| Ensenada | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| — City — | |||
| Ciudad de Ensenada City of Ensenada |
|||
| Images from top, left to right: Carnival Paradise docked in the Port of Ensenada, Bahía Todos Santos, Villa Marina Hotel, Grapes from the Guadalupe Valley | |||
|
|||
| Nickname(s): Cinderella of the Pacific, Pearl of the Pacific, Ensenada de todos los santos | |||
|
Ensenada
|
|||
| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Mexico | ||
| State | Baja California | ||
| Municipality | Ensenada | ||
| Founded | September 17, 1542 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Ayuntamiento | ||
| • Municipal President | Enrique Pelayo Torres | ||
| Elevation | 52 ft (16 m) | ||
| Population (2010) | |||
| • Total | 279,765 | ||
| Demonym | Ensenadan | ||
| Time zone | PST (UTC−8) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC−7) | ||
| Postal code | 22850 - | ||
| Area code(s) | 646 | ||
Ensenada is a coastal city in Mexico and the third-largest city in Baja California. It is located 125 kilometres (78 mi) south of San Diego on the Baja California Peninsula. The city is locally referred to as La Cenicienta del Pacífico, or, The Cinderella of the Pacific.[1] One of the first cities founded in the Californias, Ensenada is now known as a cruise ship destination, aerospace center, and as the heart of a wine country regarded as the best in Mexico and the Americas alongside Napa Valley. It is said that the first Vitis vinifera made it to the peninsula (specifically to the San Ignacio Mission) in 1703, when Jesuit Padre Juan de Ugarte planted the first vineyards there.
Situated on the coastline of Bahía de Todos Santos — an inlet of the Pacific Ocean on the Gold Coast — the Port of Ensenada is an important commercial, fishing, and cruise ship port. Residents often refer to themselves as "porteños" (port-dwellers), in reference to the historic harbor. The city is home to a navy base, army base, and military airfield; functioning as an airport of entry into Mexico. Ensenada is the municipal seat and cultural and commercial center of Ensenada Municipality; one of the five municipalities into which the state is divided. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 279,765; 59% of the total population of Ensenada Municipality.
Ensenada is backed by small mountain ranges. Due to its location on the Pacific Ocean and Mediterranean latitude, the weather tends to be mild year-round. Although the rainy season during the winter is short, and the area is prone to prolonged droughts, Ensenada sits in renowned wine country. The National Park Constitution of 1857 created the Sierra de Juarez and San Pedro Martir National Parks. These parks maintain one of the best astronomical observatories in the country.
Contents |
When the first European explorers discovered the region, the Yuman Indians inhabited the region, of which tribal groups such as the Kiliwa, Paipai and Kumiai still exist. These semi-nomadic indigenous people lived in the bay area and interior valleys of the Sierra Juarez and San Pedro Martir.
Bahia Todos Santos, on which Ensenada now stands, was first reached by sea by the Spanish explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo on the vessels El Salvador and Victoria. The city was founded September 17, 1542 under the name San Mateo.[2][3] In 1602, while mapping the coast of the Californias in search of safe harbors for returning Spanish galleons from Manila to Acapulco, the city was renamed Ensenada de Todos Santos by Sebastián Vizcaíno.[2]
The first permanent settlement was established by the Jesuits during the seventeenth or eighteenth century. After the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1768, the Dominicans took over the representation of Europe in what is now Ensenada. In 1805, José Manuel Ruiz Carillo obtained permission to establish himself in Ensenada, being appointed governor of Baja California and building in Ensenada a house that survived until the final part of that century, despite being briefly taken by William Walker, the self-declared "president" of the Republic of Lower California, in 1853-54.[4]
In 1882, Ensenada was designated the capital of Baja California, and attempts at developing the area were made by the English Mexican Land and Colonization Company. These were interrupted by the Mexican Revolution, which left the area devastated. In 1915, the capital was transferred to Mexicali, and in 1930 the population of Ensenada was only 5,000.[5] During the early part of the twentieth century, the city's name was shortened from Ensenada de Todos Santos to Ensenada, a change made in order to avoid confusion with Todos Santos in Baja California Sur.[4]
The twentieth-century development of Ensenada was assisted by prohibition, which sent Americans and Canadians south of their border in search of entertainment and alcohol, developing first Tijuana, then Rosarito, and finally Ensenada as tourist destinations. The Hotel Riviera del Pacífico was opened in 1930, briefly placing Ensenada on the international glamor map and was was visited several times by President Miguel Aleman, international artists and political personalities; yet unlike the Hotel del Coronado, it was never a sustained success (despite giving rise to the claim that the Margarita was invented there). It really flourished only in the early 1950s, at which time Ensenada's population had risen to 20,000. The hotel finally closed in 1964. It was later reopened as a cultural center and museum.[5] By this time, other hotels had opened, and the population and economy of Ensenada had grown and diversfied towards their present status.
