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Puebla Facts

Puebla Facts
Puebla is one of Mexico's thirty-one states and is located in east-central Mexico. The state has a long recorded history, being associated with various Pre-Columbian cultures, including the Aztecs, and as one of Spain's earliest colonial outposts in Mexico. Puebla was one of the first territories Hernan Cortes traveled through in 1519 and it was one of the earliest states to join the United Mexican States; it was the fourth state to join the union on December 21, 1823. Puebla is a very mountainous state, with both the Sierra Madre Oriental and Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt ranges running through it. Modern Poblanan culture is known for its mixture of indigenous and European foods, dances, and history, making it one of the more interesting places in Mexico to visit.
Interesting Puebla Facts:
Puebla is one of the smaller Mexican states in physical size. With a land mass of 13,246 square miles, Puebla ranks twenty-first in size among all Mexican states.
Although Puebla is one of Mexico's must industrialized states, it is also one of the least developed. Most of the industry takes place in the larger cities, leaving the country sides little different than they were over 100 years ago.
The city of Cholula is a popular tourist destination in Puebla and an important historical site. The Great Pyramid of Cholula is the major archaeological attraction of the city. Most of the pyramid was built during the dominance of the Teotihuacan culture (AD 1-700) and it stands about 217 feet high with a base of 1,480 by 1,480 feet. A church was built on its peak in the modern period.
Puebla de Zaragoza, often just referred to as "Puebla City," is the capital and largest city in Puebla. It has a metropolitan area of more than three million people. Puebla served as an early Spanish outpost and then the territory and later state developed around it.
Although it is a small state in size, Puebla has eleven different climate zones. They range from temperate to hot and semi-dry. The state's average temperature is 61°F.
The highest mountain in Mexico, Pico de Orizaba, straddles Puebla and Veracruz. It is 18,491 feet high, making it the third highest peak in North America.
One of the best known dishes from Puebla is mole poblano (Puebla mole).
In modern history, Puebla is best known for the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. It was on that day that the Mexican forces defeated the invading French army. Although the Mexicans ultimately lost the war, the battle became a rallying cry for Mexicans and the inspiration for Cinco de Mayo Day.
The dominant Pre-Columbian ethnic group in the region was called the Mixtec. After Mexico was conquered by the Spanish, the Mixtec continued many of their traditions, which can still be seen today in the markets and festivals of Puebla.
Puebla has diverse ecosystems, ranging from alpine to tropical forests. Most of the forests, though, are temperate pine forests, which can be found throughout most of the state.


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