Chihuahua is the largest state in Mexico. It borders the US on the North and the Northeas, on the east is the state of Coahuila, Sonora is on the West, Durango to the South, and Sinaloa to the Southwest. It is comparable in size to New Mexico or Arizona in the US, and to France or Spain in Europe.
In 1563 the Spanish Virrey De Velasco sent Fransisco Ibarra to conquer these distant lands. They were the first to discover the ruins of Paquime.
In 1709 the city where the silver mines were was named "San Felipe del Real Chihuahua". During these periods of time the mines in the surrounding areas produced millions of pesos. During this period of time the Cathedral was built and many of the elegant houses.
While there is no definate consensus as to the meaning of the word Chihuahua: the most accepted of the linguistic interpretations is that Chihuahua in Nahuatl means: dry and sandy place.
Although parts of Chihuahua fit that description it is also the home to much vegetation and many mountains.
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