Ciudad Obregón facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ciudad Obregón
City
Municipal Palace, Cathedral of the city, Monumental Clock, Laguna del Nainari, Ciudad Obregón International Airport.
Seal
Ciudad Obregón Location in Sonora Show map of Sonora Ciudad Obregón Location in Mexico Show map of Mexico Ciudad Obregón Location in North America Show map of North America
Country	Mexico
State	Sonora
Municipality	Cajeme
Founded	1927
Government
• Type	Ayuntamiento
Elevation	40 m (130 ft)
Population  (2020)
• Total	436,484
Demonym(s)	Obregonense
Time zone	UTC-7 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (no DST/PDT)
ZIP code	85000–85059
Area code(s)	644,
Website	https://www.copreco.mx/ciudadobregon

Ciudad Obregón is a city in southern Sonora, a state in Mexico. It is the second largest city in Sonora, right after Hermosillo, which is the state capital. Ciudad Obregón is also the main city of the Cajeme municipality. In 2020, about 436,484 people lived here. The city is about 530 kilometers (330 miles) south of the U.S.–Mexico border.

History of Ciudad Obregón

The city was first called Cajeme. It got its current name from Álvaro Obregón, a hero of the Mexican Revolution. He was born nearby in Huatabampo, Sonora. Álvaro Obregón later became the president of Mexico. He helped start a big "agricultural revolution" in the Yaqui Valley. This brought new farming methods and made the valley a very rich farming area.

A famous American scientist named Norman Borlaug also worked here. He is known as the "Father of the Green Revolution". He helped make wheat stronger against diseases. For his important work, he later won the Nobel Prize.

The city started in 1906 when the South Pacific Railway built tracks through the Yaqui Valley. This railway connected the valley to other markets. It brought many new people and businesses to the area.

In 1907, a train stop was set up to get water for the locomotives. This stop was named Cajeme. Cajemé was a brave leader of the Yaqui people, who live in this area. He first fought with the Mexican army, then led his people in a rebellion.

Early settlers arrived, and the first neighborhood was called Plano Oriente. In 1923, the first car dealership, 'Cajeme Motors', opened. This helped the city grow a lot. After being president, Álvaro Obregón started businesses in the area in 1925. This brought more jobs and helped the local economy.

On November 29, 1927, Cajeme became the main town of its own municipality. Before this, it was part of Cocorit. In 1928, the first local government was set up. On July 28 of that year, the town's name was changed to Ciudad Obregón. This was to honor Álvaro Obregón. However, the municipality kept the name Cajeme. That same year, the first newspaper, 'The Pacific Gazette', was printed here.

Some of the first neighborhoods were Plano Oriente, Ladrillera, and Bella Vista. In the early 1900s, rice was the most important crop in the Yaqui Valley. Other crops included wheat, beans, and vegetables. Over time, wheat became the most important crop. Because of its strong farming, the first big industries were rice mills.

In the 1950s, Norman E. Borlaug helped create the Northwest Agricultural Research Center (CIANO). His work helped make the Yaqui Valley known as "The Barn Of Mexico."

Geography and Climate

Ciudad Obregón is located in the southern part of Sonora. It is about 40 meters (131 feet) above sea level. The city is about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the Sea of Cortez coast. It is also about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains. The state capital, Hermosillo, is 240 kilometers (149 miles) away.

Climate of Ciudad Obregón

Ciudad Obregón has a steppe climate. This means it has long, very hot summers and short, mild winters. Summer temperatures often reach 40°C (104°F) or more. Nights can stay warm, sometimes around 30°C (86°F). It is usually sunny and clear all year. In summer, strong thunderstorms with winds and sandstorms can happen. Rain is rare but more common in summer.

In winter, daytime temperatures can be over 26°C (79°F). But at night, the temperature can drop to 2°C (36°F). It never snows in Ciudad Obregón. However, hailstorms can occur during cold weather.

Roots and Traditions

The native Yaqui people live in eight towns near Ciudad Obregón. These towns are Potam, Huiribis, Torim, Cocorit, Bacum, Vicam, Rahum, and Belem. About 7 kilometers (4 miles) from the city is the first of these towns. The Yaqui people are known for being very independent. They were one of the few groups in America not fully taken over by Spanish colonists.

