With a population of 1,,, Durango has Mexico's second-lowest population density, after Baja California Sur. The capital city, Victoria de Durango , is named after the first president of Mexico, Guadalupe Victoria.
With , It is the fourth largest state [9] [10] lying at the extreme northwest of the Central Mexican Plateau , where it meets the Sierra Madre Occidental βthe highest peaks in the state. The state has an average elevation of 1, meters above sea level, with a mean elevation of 1, m in the Valleys region and 2, m in the Sierra region.
The Sierra Madre Occidental blocks moisture from the Pacific Ocean, impacting the local climate of the state. Las Quebradas region, located over the mountain chain and on the northwest of the state, has a humid subtropical climate.
Excepting the highest elevations, the rest of the state has semi-arid and temperate climates. It is hot and dry in the East, with some temperate areas existing at higher elevations. Most of the state is mountainous and heavily forested, with the Sierra Madre Occidental covering around two-thirds of the state. Reforesting efforts have focused on replanting native tree species, versus those used for wood production.
However, the tree density in many areas is still too low, especially on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre Occidental where tree poaching and clearing for agricultural activities is problematic. Many rivers begin in Durango, but lead into other Mexican states.