On January 26 of 2007 Pope Benedict XVI created the Diocese of Ensenada with territory taken from the Archdiocese of Tijuana and Mexicali Diocese, making it a suffragan of the Metropolitan Church of Tijuana.
Ensenada is predominantly a mid-rise building beach city. The only mid-rise building within its city limits is the Villa Marina Hotel, though new buildings and resorts in northwestern Ensenada such as Entremar, La Costa, and Viento add to the cities skyline and form the majority of the city's highrise buildings. Emblematic sites representative of Ensenada such as the Civic Plaza - containing sculptures of Mexican heroes, the enormous Mexican flag, and the Malecon boardwalk - and Naval cruise terminal are found on and near the coast of the bay. Several marinas including Ensenada Cruiseport Village, Marina Coral & Hotel, Punta Morro Resort are located on the city's coast. The Bajamar Oceanfront Golf Resort at Baja Mar is also located nearby to the north, and is a prominent seaside resort of Baja California.
Many of the terrestrial or marine species inhabiting the surrounding the Greater Ensenada area in the Baja California islands are unique. Guadalupe Island, off the coast of the city, is one of the best places in the world for observing the great white shark. The island has been a wildlife sanctuary since 1975.
The city's offshore is host to an array of aquatic mammals including the gray whale, the Guadalupe fur seal and California Sea Lion; terrestrial mammals include various squirrel species, otters, the civet, coyote, bobcat, puma, and ocelot.
Bird species include hawks, pelicans, roadrunners, and various waterfowl and ocean going species.
Fish include tilapia, rainbow trout, leopard shark, and the great white shark.
| Ensenada | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The average rainfall is 280 millimetres (11 in) per year, falling mainly in the winter months. Ensenada has a warm, dry Mediterranean climate, much like the rest of northwestern Baja California. During the colder months from November to February, rainfall is scarce and temperatures average 13°C. On the other hand the warmer months from June to September are the driest, and during this time maintain average temperature of 20°C. For Ensenada's warm summer coastal location, the city's climate is greatly affected by the offshore cold California Current. Due to the current, the late summer and early fall seasons are typically the warmest periods for the city. Santa Ana winds – observed in much of Southern California as well – are responsible for temperature rises at any time of the year. During Santa Ana's, wind direction changes and brings warm air from the interior to the coast. Although the city maintains a temperate maritime climate, in January 2007, Ensenada the hills south of the city were dealt with small amounts of snowfall.
