El Salto is a town and seat of the municipality of Pueblo Nuevo in the southwestern part of the Mexican state of Durango. As of 2015, the town had a total population of 24,241, Situated on a pine-forested plateau about 2,580 meters (8,464 feet) above sea level in the Sierra Madre mountain range, the town is home to a large lumber industry. It also has a military base. The surrounding municipality has a population of 50,417 and an area of 6,178.3 km² (2,385.45 sq mi).