Salina Cruz facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Salina Cruz
Municipality and town
Aerial view of Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Coat of arms
Location of the municipality in Oaxaca
Salina Cruz Location in Mexico
Country	Mexico
State	Oaxaca
Area
• Total	131.9 km2 (50.9 sq mi)
• Town	31.7 km2 (12.2 sq mi)
Population  (2020 census)
• Total	84,438
• Density	640.17/km2 (1,658.0/sq mi)
• Town	76,660
• Town density	2,418/km2 (6,263/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central Standard Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (Central Daylight Time)

Salina Cruz is a major seaport on the Pacific coast of the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It is the state's fourth-largest city and is the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name. It is part of the Tehuantepec District in the west of the Istmo Region. The city had a 2020 census population of 76,660, while its municipality, with an area of 131.9 km² (50.9 sq mi) had a population of 84,438, the state's fifth-largest municipality in population.

The port was developed in the late 19th century due to its location at the southern terminus of the Tren Interoceánico, which carried freight across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.

Salina Cruz in 2010

History

Salina Cruz was founded in 1522 by the Spanish, under whose command Pedro de Alvarado came. It was given the name "Salina de la Santa Cruz" as its official foundation day was the Catholic day of the holy cross.

Salina Cruz is situated near the mouth of the Río Tehuantepec, on the open coast of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec on the Gulf of Tehuantepec, and has no natural harbour. There was only a small native village before Salina Cruz was chosen as the Pacific terminus of the Tehuantepec National Railway, whereupon a modern town was laid out and built on adjacent higher ground and an artificial harbour was built by the Mexican government to accommodate the expected traffic. The new port was opened to traffic in 1907 and in 1909 its population was largely composed of labourers. The harbour was formed by the construction of two breakwaters, the western 3,260 ft (990 m) and the eastern 1,900 ft (580 m) long, which curve toward each other at their outer extremities and leave an entrance 635 ft (194 m) wide. The enclosed space is divided into an outer and inner harbour by a double line of quays wide enough to carry six great warehouses with electric cranes on both sides and a number of railway tracks. Connected with the new port works was one of the then-largest dry docks in the world 610 ft (190 m) long and 89 ft (27 m) wide, with a depth of 28 ft (8.5 m) on its sill at low water. The works were planned to handle an immense volume of transcontinental freight, and before they were finished four steamship lines had arranged regular calls at Salina Cruz.

Salina Cruz railway station restored in 2024.

The municipality

As municipal seat, Salina Cruz has governing jurisdiction over the following communities:

Agua Blanca, Boca del Río, Colonia el Bosque, Colonia el Mirador, Colonia Estibadores, Colonia Granadillo, Colonia la Brecha, Colonia Miramar, Colonia Santita, Colonia Vista Hermosa, El Ciruelo, El Puentecito, Ensenada de la Ventosa, La Brecha (Rancho Moisés Aquino), La Hacienda (Palo Grande), Las Escolleras, Palo Grande, Playa Azul, Playa Brasil (Brasilito), Salinas del Marqués, San Antonio Monterrey, and San José del Palmar.

Geography

Climate

Satellite view

Salina Cruz experiences a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw). This is because from November to March the precipitation is much smaller, mainly concentrated in summer similar to Asian monsoons, although it is not categorized as such. The seasons of the year can not be well demarcated, generally better defined by the rainy season in the central months of the year. Although precipitation is 1122.3 mm on average, it is usually concentrated in the summer, with August averaging 330.7 mm and February at only 1.6 mm. It is not uncommon for temperatures to rise from 35 °C at some times of the year even in its coastal location. The winter is unknown and at times there is just something like the end of fall to early spring, the lower averages are above 21 °C, moreover no temperature below 10 °C has been recorded as in the Gulf of Mexico. High temperatures are present for much of the year. The hours of sunshine are always well above 200 hours a month, totaling 2670.6 in annual average, which shows a pleasant beach climate.