Tampico, Port city in Tamaulipas, Mexico
Tampico is a port on the northern bank of the Pánuco River, about 10 kilometers inland from the Gulf of Mexico. Wide streets run through colonial buildings and modern neighborhoods, while bridges cross the river and connect it with neighboring communities.
Spaniards founded this settlement in 1554, but pirates destroyed it completely in 1683. General Santa Anna ordered its rebuilding in 1823, and the city experienced rapid growth after oil was found in 1901.
The tampiqueña plate originated in these streets and combines grilled beef with cheese, beans, and guacamole. Fishermen return with their catch in the morning and kitchens along the waterfront prepare red snapper and halibut fresh.
Francisco Javier Mina Airport sits north of the city and offers regular connections to Mexico City, Monterrey, and Houston. Boats and ferries run along the river and connect both banks with the districts of Madero and Altamira.
Oil tankers once navigated through a network of canals that ran directly through residential neighborhoods, moving crude to refineries along the riverbank. Some of these canals still exist today and run parallel to main streets.
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