EL PUERTO DE SANTA MARA

port city, Cadiz provincia, in Andalusia comunidad autnoma (autonomous community), southern Spain, at the mouth of Guadalete River on Baha (bay) de Cdiz, southwest of Jerez de la Frontera. The Roman Portus Menesthei, it was once the site of naval arsenals and shipyards and was an oceanic captaincy general. It was from El Puerto de Santa Mara that the explorer Alonso de Ojeda sailed to the West Indies. Its chief economic activity is the production and blending of sherry wines, which are exported. Pop. (1987 est.) 48,900.