Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán
Encyclopedia
Lázaro Cárdenas is a port city that with its surrounding municipality
is located in the southern part of the Mexican state of Michoacán
. It was formerly known as Los Llanitos, but changed its name as a tribute to Lázaro Cárdenas del Río
, a Michoacán-born politician who was president of Mexico
from 1934 to 1940.
The city is located at 17°57′00"N 102°12′00"W, where the Río Balsas drains into the Pacific Ocean
. In the 2005 census, the city's population was 74,884. It is served by Lázaro Cárdenas Airport
. The municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas, which has an area of 1,160.24 km² (447.97 sq mi), had a total population of 162,997 in 2005, and includes extensive territory outside the city, including the communities of Las Guacamayas, La Orilla, and La Mira.
. In 1932 it was given town status and named Melchor Ocampo, after politician Melchor Ocampo
. On April 12, 1937, during the governorship of José María Mendoza Prado, the state congress decreed the creation of the municipality of Melchor Ocampo del Balsas. The name of the municipality changed again on November 17, 1970, to Lázaro Cárdenas, in honor of the popular former president who had died the previous month.
In 2006, steelworkers in a Lázaro Cárdenas steel plant went on strike, causing numerous injuries and deaths.
In July 2007, a ship was caught by Mexican officials at the port of Lázaro Cárdenas
, originating in Hong Kong
, after traveling through the port of Long Beach
with 19 tons of pseudoephedrine
, a raw material needed for the manufacturing process of the drug methamphetamine
. The Chinese owner Zhenli Ye Gon
was found to have $206 million at his Mexico City mansion. It went undetected at Long Beach.
, dry bulk, and liquid cargo. The port handled 160,000 TEU
in 2005 but is expanding to a capacity of 2.2 million TEU annually. Cargo moves to and from the port by road and rail equally, with rail service provided exclusively by Kansas City Southern Railway
. The port is expected to become a major container facility due to congestion at the U.S. ports of Los Angeles
and Long Beach
and its relative proximity to major cities such as Chicago
, Kansas City
, and Houston. In preparation for the port's increased capacity, railway and highway infrastructure running north-south through the center of Mexico has been upgraded in recent years to handle the anticipated increase in volume of goods bound for the United States using this transportation corridor. If a proposed government-backed Pacific port is built at Punta Colonet, Baja California
, goods flowing to US states like Arizona
and Nevada
could bypass the congested Los Angeles region with closer access those markets, providing increased competition with Lázaro Cárdenas.
Municipalities of Mexico
Municipalities are the second-level administrative division in Mexico . There are 2,438 municipalities in Mexico, making the average municipality population 45,616...
is located in the southern part of the Mexican state of Michoacán
Michoacán
Michoacán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia...
. It was formerly known as Los Llanitos, but changed its name as a tribute to Lázaro Cárdenas del Río
Lázaro Cárdenas
Lázaro Cárdenas del Río was President of Mexico from 1934 to 1940.-Early life:Lázaro Cárdenas was born on May 21, 1895 in a lower-middle class family in the village of Jiquilpan, Michoacán. He supported his family from age 16 after the death of his father...
, a Michoacán-born politician who was president of Mexico
President of Mexico
The President of the United Mexican States is the head of state and government of Mexico. Under the Constitution, the president is also the Supreme Commander of the Mexican armed forces...
from 1934 to 1940.
The city is located at 17°57′00"N 102°12′00"W, where the Río Balsas drains into the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. In the 2005 census, the city's population was 74,884. It is served by Lázaro Cárdenas Airport
Lázaro Cárdenas Airport
Lázaro Cárdenas Airport is an airport located at Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, Mexico. It handles national air traffic for the city of Lázaro Cárdenas....
. The municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas, which has an area of 1,160.24 km² (447.97 sq mi), had a total population of 162,997 in 2005, and includes extensive territory outside the city, including the communities of Las Guacamayas, La Orilla, and La Mira.
History
When known as Los Llanitos, it formed part of the municipality of ArteagaArteaga, Michoacán
Arteaga is a municipality located in the southern region of the Mexican state of Michoacán. The municipality has an area of 3,454.71 square kilometres and is bordered to the north by the municipality of La Huacana, to the east by Churumuco and the state of Guerrero, to the south by Lázaro...
