Paz
La Paz is the capital city of Baja California Sur estado (state) in northwestern Mexico. Situated about 40 feet (12 meters) above sea level on the sheltered La Paz Bay of the Gulf of California (also called the Sea of Cortez), it experiences a hot, dry climate. The bay was charted by Spaniards in 1533, but it was not until 1720 that a Jesuit mission was established there. However, it was abandoned around 30 years later due to the harsh climate, Indian uprisings, and the loss of much of the local population to introduced diseases. Despite these challenges, Spanish interests in pearl diving and mining persisted, leading to the founding of a permanent settlement in 1811. La Paz became the territorial capital in 1829.
Since the mid-1970s, La Paz has been a popular tourist destination, especially after the completion of an international airport and the paving of the Transpeninsular Highway from the U.S.-Mexico border. Its attractions include sunny beaches, a beautiful bay, sport fishing (for marlin, sailfish, tuna, and others), aquatic sports, and excursions to nearby islands for diving and wildlife observation. The city is also home to manufacturing industries producing plastics and clothing. Additionally, La Paz serves as a commercial fishing port, a regional transportation center, and a market for agricultural products from the surrounding countryside, including corn (maize), wheat, beans, cotton, and cattle. The city is accessible by road, air, and automobile ferry from the Mexican mainland. As of 2020, the population of La Paz was 250,141.
