Campeche

State of southeastern Mexico, on the Yucatán peninsula; area 51,800 sq km/ 20,000 sq mi; population (2000 est) 689,700. Its capital is also called Campeche. The southern part consists of tropical rain forests, which yield valuable timber, while in the arid north cattle ranching is important. Campeche contains many Mayan ruins.

Campeche

City in Mexico and administrative capital of the state of Campeche, situated on a small bay on the western coast of the Yucatán Peninsula; population (2005) 211,700. The city is the state's chief port and is also the commercial centre of the region, handling its agricultural products, which include maize, sugar cane, citrus fruit, rice, bananas, pineapples, and also cattle and pigs. The main industries are timber production, furniture manufacture, the production of chicle (Mexican chewing gum), fishing, and fish processing; the major exports are timber and fish. Campeche has a university.

History The development of Campeche as a port has been hindered by shallow waters. It was originally a village, Ah Kim Pech, where the Spanish first landed in Mexico in 1517. The city of Campeche was founded in 1541 and fortified against pirates during the 17th century. It still has the appearance of a fortress. Historical monuments and buildings, such as the Franciscan cathedral, old Maya ruins, and the old city walls and forts, attract many tourists. The city was declared an architectural monument in 1936, because of its wealth of Spanish colonial buildings.