Yaqui history shows their strong fight to protect their land and culture. Their ancient culture is rich with special ceremonies and traditions. One famous tradition is the Deer Dance. It is a symbolic dance that shows the hunting of a deer.

Getting Around

The city has its own airport, the Ciudad Obregón International Airport. This makes it easy for people to travel to and from the city.

Fun Things to Do

Nainari Lagoon

Nainari Lagoon is a great place for outdoor activities.

The "Nainari Lagoon" is a large lake on the west side of the city. It has a 2-kilometer (1.2-mile) path around it. This area is perfect for outdoor sports. There is even a public outdoor gym. The lagoon has two piers for water activities like skiing, sailing, and canoeing. It is also a popular spot for triathlons, marathons, and bike races.

You can find many stands selling fresh coconuts and snacks like "mango con chile" along the lagoon's boardwalk. There are also restaurants. The Nainari Lagoon is man-made. It was built in 1956 by the city mayor at the time. Water is always flowing through it from a main irrigation canal. The lagoon has been improved by local authorities. There is a small garden with a statue of a discus thrower near the park entrance. Next to the lagoon is a sports complex. It has an Olympic-sized swimming pool and courts for tennis, basketball, soccer, and fronton.

Ostimuri Children's Park

Right next to the Nainari Lagoon, you will find the Ostimuri Children's Park and the Ostimuri Zoo. The park has many fun rides for kids. Beautiful trees surround the park, making it a nice place to relax. The Ostimuri Zoo is inside the park. It is home to many different animals. You can hear birds singing as you walk through the zoo.

Yaqui Museum

The Yaqui Museum teaches visitors about the Yaqui culture. Its goal is to save, protect, and share the history and way of life of the Yaqui tribe. It also helps people in Sonora learn about the Yaqui people's unique qualities and rich traditions. The museum shows scenes from the daily life of the Yaqui tribe. You can see their musical instruments, hunting tools, and special clothing.

Cocorit House

This old building has a colonial style. It has four rooms for exhibits and a large garden. Here, you can see paintings, sculptures, and crafts. Many artists visit this house. The Cocorit House helps artists who need support. Local artists call it a "haven for the arts" in the region.

Álvaro Obregón Dam

The General Álvaro Obregón Dam is also called the Oviachic Dam. It was built between 1947 and 1952. It is located about 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of Ciudad Obregón.

Lake Oviachic is part of this dam system on the Yaqui River. It is the largest dam in Sonora. The dam helps irrigate a huge area of farmland in the Yaqui and Mayo Valleys. This makes it one of the most important water systems in Mexico. In recent years, the Oviachic Dam has become a very popular place for tourists to visit.

Huivulai Island

Huivulai Island is about 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Ciudad Obregón. It is about 5 kilometers (3 miles) off the coast of Sonora in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez). In the Mayo language, Huivulai means "long neck." The island is 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) long and 1.2 kilometers (0.75 miles) wide at its widest point.

The island has many natural sights. It has sand dunes that are popular for four-wheel drive vehicles. There is also an oasis with a water well and date trees. This oasis attracts many kinds of birds. You can see gray and white pelicans, storks, and albatrosses. The island has many beaches and is a great place for fishing.

Festivals and Cultural Programs

Tetabiakte Art and Culture Festival

This art and culture festival happens every November. It celebrates the founding anniversary of the Cajeme municipality. The festival offers music, painting, films, poetry, and book presentations. It also showcases the culture and traditions of the Yaqui people.

ITSON Arts Festival

The Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora organizes this festival every October. It is part of a national network of festivals. The festival offers many artistic programs for students and the community. You can see national quality groups perform in university halls, public spaces, and theaters.

Ars Vocalis México

Ars Vocalis México is an international festival and school for singing. In 2015, it was held in Ciudad Obregón. This festival helps young Mexican singers. They can take classes from famous opera singers from Europe and the United States. Students also learn about German, ancient, and Mexican music. The public can enjoy free concerts and opera shows.

