Ciudad Obregón, Commercial center in Sonora, Mexico
This city sits in the Yaqui Valley at an elevation of 36 meters (118 feet), surrounded by cotton fields and wheat plantations that stretch to the horizon. It feels spacious and flat, with wide roads and modern buildings scattered among agricultural lands.
The city began in 1906 when the South Pacific Railway reached the Yaqui Valley and settlers moved into the region. In 1928 it received its current name in honor of Mexican President Álvaro Obregón, who was born in the area.
The Yaqui Museum displays objects and exhibits about the Yaqui, an indigenous people who live in eight autonomous communities in the surrounding area. The Yaqui speak their own language and maintain traditions that visitors can observe during public festivals and ceremonies.
The city is easy to reach by car and the streets are laid out in a grid that makes orientation straightforward. Sonora gets very hot in summer, so a visit between October and April is more comfortable.
Norman Borlaug conducted wheat research at agricultural stations here, leading to advances in crop development. His work in the region helped him later receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
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