Presa Venustiano Carranza (Don Martín)

Presa Venustiano Carranza, known locally as Don Martín, is a major reservoir in the municipality of Juárez in northern Coahuila, formed by a dam whose construction began in 1927 and was inaugurated in 1930 at the point where the Río Salado meets the Río Sabinas. The reservoir holds a capacity of more than 1,300 cubic hectometers of water and irrigates roughly 29,600 hectares across the Don Martín irrigation district spanning Coahuila and neighboring Nuevo León. Beyond its agricultural role, Don Martín has become the state's leading destination for organized sport fishing, particularly for largemouth bass, with tournaments each May and October drawing anglers from across northern Mexico. The reservoir also supports boating, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding, and a local volunteer association, El Faro de Don Martín, oversees swimmer and boater safety at the main access points, with registration recommended on arrival. Reaching Don Martín from Saltillo involves a fairly long drive north through Monclova and Sabinas, making it more practical as an overnight trip - often combined with a stay in Sabinas, Nueva Rosita, or Monclova - than a single rushed day from the state capital. Visitors closer to Monclova or the northern mining towns find it a much more manageable outing.