Puente Internacional Zaragoza Live Cam

Origins of Crossings at El Paso del Norte

Long before the steel and concrete of the modern Puente Internacional Zaragoza spanned the Río Bravo, indigenous groups such as the Piro, Suma, and Mescalero Apache traversed this region via faint game trails and seasonal fords. These pathways followed natural contours of the riverbanks, seeking shallow points during low-water seasons. When Spanish explorers arrived in the late 16th century, they relied on local guides to navigate these crossing points. The Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, a royal road extending from Mexico City to the northern frontier, incorporated these indigenous routes, gradually formalizing them into a carriageway. By the 19th century, El Paso del Norte had emerged as a mission outpost centered around the Misión de Guadalupe, while its northern counterpart, El Paso, developed on the opposite bank. This binational settlement necessitated regular crossings for trade, religious pilgrimages, and familial visits, laying the groundwork for later bridges.