city, northern San Luis Potosí estado (state), northeastern Mexico. It is situated on the interior plateau, 5,955 feet (1,815 m) above sea level, in the Salado Valley, east of the Sierra del Catorce. Some corn (maize) is cultivated in the area, but it is primarily a mining (gold, silver, lead, and copper) and industrial (large copper smelters) centre. In addition, there are tanneries, and liquor and fibres are extracted from maguey. The city is linked by highway with San Luis Potosí, the state capital, to the south-southwest, and with Saltillo, the capital of Coahuila state, to the north-northwest. Matehuala also has an airfield. Pop. (2000) 64,206.