IPN International Book Fair

Since 2013, the National Polytechnic Institute has organized an International Book Fair. It takes place every September. Famous writers, like Elena Poniatowska, have attended the fair. Many government and private groups help with this event.

Sports in Ciudad Obregón

The most popular sport in Obregón is baseball. The city's professional baseball team is the Yaquis. They play in the Mexican Pacific League at the Tomás Oroz Gaytán Stadium.

Ciudad Obregón has many sports facilities. These include:

• The Municipal Gymnasium "Manuel Lira García," which can hold 3,000 people.
• The Arena ITSON, which can hold 7,500 people.
• The New Yaquis Stadium, which can hold 16,500 people.

There are also smaller basketball and baseball stadiums around the city.

Ciudad Obregón has these sports teams:

• Yaquis de Obregón: A baseball team in the Mexican Pacific League.
• Halcones de Ciudad Obregón: A basketball team in CIBACOPA.
• Guerreros de Obregón FC: A football (soccer) team in Mexico's Third Division.

Football (soccer) is also popular. The "Manuel 'Piri' Sagasta" stadium is the main place for soccer. It can hold about 4,000 fans. Next to the soccer stadium is the "Náinari 2000" sports area. It is used for many different sports.

Taekwondo is the most popular martial art in Ciudad Obregón. Many young people practice it. The city has many medal winners in national and international taekwondo competitions. The ITSON Potros team has won three national university championships in Mexico.

In 2021, Ciudad Obregón and Hermosillo hosted the 3rd U-23 Baseball World Cup. This event was organized by the World Baseball Softball Confederation.

Local Food

Ciudad Obregón has many delicious traditional dishes:

• Wakabaki

  This is a special soup from the Yaqui people. It is served at their most important celebrations. It is made with chickpeas, beef ribs, pumpkin, potato, cabbage, carrot, and jote. Making it starts with cutting firewood and preparing the beef.

• Tortillas Sobaqueras (large flour tortillas)

  Spaniards brought flour tortillas to Sonora. The Yaqui tribe made them their own. They are called "tortillas sobaqueras" because they are so big. They are made by hand with a lot of water.

• Cahuamanta

  This dish is usually made with manta ray and shrimp. It is a broth with manta meat, shrimp, and vegetables. If only the broth is served, it is called "vichy." This dish was first made with loggerhead sea turtle meat. But since that is no longer allowed, manta ray is used instead. The dish was created in Ciudad Obregón in the late 1800s.

• Coyotas

  These are traditional cookies from Sonora. They are made with wheat flour and filled with "piloncillo" (a type of raw cane sugar). Coyotas are thin and large. In Ciudad Obregón, you can find them with many fillings. These include caramel sauce, chocolate, guava, strawberry, and apple.

• Cecina

  This is a type of dried meat. It is made from beef that is cut and air-dried. During hunting season, it can also be made from venison.

• Bacanora

  Bacanora is a strong alcoholic drink from Sonora, like tequila from Jalisco. It is made from the roasted head of the maguey plant. For a long time, making and selling Bacanora was against the law. This changed in the 1990s. Now, only Sonora is allowed to produce this drink.

Famous People from Ciudad Obregón

Many well-known people are from Ciudad Obregón or have a connection to the city:

• Julio César Chávez – A famous professional boxer.
• Giovanny Gallegos – A Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Hector Velázquez – Another Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Stephanie Sigman – An actress and model. She starred in the film Miss Bala and appeared in the James Bond movie Spectre.
• María Félix – Born in Alamos, she was a very important actress during the golden age of Mexican cinema. She starred in 47 films.
• Norman Borlaug – A scientist who studied wheat in the Yaqui Valley. He helped the region become self-sufficient in wheat. He won a Nobel Prize for his work. A main street in the city is named after him.

Sister Cities

Ciudad Obregón has "sister city" relationships with other cities. This helps promote cultural and economic ties.

• Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States (since 1977)
• Tucson, Arizona, United States (since 1980)

See also

In Spanish: Ciudad Obregón para niños