Albuquerque, abbreviated as ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. The city’s nicknames are The Duke City and Burque, both of which reference its 1706 founding by Nuevo México governor Francisco Cuervo y Valdés as La Villa de Alburquerque. Named in honor of then Viceroy the 10th Duke of Alburquerque, the Villa was an outpost on El Camino Real for the Tiquex and Hispano towns in the area (such as Barelas, Corrales, Isleta Pueblo, Los Ranchos, and Sandia Pueblo). The flag of Albuquerque, New Mexico is the official municipal flag of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The design is a red field with yellow elements (a Zia sun symbol with the number “1706” in the middle, the word “Albuquerque” in italics just below the sun symbol, and a flying thunderbird in the canton). The sun symbolizes the history of the Zia people who settled in the area, and the 4 rays symbolize the importance of the number four in the spiritual beliefs of the Zia society, with the four cardinal directions, the four seasons, the four times of day (sunrise, noon, sunset, night), and the four periods of life (childhood, youth, adulthood, old age). The Zia also believe that a person has four duties: to develop a strong body, a clear mind, a pure spirit, and a devotion to the welfare of people. The Zia symbol also has an obvious connection to the Flag of New Mexico, with both flags using it as a prominent element (in the case of New Mexico, the only element). The mythological thunderbird in the top left is perhaps a representation of the city’s progress through the years. The “1706” honors the Spanish founders of the city. Full HD.