Monterrey, Mexico

I am honored to be here this year to visit a different canyon landscape. Monterrey is the capital of the northeastern state of Nuevo León, Mexico. The city center is about 540 meters above sea level and is the ninth largest city in the country. Monterrey is the core of the Monterrey Metropolitan Area, the third largest metropolitan area in Mexico, and is also the commercial center of northeastern Mexico. Many important international companies are located here. The city's GDP in 2012 was $130.7 billion, making it the second richest city in Mexico and the ninth richest city in Latin America. GaWC's World Class Cities List rated it as a Beta city, which means it is already a metropolitan area and its services are quite competitive among international cities. Due to its historical and cultural background, Monterrey is often regarded as the most "Americanized" and highly developed city in Mexico, even beyond the US-Mexico border.