Sonora

Sonora is a large state in northwestern Mexico on the US border, defined by the Sonoran Desert and a long coastline on the Gulf of California. Its capital is Hermosillo. A major mining and farming region, it is known for its cattle, copper and desert landscapes.

Sonora is dominated by the Sonoran Desert, with cactus-studded plains, rugged mountains and a coastline on the Gulf of California rich in marine life. It borders Arizona. The climate is hot and arid, among the hottest in Mexico.

Sonoran culture is rooted in ranching and the famous flour tortilla and beef of its cuisine, including carne asada. It is home to the Yaqui and Seri peoples, known for their distinctive traditions and deer dance.

Home to Indigenous peoples including the Yaqui, who long resisted outside control, Sonora developed through mining and ranching. It became a state in 1824 and grew through copper mining and irrigated agriculture.