Similar to the rest of the Gold Coast and South Coast of California, Ensenada experiences the periodical May Gray and June Gloom marine layer effects.
| Climate data for Ensanada - Aeropuerto | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 18.6 (65.5) |
18.8 (65.8) |
19 (66) |
19.7 (67.5) |
20.3 (68.5) |
21.4 (70.5) |
23.0 (73.4) |
24.0 (75.2) |
24 (75) |
22.6 (72.7) |
20.9 (69.6) |
18.6 (65.5) |
20.89 (69.60) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 8 (46) |
8.3 (46.9) |
9.6 (49.3) |
11.0 (51.8) |
13.3 (55.9) |
15.3 (59.5) |
17.3 (63.1) |
18.0 (64.4) |
17.4 (63.3) |
14 (57) |
10.1 (50.2) |
7.1 (44.8) |
12.4 (54.4) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 38 (1.5) |
51 (2) |
41 (1.6) |
15 (0.6) |
3 (0.1) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
3 (0.1) |
3 (0.1) |
10 (0.4) |
20 (0.8) |
25 (1) |
208 (8.2) |
| Source: Weatherbase [6] | |||||||||||||
The populace of Ensenada is cosmopolitan in composition. A reflection of the cultural dynamics involved in the city, many ethnic groups and nationalities are present. The city has developed, in part, as a retirement community for snowbirds from Northern America;[7] in particular, Canada and the United States. Young Californians seeking to escape higher costs of living, yet still being able to work in California, have obtained homes in the area.
Ensenada is the third largest city on the Baja California Peninsula, where most of the population lives in Ensenada, Mexicali and Tijuana. As of the 2010 census the city accommodated 59% of the municipality populace and had a population of 279,765.[8]
The predominant language of the city is Spanish, though English is spoken to a degree in tourists areas and the Centre.
Ensenada is developing scientific research and natural science sectors, with special focus in the marine sciences sectors. Ensenada is currently the city with the highest number of scientists per capita in Latin America.[9] The Center of Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada (CICESE) conducts research in Earth Sciences, Applied Physics, Oceanography, and Experimental and Applied Biology. Further research is conducted on the campus of the Autonomous University of Baja California, Ensenada (UABC), mainly in Oceanography and education areas although there are groups in Physics, Biology and other related sciences.
The city is home to the largest cluster of bio-medical device companies in Mexico and is a developing center that is drawing a growing number of biotech researchers.[10] Unique to the city is that its biotech cluster is near that of another, larger, cluster in San Diego. The proximity of these two biotech clusters fuels their interaction.[10]
The city is not part of any rail transport grid with which it could use to transport cargo and other materials, although there are plans to build a rail line to the United States border in the short to mid-term future that would link it to San Diego–Tijuana. Unlike the larger cities to the north, Ensenada has only six major industrial parks, compared to 26 in Mexicali and 51 in Tijuana, as its economy is more focused on tourism and technology.
Ensenada is located some 108 kilometers south of the border with the United States, connected via a four lane toll road MX-1D and a two lane free road, which makes it a natural destination for tourists on short vacations by car. Ensenada's proximity to California also makes it a destination for short cruise ship trips from Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach. As of 2005 four cruise lines maintained ships that docked in Ensenada weekly, though, one of these ships - the Monarch of the Seas, operated by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines - ceased operations in the Pacific in mid October 2008. The world-renowned Baja 1000 off-road race is held in Ensenada every year in late November, while the Baja 500 race is held in early June. Off-road enthusiasts use Ensenada year-round as a starting point to explore Baja California.
Watersports and ocean proximity have formed an integral part of the structure of tourism and its relation to economics in the city. Ensenada and coastal beach towns of Greater Ensenada have several renowned surfing spots, such as San Miguel Beach, California Trailer Park, Stacks and 3 M's (Tres Emes in Spanish), which are located on the north coast of the city. Todos Santos Island is a small island located west of Ensenada (about two hours by boat) and a world-famous surfing spot. Known for natural beauty and consistency, surfing spots of the region have lead surfing contests such as the Billabong XXL to be held at Todos Santos Island, part of the city, several times. Wave faces can reach above 60 feet on the island and in 2006 Brad Gerlach, 2006 winner of Big XXL, surfed a wave of 68 feet in December 2006. Tourists also stop in the city on their to their destinations farther south in the municipality where spots famous for their excellent windsurfing are located. Maritime pleasure in the city also extends to the global Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race, billed as the world's largest international sailing event, begins in Newport Beach and finishes in Ensenada. Whale watching has also developed as a tourist draw in the city due to the gray whale's annual migration from Alaska to the lagoons of Baja California Sur. Between the months of December and March, and back in the months of April and May, whales can be seen from the coast of Ensenada.
