La Quebrada (

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

for "gulch" or "

ravine A ravine is a landform that is narrower than a canyon and is often the product of streambank erosion. Ravines are typically classified as larger in scale than gullies, although smaller than valleys. Ravines may also be called a cleuch, dell, ...

") is one of the most famous tourist attractions in

Acapulco Acapulco de Juárez (), commonly called Acapulco ( , ; ), is a city and Port of Acapulco, major seaport in the Political divisions of Mexico, state of Guerrero on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, south of Mexico City. Located on a deep, semicirc ...

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

. Divers entertain tourists by jumping off either of two ledges on the cliff, one that is 40 feet (12 m) high and the top one which is 80 feet (24 m) high. The divers must calculate the right moment to jump to catch an incoming wave and avoid serious injury or death. Occasionally jumpers dive with a torch. Most of the divers come from the family of Quebrada divers. Although cliff diving at La Quebrada had taken place for many years, it was not until 1934 that the La Quebrada Cliff Divers was formed. In one of the walls of the cliff there is a path and a restaurant where tourists gather to watch the human divers and to view

pelican Pelicans (genus ''Pelecanus'') are a genus of large water birds that make up the family Pelecanidae. They are characterized by a long beak and a large throat pouch used for catching prey and draining water from the scooped-up contents before ...

s diving for fish.

History

Due to the orography of the port, intense heat was concentrated causing diseases in the population such as cholera and scurvy, so the doctor of the Spanish Crown, Francisco Javier Balmis, proposed a project to open a channel in the area that would allow air the center of the city, calling it “Abra de San Nicolás”. In 1799 the works began, but it was left unfinished due to lack of financial resources. In 1876 Colonel José María Lopetegui continued with the works to open a gap that would serve as ventilation for the port. The soldiers under his command removed several thousand cubic meters of rock, a task that is described as heroic for the purpose that was pursued in favor of the population. But again the work was suspended; the lack of resources slowed down progress in difficult terrain, the arduous work was stopped, remaining as it is known and hence the name: "La Quebrada".Previaje: Acapulco, días bajo el sol
/ref> On one of the cliff walls there is a path with a railing, and a restaurant, as well as a viewpoint, from where you can see the divers, even pelicans doing the same to catch fish.

References

External links

* Geography of Guerrero Tourist attractions in Mexico Tourist attractions in Guerrero {{Mexico-geo-stub

History

See also

References

External links