Toluca: Difference between revisions

'''Toluca''' {{IPA-es|toˈluka|}}, officially called '''Toluca de Lerdo''' {{IPA-es|toˈluka ðe ˈlerðo|}}, is the [[States of Mexico|state]] capital of [[State of Mexico]] as well as the seat of the Municipality of Toluca. It is the center of a rapidly growing urban area, now the fifth largest in Mexico. It is located {{convert|63|km|mi}} west-southwest of [[Mexico City]], about 40 minutes by car to the western edge of the city. According to the 2010 census, the city of Toluca has a population of 819,561.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www3.inegi.org.mx/sistemas/mexicocifras/default.aspx?src=487&e=15 |title=México en Cifras |publisher=.inegi.org.mx |accessdate=2014-08-21}}</ref> The city is the fifth largest in [[Mexico]] in population. The municipality of Toluca, along with thirteen other municipalities, make up the metropolitan population of 1,775,337 in [[Greater Toluca]] {{As of|2009|lc=y}},<ref>{{cite web |title=ZMVT 2009 |work=Conteo 2009 |year=20059 |publisher=Consejo estatal de la población |url=http://qacontent.edomex.gob.mx/idc/groups/public/documents/edomex_archivo/coespo_pdf_zmvt.pdf}}</ref> making it the [[Metropolitan areas of Mexico|fifth most populous metropolitan area]] in Mexico.

The [[Lerma River]] flows from Lake Almoloya del Río through the center of the municipality towards the west, flowing into [[Lake Chapala]]. From this point westward the river takes the name of [[Río Grande de Santiago]]. And it goes from this lake to the [[Pacific Ocean]] in the state of [[Nayarit]]. The river is about{{convert|1180|km|mi|abbr=on}} long; about 60% of it is known as Lerma River and 40% as Santiago River.<ref>{{cite book |last=García de León |first=Porfirio |author2=Fernádo González de la Vara |author3=Ricardo Jaramillo Luque |title=Historia General del Estado de México Volumen 1 Geografía y Arqueología |year=1998|publisher=Corporación Editorial Mac S.A. de C.V. |location=Toluca México |language=Spanish |isbn=970-669-001-8 |page=39}}</ref> The [[Nevado de Toluca]] or [[Xinantécatl]] is {{convert|30|km|mi|abbr=on}} southwest of the city. The god Tolo was supposed to reside in the volcano's crater. Its original indigenous name was''Chignahualtecatl'' which means "Nine Mountains" but later was named ''Xinantecatl'' which means "naked man", because the silhouette of its crater resembles a sleeping man, before the Spaniards named it ''Nevado'', meaning "snow-covered". It is a place of increasing sporting activity, such as [[mountain biking]], [[climbing]], and high altitude running. It is the only volcano in Mexico that has two lagoons and can be reached by automobile. There have been proposals to turn this mountain into a [[ski hill]] because of its accessibility and the low temperatures that exist on the mountain throughout the year, but recent reports on [[global warming]] have raised fears that the snow cap on the mountain will disappear completely within a few decades.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.natives.co.uk/news/2004/04/19mex.htm |title=World's highest ski resort on cards for Mexico |date=2004-04-19 |accessdate=2007-12-03}}</ref> The area was converted into the [[Nevado de Toluca National Park]] in January 1936 with about{{convert|1517|km2|sqmi|1|abbr=on}} in area.<ref>{{cite web |title=NP NEVADO DE TOLUCA |publisher=vivanatura |url=http://www.vivanatura.org/Toluca.html|accessdate=2007-10-10}}</ref> The park has forest land, especially of [[pine]]s and obeto trees. The prevalent animals are camp rats, teporingos, squirrels, tlacuaches, lizards, snakes, and eagles. On the lower part of this mountain there are picnic tables and BBQ grills. In the higher part of the volcano (inside) there are two lagoons in which visitors can practice [[scuba-diving]] and fishing. This volcano is unique in Mexico in that one can enter the crater by car.<ref name="INEGI1997">{{cite book|last=INEGI |title="Estado de México" Guía Turística de México |year=1997 |publisher=INEGI |location=Aguascalientes México |language=Spanish |isbn=970-13-1194-9|pages=175, 214}}</ref>

|source 1 = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional<ref name = SMN >{{cite web

