N 27° 55' 09 W 110° 53' 51
Guaymas, in the state of Sonora, Mexico is a historical port city that has retained its culture and heritage. It is known as "The Pearl of the Sea of Cortez" Full of beautiful colonial buildings, plazas, monuments and churches but also very much a city of industry and home to the Cuarta Region Naval, the Mexican Navy. This region of Mexico, like most, is considered a desert climate with an average annual temperature of 24.4 C° or 75.9 F° and an average water temperature to match.
With 175 kilometers of coastline where important bays such as Guaymas, Lobos, San Carlos, & La Herradura are formed and a port with a total berthing length of 17,234 meters it has long been steeped in an economy based mainly on fishing. Fishing mainly sardines, shrimp, and squid Guaymas is responsible for 70% of the total state fish production. The pescadero population of the area are 80% that of ancestors that were pescaderos. In 1962 one of the first locations of National Fisheries Institutes was established here in Guaymas because of its rich marine environment to further understand and protect its bays through education. Ecotourism is also strong here with special biosphere reserves such as Estero Del Soldado, Isla San Pedro Nolasco, Cajon Del Diablo and Nacapule Canyon.
Another main industry of the area is agriculture. In addition to 186 wells, Guaymas Valley has the Ignacio Alatorre Dam. With all this water crops are abundant, mainly wheat, soybeans, safflower, corn, cotton, but vegetables and fruit trees like papaya thrive as well. These fertile lands also contribute to the livestock. Cattle ranching holds a long tradition with approximately 72,875 head to date and goat bellies trail behind at about 20,100 being able to graze in the more arid areas. Poultry is all over. Some mining still exits mainly that of graphite but in 1783 there were 13 gold mines and 100 silver mines in Sonora.
So what about Guaymas' past. It started back before the arrival of the Spanish. There was the Guaimas tribe who lived together with the Upanguaymas. This is where Guaymas got its name naturally. They were a people belonging to the Seri ethnic group, an indigenous people of the Mexican State of Sonora. The name Seri comes from the Yaqui word meaning "man of sand". The Seri were a nomadic people organized into six bands. They had clans but uniquely did not assign leader figures with the exception of extraordinary times like war and famish. The traditional artisanal work of the Seri included ironwood crafts, carvings of the homonyous tree or palo fierro. Their basket weaving was exquisite, and they made beautiful jewelry incorporating bones & shells. The Seri's songs, narratives and stories usually revolved around the sea and included many animals, heros, & warriors.
Guaimas are known to be hunter-gatherers. Lots of claims, oysters, fish, and game animals. They dressed in pelican skins and adorned their bodies and face with paintings much like the Seri. Their territory extended from what's known today from the beach of Cochorit to the north of the municipality of Guaymas. This means they had Pimas to the north of them, Seris to the northwest, and Yaquis to the east. Subsequently their native language included all three. Although being related there would be serious disputes sometimes between these tribes, but the Guaimas would trade seabird skins & salt for fruit from the less arid lands.
The sixteenth century is when the first contact between Spaniards and the Yaqui happened in 1533 on the banks of the Yaqui River in Guaymense territory and it was very hostile. In 1539 explorer ships Santa Agueda & The Trinidad arrived at the Bay of Guaymas. The captain was so impressed he gave it the name "Port of Ports". In 1565 another arrival of a Spanish explorer Francisco De Ibarra landed and attempted but failed to establish a city. He was originally in search of the mythical city of Cibola.
In the seventeenth century in 1607 the Spanish try to subdue the Yaqui without success, The Yaqui nickname the Spaniards and non-Indians "Yori" which means "those who do not respect traditional law". In 1610 though the Yaqui's offer peace to these Yori and request Jesuit missionaries. Following these events in 1684 Father Diego De Marquina established villas. The eighteenth century brought the founding of missions like San Jose De Guaymas and the official date of foundation of the town of San Jose De Guaymas was August 31st of 1769. There were no settlers at the time but began to be populated again with Spanish settlers and indigenous people.
As far as the nineteenth century, in the 1820's maritime customs were established and there were 90 families in Guaymas. It was also then that racial classifications were completely abandoned, and the labeling of tribal designations disappear. On July 13th of 1854 the Battle of Guaymas occurred. It was an act of war in which the French count Gaston de Raousset-Boulbon on his schooner "Belle" attacked Guaymas. Doing so on behalf of the Americans, French, & English who wrongly wanted the separation of Sonora from Mexican territory. The battle lasted from eleven o'clock until sunset when the French ran out of ammunition. The Mexican people did not give up. It is tragically said on Mexico's part there were 30 dead and 120 wounded out of more than 800 soldiers. In 1935 the city and port of Guaymas was granted the title of Heroic for the action of arms in the defense of the port.
In 1886 on the first of December the lighthouse of Cabo Haro begins to operate and in 1888 the first carnival happens in Guaymas. This is all really just touching the surface of the rich history of the wonderful town of Guaymas. It is a place of beautiful people with strong family values and epic sunsets what seems every night. If you like Mexico at all you will understand why it is "The Pearl of The Sea of Cortez"
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