Coatzacoalcos, Industrial port in Veracruz, Mexico
Coatzacoalcos is a port city in the Mexican state of Veracruz at the mouth of the river of the same name on the Gulf of Mexico. The city spreads along the western shore and links shipping routes with road and rail lines through the southern part of the country.
Spanish conquerors founded a settlement called Villa del Espíritu Santo in this area in 1522. The site received official port rights in 1825 and grew into a center for petrochemical industry during the 20th century.
The name comes from the Nahuatl language and means the place where the serpent dwells. Dock workers and traders today use the riverside promenade for breaks between shifts.
The city sits on several major transport routes that make reaching it from the capital or from the Yucatán Peninsula easier. An airport and railway connections complement the road network for travelers.
Four large petrochemical plants in the area produce most of Mexico's chemical raw materials. Container ships and tankers pass daily through the river mouth on the way between refineries and international markets.
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