Puebla [key], state (1990 pop. 4,126,101), 13,126 sq mi (33,996 sq km), E central Mexico. The city of Puebla is the capital. The state is almost entirely mountainous, with large valleys between its ranges. N Puebla is dominated by the Sierra Madre Oriental, and a volcanic belt stretches across the central part of the state. Mexico's three highest peaks—Citlaltépetl in the east and Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl in the west—border on Puebla. The state's extreme northeastern section lies on the humid coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico; the southern part is in drier upland valleys. Differences in climate and elevation permit the cultivation of a variety of agricultural products, although corn and cereal grains are dominant. Stock raising is also important. The majority of the state's population is engaged in agriculture. Puebla has a diverse industrial sector as well, including automobile, textile, and various light manufacturing. The state's resources include gold, silver, copper, and lead, but mining is not significantly developed. Puebla also has the potential for a lumbering industry. Communications within the state are excellent. Puebla was the epicenter of a earthquake in 1973 that caused significant damage in the state.
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