The nearby town of Guadalupe, was founded by immigrant Russian Molokans in the late nineteenth century. Most of the Molokan community re-migrated towards California's Central Valley in the mid-twentieth century, and a Russian Museum commemorating their legacy in the region has been established. The traditional economic activities in Guadalupe are olive and wine production. Currently, about 90% of wine production in Mexico originates in the valleys of Guadalupe and adjacent Calafia. Many local wine producers offer tours and tastings. Every year during the month of August, the beginning of wine harvest season is celebrated in the Guadalupe Valley and in the city of Ensenada with a two week long series of cultural and culinary events, all under the title banner of Fiestas de la Vendimia (Wine Harvest Festival). This event attracts people from all over the world.
There is a street in Ensenada called "La Calle Primera" or Adolfo Lopez Mateos ("1st Street"). It's a tourism spot in Ensenada due to its many "Curios" (short for "Curiosidades" — trinkets and souvenirs) shops, restaurants, hotels, bars, and popular clubs such as the Hussong's Cantina and Papas & Beer. La Primera is a very busy street, filled with tourists and locals. La Primera is just one block away from Ventana al Mar ("Window to the Sea"), a boardwalk/seawall avenue where an enormous Mexican flag is located. The Ensenada Carnaval is one of the country's largest, as thousands of people gather in the streets for six days and nights. Just south of the city on Highway 1 is located the second-largest of three known major marine geysers in the world, colloquially known as La Bufadora ("The Blowhole").
The Port of Ensenada has a large influence on the civic economy. Ensenada is home to the only deep-water port in the state of Baja California and on the Baja California Peninsula. The port is part of standard shipping routes that directly link it with the Mexican cities of La Paz, Manzanillo, Mazatlán, Acapulco and Lázaro Cárdenas; the American cities of San Diego, Long Beach and Los Angeles; the Guatemalan city of Puerto Quetzal, the Chilean city of Valparaíso, the Japanese city of Yokohama, and the Chinese city of Hong Kong. Ensenada is also the town in which the Fender standard series guitars and basses are produced.
In addition to revenue generate by docking cruise ships, fishing accounts for a large part of the economy. more than 90 species of fish are commercially fished in Ensenada; the most important of which are tuna, shrimp, California spiny lobster, abalone, sea urchin, sardine, mackerel and seaweed. A large percentage of all catches are exported to the Far East in Asian markets. A tuna embargo imposed on Mexico during the 1990s caused most of the fishing fleet to relocate to the ports of Guaymas, and Mazatlán, further south. In order to survive, Ensenada's tuna industry has shifted its focus to tuna farming, exporting the highly valued meat exclusively to Japan. Ensenada has been known for sport fishing over fifty years. Each year hundreds of anglers head for Ensenada to go fishing and take advantage of the shorter distances needed to travel by sea to get to the big catch.
The municipality of Ensenada has three main agricultural zones: the Guadalupe-Calafia valleys to the north, the Ojos Negros valley to the east and the San Quintin valley to the south. The main crops are grapes, olives, tomato, wheat, alfalfa, asparagus, green onions and broccoli.
One of the earliest activities in the Ensenada region was gold and silver mining, and some of these mines are still in limited operation. In recent years, very large amounts of gravel have been extracted from creekbeds in rural areas and exported for infrastructure works in the nearby state of California in the United States. However, this has been a controversial activity, as environmentalists have argued that depleting the creekbeds will decrease the amount of water that is absorbed by the soil during the brief rain season, thereby negatively impacting the agricultural industry. As of November 2005, the extraction of gravel remains unchecked. Said extraction activities have been linked to former Governor Ernesto Ruffo.
The following higher education institutions are based in Ensenada.
