CAMPECHE

estado (state), southeastern Mexico, on the Yucatn Peninsula. It is bounded north and east by the state of Yucatn, from which it seceded in 1857; northwest by the Gulf of Mexico; east by the state of Quintana Roo; south by Guatemala; and southwest by the state of Tabasco. Named after the ancient Mayan province of Kimpech (Campech), it comprises much of the western part of the peninsula. Its territory consists of a low, level limestone plain broken at the north by low hills. The northern half is arid or semiarid, with deep grottoes and caverns that hold the main water supply for agriculture and livestock raising. East and south of Campeche city, the state capital, excessive rainfall and high temperatures produce tropical rain forest, much of it unhealthful and uninhabitable. Rivers running in the southern part of the state drain into Trminos Lagoon, at the gulf entrance to which is the chief depot of the area, Ciudad del Carmen. Forest products (mostly hardwoods and chicle) yield much of the state's income, and there is some commercial fishing. The area is linked to central Mexico by ship, railroad, highway, and air. Area 19,619 square miles (50,812 square km). Pop. (1990) 535,185. port city on the Gulf of Mexico and capital of Campeche estado (state), southeastern Mexico. It lies on the western extremity of a fertile plain in a natural amphitheatre formed by hills encircling the Bay of Campeche. The Spanish town was founded in 1540 on the site of a Mayan village (Kimpech), the remains of which are still visible. In the 18th century, Campeche de Baranda was opened as one of three ports on the gulf and thrived on its monopoly of Yucatn Peninsula trade, mainly exports of dyewood and salt. At various times in the early 19th century, Campeche was the capital of Yucatn; it became the capital of the newly created Campeche state in 1863. Although its economic importance has declined, especially with the displacement of vegetable dyes by chemical dyes, Campeche still exports dyewood, cotton, rice, sugarcane, tobacco, and guitars. Its greatest economic importance today, however, lies in its proximity to the offshore oil fields of the Bay of Campeche, for which it is a service centre. It is noted for its colonial churches, old citadel, and walls erected for protection against 17th-century pirates. The city is the site of the Autonomous University of the Southeast (1756, refounded 1965). Campeche is linked by railroad, highway, and air to Mrida and cities in central Mexico. Pop. (1990 prelim.) 172,208.