By Matthew Fortuna
Facts About La Paz, Mexico
La Paz is the capital for the state of Baja California Sur in
Mexico. It is a center of commerce and tourism in the area, and has the largest population of any city in the Baja peninsula. Founded in the 1500s, it lies in the south of the peninsula on the Gulf of California.
History
La Paz has been inhabited since hunters and gatherers inhabited the Americas as far back as 10,000 years ago. Rock paintings throughout the area were left as proof of the existence of these prehistoric men.
Settlement
The city was founded and settled in the modern age on May 3, 1535 by Hernan Cortes, who named it Santa Cruz. It was later resettled in 1596 by Sebastian Vizcaino and given its current name.
Standard of Living
With one of the highest standards of living in Mexico, the people of La Paz make nearly $27 USD per day. The average in the rest of the country is less than $5 USD.
Tourism
The Bay of La Paz draws thousands of tourists year-round that dive and snorkel among the 900 islands and inlets in the Gulf of California.
Transportation
La Paz is served by its own international airport (Manuel Marquez de Leon), as well as two main highways. The most prominent, Highway 1, links La Paz to Cabo San Lucas and Tijuana.
Marine Biology
La Paz is home to the three leading marine biology institutes in all of Latin America: UABCS, CIBNOR and CICIMAR.
Famous Ties
The city of La Paz was featured prominently in American author John Steinbeck's "The Pearl" (1947) and "The Log From the Sea of Cortez" (1951).
About the Author:
Matthew Fortuna is a full-time freelance writer with a journalism degree from Wayne State University, living in the Detroit metropolitan area. He has written about a wide range of topics across varying publications, including Demand Studios, wiseGEEK.com and Suite101.com, among others. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Wayne State University.
Photo Credits:
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