Altar, Sonora

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Altar
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pushpin_map_caption = Location in Mexico
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = MEX
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Sonora
subdivision_type2 = Municipality
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leader_title =Mayor
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established_title = Founded
established_date = 1775
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population_as_of =2005
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population_total = 8,357
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population_metro =5,839
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population_blank1_title =Municipality
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timezone = MST
utc_offset = -7
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latd=30 |latm=42|lats= |latNS=N
longd=111|longm=49 |longs= |longEW=W
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Altar is both a small city and the surrounding municipal area in the Mexican state of Sonora. It is located in the northwest region of the state at coord|30|42|N|111|49|W|. Surrounding municipalities are Sáric, Tubutama, Atil, Trincheras, Pitiquito, Caborca and Oquitoa. The northern boundary is with the U.S. state of Arizona.

The total area of the municipality (urban and rural) is 3,944.90 square kilometers. The municipal population in 2005 was 8,357 with 5,839 (census of 2000) living in the municipal seat. Other settlements are La Cabecera Municipal, Ejido 16 de Septiembre, Ejido Llano Blanco, and Ejido Santa Matilde.

The territory of the municipality was originally inhabited by the Pima Alto Indians. It was founded in 1775 by Captain Bernardo de Urrea, as a military fort, being called Santa Gertrudis del Altar and later Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe del Altar.

The land lies at an elevation of between 200 and 400 meters sloping towards the Gulf of California. The climate is dry with extremely high temperatures in the summer.

The economy is based on agriculture and cattle raising. The main crops are wheat, cotton, corn, beans, sorghum, and table grapes. The town is also a staging area for the flow of immigrants that will attempt entry into the United States through the shared Sonoran Desert.

The town of Altar is situated on the important Mexicali to Hermosillo Highway (Federal Highway 2). Most of the roads leading into the desert are not paved.

References

* [http://www.e-local.gob.mx/wb2/ELOCAL/EMM_sonora/ Enciclopedia de los Municipios de Mexico]
* [http://www.inegi.gob.mx/inegi/default.aspx/ INEGI]

External links

* [http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2006/09/exodus.html MotherJones.com article on the mexican exodus across the desert]
* [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8171843/ Article on illegal immigrants from MSN]
* [http://dbacon.igc.org/TWC/b04_Sanctuary.htm/ Braceros: sanctuary for border crossers]
* [http://www.esmas.com/noticierostelevisa/losreporteros/383782.html/ Altar, tierra de coyotes] Article in Spanish about illegal border crossing