Mining town by excellence, Cananea celebrated 100 years in 2001. In 1760 Jesuits missioners discover and opened rich gold and silver mines. Years later, General Ignacio Pesqueira settle down his quarters to protect the population from de Apache Indians. He opens La Elenita mine, named after his wife Elena Pesqueira de Pesqueira introducing modern systems in the mining process - for those years. The mineral was extracted in a rudimentary way and carried to the port of Guaymas with mules where it was embarqued. In 1899  William Cornell Greene, an american citizen bought the mining center and created  The Cananea Consolidated Copper Company and The Cananea Cattle Company. President Adolfo Lopez Mateos afterwards expropriated the properties.

    Cananea has a mild climate in summer and cool winters. Pines, bellotos and ocotillos are a special attraction to visitors.

    On your stay in Cananea visit: Green's house - built by Colonel William C. Green with materials and furnishing imported from Europe,  Ojo de Agua de Arvayo - where Río Sonora begins,  Mexicana de Cananea mine - created in 1860, the Lucha  Obrera museum - at the ex Cananea jail building built in 1902, the Forestal Reserve of Los Ajos and Dr. Guillermo Haro Barraza's Astrophisic Observatory at 8,661 ft. above sea level.