| url = http://smn.cna.gob.mx/climatologia/Normales5110/NORMAL15164.TXT

| title = Normales climatológicas 1951–2010

| publisher = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional

| language = Spanish

| accessdate = August 30, 2012}}</ref><ref name = obs>{{cite web

In colonial times, Toluca first gained economic importance as a producer of smoked and cured meats, especially [[chorizo]] sausage. The nearby town of [[Lerma, Mexico State|Lerma]] still carries on this tradition. However, since that time, Toluca's economy has expanded far beyond sausage to become one of the most industrialized areas in Mexico.<ref name="delrey">{{cite web |url=http://www.delrey.com.mx/sphome/turtoluca.html |title=Turismo |accessdate= 2008-03-28 }}</ref> Its geographic position in the center of the country and proximity to Mexico City as well as its well-developed infrastructure, have allowed Toluca to grow into a major industrial zone for the state.<ref name="EncMuc"/> Toluca began consolidating in the 1940s,<ref name="StateofMexico"/> but the most intense industrialization began in the 1950s and continued through most of the 1980s. The growth and industrialization of Toluca is closely tied to the growth and changes in economic activities that have occurred in the Mexico City metropolitan area.<ref name="Arteaga">{{cite journal |last=Arteaga Botello |first=Nelson |year=2005 |title=Los estudios sobre la zona metropolitana del valle de Toluca. Aproximaciones estructurales y centrales en los actores |journal=Región y Sociedad |volume=xvii |issue=33 |url=http://lanic.utexas.edu/project/etext/colson/33/3botello.pdf |format=PDF|accessdate= 2008-03-28 }}</ref> Most industrial enterprises are on the small and micro-level but the city has attracted a large number of international corporations. Major products produced include food processing, metals and machinery, paper products, printed matter as well as auto production. The industrial base of the Toluca metropolitan area employs over 33% of the municipality's population and 6% of the entire state's population.<ref name="EncMuc"/>

Chrysler's [[Toluca Car Assembly]] has manufactured automobiles since 1968. The {{convert|220|acre|km2|adj=on}} complex — where the FIAT 500 is assembled — employs 2300 people.<ref name="cgcomm">{{cite web |title= The 2009 Dodge Journey crossover (and dual-clutch automatic) |url= http://cgcomm.daimlerchrysler.com/documents.do?method=display&docType=pressrelease&docId=7647|publisher=Chrysler, Feb 1, 2008}}</ref> Other companies located here and other of Toluca's industrial parks are [[BMW]], [[Mercedes Benz]], [[Coca-Cola]], [[Femsa]], [[Grupo Bimbo]], [[Nissan]], [[Nestlé]], [[Pfizer]], [[Bayer]], [[Crisa]], [[Barcel]], [[Knorr (brand)|Knorr]], [[Trelleborg Automotive]], and [[HSBC]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autoarabia.org/articles/255/BMW%20X5%20Security:%20Your%20body-guard%20Made-In-Mexico |title=BMW X5 Security: Your body-guard Made-In-Mexico |publisher=Autoarabia.org |accessdate=2014-08-21}}</ref> have complete manufacturing and R&D facilities in the Toluca industrial park. Mercedes-Benz manufactures the C-Class, E-Class, G-Class, here and upgrades the GL-Class, S-Class and CLS-Class to armored vehicles at this facility. BMW manufactures its 3, 5, 7 and X5 series and also offers armored variants.

The ''Libramiento (bypass) Toluca'' is a project to directly connect the Toluca-Mexico City highway to the east of the city to the Toluca-Atlacomulco highway the extends north. It will permit easier access to the airport as well as a bypass route for traffic heading from Mexico City to the west and northwest. The libramiento is already complete, but it is not used by many people because of the high tolls.<ref name="Poder">{{cite web |url= http://69.13.172.131/notas.asp?nota_id=16669 |title= Presenta Libramiento Nororiente De Toluca 75 Por Ciento De Avance: Comunicaciones |accessdate= 2008-04-02}}</ref>

* {{flagicon|ARG}} [[La Plata]], [[Argentina]] since 2010<ref>{{cite web|title=Bruera firmó Convenio de Hermanamiento con la Alcaldesa de Toluca.|publisher=Municipalidad de La Plata|url=http://www.gestion.laplata.gov.ar/noticias/221-bruera-firmo-convenio-de-hermanamiento-con-la-alcaldesa-de-toluca|accessdate=23 October 2010}}</ref>