GUERRERO

state, southwestern Mexico. It is bounded by the Pacific Ocean on the south and west and by the states of Michoacn on the northwest, Mxico and Morelos on the north, and Puebla and Oaxaca on the northeast and east, respectively. Except for the narrow coastal plain, the state's 24,819-square-mile (64,281-square-kilometre) territory lies entirely within the Sierra Madre del Sur, the valleys of which are usually narrow, fertile, and heavily forested but difficult of access. The principal river in the state is the Balsas. The coast and lower river courses are tropical; the mountain region is celebrated for its temperate climate. Named after Vicente Guerrero, a leader of Mexico's wars for independence, the region became a state in 1849. Chilpancingo is the state capital, but the state's best-known cities are Acapulco, once a colonial port but now a fashionable oceanside resort, and Taxco, a beautifully preserved colonial town that has likewise become a tourist centre. Guerrero derives its income from agriculture (cotton, coffee, tobacco, and cereals), forest products, mining (including silver, gold, mercury, lead, and iron), and tourism. Railroads do not penetrate far into the state, but the highway network is good, and there is an excellent port at Acapulco. The population is mainly Indian and mestizo. Pop. (1988 est.) 2,559,800.