#6: Durango

Durango is a large and sparsely populated landlocked mountainous state in the northwest of Mexico half-covered in forest. With its many rivers that begin in the mountains and its deserts and lakes, Durango can be considered the rugged Wild West of Mexico.

Durango is the country's largest timber producer accounting for up to 30% of Mexico's output - mostly pine and oak. Agriculture and mining are also important industries in the state. Since mid-20th century Durango has been an important site for filmmaking, especially westerns, with John Wayne alone working on 7 films in the state - to the point that Durango has come to be known as the land of movies ('tierra del cine').

The symbol of Durango is the scorpion, which are abundant there.

The name originates from a geographically similar place in Spain (town of Durango in the Basque country). Before it became Durango - the area was known as Nueva Vizcaya (Spain's Vizcaya is the province of the original Durango). The capital, Victoria de Durango, is named after Mexico's first president Guadalupe Victoria (who was in fact a man, born José Miguel Ramón Adaucto Fernández y Félix).

Now for the food. Durango is known for its Caldillo Duranguense, so that's what I made. Basically a soup of green chiles (poblanos) with oxtail & beef neckbones, simmered with onion, garlic, tomatillo (giving it a bright tart profile), and seasoned with cumin and oregano. One of the better successes of the project. Again, recipe courtesy of the inimitable Rick Martinez and his amazing book Mi Cocina.