Calica

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Calica is a quarry and a port on the Quintana Roo coast of Mexico. The name is based on "cal," Spanish for lime or limestone (cognate to the English "calcite.")

The port is primarily used to dock ships for loading aggregate (gravel and sand) used for construction. The Calica quarry is part of a joint venture between Vulcan Materials Co. and Grupo ICA. The port facilities also serve to dock cruise line ships to access the resort town of Playa del Carmen, about 10 km away. The Calica site, with a port blasted directly into the limestone, was chosen after other port facilities near Playa del Carmen were damaged or destroyed by hurricane. Although the Calica port itself has little or no services or hotels, just north of the port is the "ecological theme park" of Xcaret, a Mayan tourist destination, archaeological site, and beach.

Cruise ship docked at Calica.  Note piles of aggregate in the background.
Cruise ship docked at Calica. Note piles of aggregate in the background.

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