), and the Purisma church are a few examples.
Monterrey has 30 engaging museums and cultural centers welcoming visitors from all over the world. MARCO (contemporary art museum), Museo de Historia Mexicana, Casa de la Cultura de Nuevo León, Museo de la Fama (baseball), the Sports Museum, and Pinacoteca del Estado are some of the most visited ones.
A wide variety of plays, concerts, and other performances are shown at Teatro de la Ciudad, Teatro de Monterrey, Auditorio Luis Elizondo, Auditorio San Pedro, Arena Fundidora, and many other small theaters.
Monterrey is surrounded by beautiful mountain landscapes and natural attractions such as:
• Cola de Caballo / Horsetail Falls
• Grutas de Garcia / Garcia Caves
• Parque Chipinque / Chipinque Natural Park
• Cañon de la Huasteca / Huasteca Canyon
• Parque la Estanzuela / La Estanzuela Park
• BioParque Estrella / Estrella Bio-park
Monterrey has a variety of shopping centers where you will find a large assortment of goods, recreational facilities such as bowling alleys, and movie theaters that provide visitors the means for a fulfilling visit in our busy environment.
More information and a video of the city in:
References:
http://www.turismomonterrey.com/
http://www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx/