ACAPULCO

in full Acapulco De Jurez, resort and port, Guerrero estado ("state"), southwestern Mexico. Situated on a deep, semicircular bay, Acapulco has the best harbour on the Pacific coast of Mexico and one of the finest natural anchorages in the world. The town lies on a narrow strip of land between the bay and the steeply rising mountains that encircle it. From May to November the climate is hot, humid, and frequently rainy, but from December through April it is warm, dry, and pleasant. The harbour was discovered by Hernn Corts in 1531, and a settlement was founded in 1550. It was designated a city in 1599. Acapulco was a main depot for Spanish colonial fleets plying between Mexico and the Orient, especially Manila, and continued to be a port of call for steamship lines between Panama and San Francisco and a major export point for coffee, sugar, and other products of the interior. Acapulco has become the "Riviera of Mexico" for tourists attracted by the climate, the many luxurious hotels, excellent beaches, and deep-sea fishing. More than 300,000 visitors go there annually. No railroads connect to Acapulco, but the paving in 1940 of the Taxco-Acapulco link of the highway from Cuernavaca and Mexico City (288 miles to the north-northeast) and frequent air service make it easily accessible. A summer school for foreigners, founded in 1955, provides tourists with courses on Mexican arts and archaeology. Local industry is limited to the manufacture of woven sombreros, shellwork, confectionery, and other tourist-based products. Local historical attractions include the 18th-century Fort of San Diego, which houses a regional museum. Pop. (1980) 301,902.