. In 1932 it was given town status and named Melchor Ocampo, after politician Melchor Ocampo
Melchor Ocampo
Melchor Ocampo was a Mexican lawyer, scientist, and liberal politician.His home state was renamed Michoacán de Ocampo in his honour.-Studies:...
. On April 12, 1937, during the governorship of José María Mendoza Prado, the state congress decreed the creation of the municipality of Melchor Ocampo del Balsas. The name of the municipality changed again on November 17, 1970, to Lázaro Cárdenas, in honor of the popular former president who had died the previous month.
In 2006, steelworkers in a Lázaro Cárdenas steel plant went on strike, causing numerous injuries and deaths.
In July 2007, a ship was caught by Mexican officials at the port of Lázaro Cárdenas
Port of Lázaro Cárdenas
The Port of Lázaro Cárdenas is the largest Mexican seaport and one of the largest seaports in the Pacific Ocean basin, with an annual traffic capacity of around 25 million tonnes of cargo and 2,200,000 TEU's.-Description:...
, originating in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, after traveling through the port of Long Beach
Long Beach
-United States:*Long Beach, California, most populous city with this name**Long Beach Airport**Long Beach Naval Shipyard**Long Beach Search & Rescue**Long Beach Unified School District**Port of Long Beach*Long Beach, Indiana*Long Beach, Minnesota...
with 19 tons of pseudoephedrine
Pseudoephedrine
Pseudoephedrine is a sympathomimetic drug of the phenethylamine and amphetamine chemical classes. It is used as a nasal/sinus decongestant and stimulant, or as a wakefulness-promoting agent....
, a raw material needed for the manufacturing process of the drug methamphetamine
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...
. The Chinese owner Zhenli Ye Gon
Zhenli Ye Gon
Zhenli Ye Gon is a Mexican businessman of Chinese origin accused of trafficking pseudoephedrine or ephedrine precursor chemicals into Mexico from Asia. He is the legal representative of Unimed Pharm Chem México...
was found to have $206 million at his Mexico City mansion. It went undetected at Long Beach.
Port
Lázaro Cárdenas is home to a deep-water seaport that handles containerContainerization
Containerization is a system of freight transport based on a range of steel intermodal containers...
, dry bulk, and liquid cargo. The port handled 160,000 TEU
Twenty-foot equivalent unit
The twenty-foot equivalent unit is an inexact unit of cargo capacity often used to describe the capacity of container ships and container terminals...
in 2005 but is expanding to a capacity of 2.2 million TEU annually. Cargo moves to and from the port by road and rail equally, with rail service provided exclusively by Kansas City Southern Railway
Kansas City Southern Railway
The Kansas City Southern Railway , owned by Kansas City Southern Industries, is the smallest and second-oldest Class I railroad company still in operation. KCS was founded in 1887 and is currently operating in a region consisting of ten central U.S. states...
. The port is expected to become a major container facility due to congestion at the U.S. ports of Los Angeles
Port of Los Angeles
The Port of Los Angeles, also called Los Angeles Harbor and WORLDPORT L.A, is a port complex that occupies of land and water along of waterfront. The port is located on San Pedro Bay in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles, approximately south of downtown...
and Long Beach
Port of Long Beach
The Port of Long Beach, also known as Long Beach’s Harbor Department, is the 2nd busiest container port in the USA. It adjoins the separate Port of Los Angeles. Acting as a major gateway for U.S.-Asian trade, the port occupies of land with of waterfront in the city of Long Beach, California...
and its relative proximity to major cities such as Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, and Houston. In preparation for the port's increased capacity, railway and highway infrastructure running north-south through the center of Mexico has been upgraded in recent years to handle the anticipated increase in volume of goods bound for the United States using this transportation corridor. If a proposed government-backed Pacific port is built at Punta Colonet, Baja California
Punta Colonet, Baja California
Punta Colonet , north of San Quintín, Baja California, is one of the most productive agricultural areas in Mexico's Baja California peninsula. Its proximity to Mexican Federal Highway 1 and the United States have spurred the growth of large commercial farming in the area...
, goods flowing to US states like Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
could bypass the congested Los Angeles region with closer access those markets, providing increased competition with Lázaro Cárdenas.