With UNAM's research headquarters, the Marine Sciences Department of the UABC and the thriving CICESE scientific institute in town, Ensenada boasts the highest concentration of scientists and science students in all of Latin America, chiefly in the fields of astronomy, physics, biology, geology and oceanography. Fittingly, Ensenada has been coined the City Of Science. Ensenada's four main institutions have a dominant focus on marine and agricultural biotechnology, nanoscience and nanotechnology, information and communication technologies, oceanography and marine science, optics and applied physics, and economic development.[11]
Ensenada's diversity as a city is in part attributed to Spanish, Russian, and American influences. Spanish missionaries and Russian settlers began the growth of the wine industry in the city.[12] Reminiscent of this time period are Russian museums in the city.
A city known for its festivities and laid-back atmosphere, the city hosts many events including the Wine Harvest Festival (Fiestas de la Vendimia) and Ensenada Carnaval. The Wine Harvest Festival celebrates the wine harvest season and in the city and nearby Guadalupe Valley, a series of events takes place. The Carnaval is one of the largest events in Mexico and takes place over six days and nights where thousands of people gather in the streets to celebrate.
Typical food in Ensenada consists of fish tacos, which originated in the city, shrimp tacos, and ceviche. These dishes are usually accompanied by avocado and salsa. Another dish characteristic of the port city is carpaccio. The city's Mediterranean climate allows for the cultivation of grapes and olives, which in turn make wine and olive oil, respectively. Development of such foods compliment Spanish, Italian, French, and Mexico dishes in Ensenada.
Ensenada maintains no professional sports teams in Association football, basketball, or baseball, but is instead known for its abundance of water sports. The city has sports fishing venues and swells that are known for drawing professional surfers.[13] In addition to its watersports scene, the city is known for a place of biking, both cycling and motorsport varieties. The 80 kilometres (50 mi) Rosarito-Ensenada bike race always begins in the city. The Baja 500, which starts and ends in the city, and Baja 1000 – both races that take their names from their distance in miles – are motorsport races that begin in the city.[13]
Ensenada is served by three major newspapers. These are El Vigia, the Cachania, and the Gringo Gazette North which all cover local news, sports, business, jobs, and community events, though the Gringo Gazatte is the dominant paper that publishes in the English-language.
The city is administered by a city council. Port lands are administered by the Port Authority of Ensenada. The city of Ensenada occupies the boroughs of Ensenada and Chapultepec and is the seat of government for the municipality.
The Port of Ensenada is an international deepwater port and the city's major water port. It maintain commercial, industrial, and tourist terminals. In addition to the port, the coast around Bahia de Todos Santos is dotted with numerous marinas. In addition to the cities port, numerous marinas including Marina Baja Fiesta, Marina Cruiseport Village, Marina Coral, and Marina Baja Naval dock pleasure craft and commercial and sport fishing vessels.[14]
The main airport hub to soon serve Greater Ensenada will be the El Tigre International Airport, more commonly Airport Ensenada, a planned airport to be built at km. 80 of the Tijuana-Ensenada toll road. It will be the third major international airport serving the greater San Diego-Tijuana metropolitan area, along with the Tijuana International Airport and San Diego International Airport. Construction is expected to begin on the first quarter of 2008 and initial investment is estimated at around $230 million dollars. The airstrip will be able to receive large aircraft including the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 747. International flights to are planned.[15]
The city lies at a crossroads of major federal highways on the Peninsula that lead to the northern centers of Los Angeles, San Diego, and Mexicali and south to Cabo San Lucas and La Paz. The junction occurs at the meeting of Federal Highway 1 and Federal Highway 3. The main roads of the city include Bahia de La Paz and Lazaro Cardenas, northwest bound, and southeast bound roads.
Ensenada has two sister cities as designate by Sister Cities International;[16] including relations formalized between other cities.[17]
| City | Country | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Newport Beach | USA | |
| Redondo Beach | USA | |
| Riverside | USA |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||