Mulegé

Mulege on the map of Baja California Sur

Mulege ( [ mu.le.he ], also Heroica Mulege ) is a city in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur with 4264 inhabitants ( calculated 2010). It lies about 60 km south of Santa Rosalia.

History

The river valley of present-day Mulege, was discovered by the Jesuit Father Juan María de Salvatierra as a place for a mission, and thus for a settlement in 1702.

As elsewhere in Central and South America, it was the Spanish Conquistadores and the associated religious orders carrier who established missions and settlements. The valley of the at the time yet unnamed river was predestined because of the water present for a settlement. Mulege is located just 2 km from the ocean.

In 1754, Father Francisco Escalante began simply called "mission" today with the construction of the mission church. Later, many Spanish missionaries came into the village of today Mulege to the hinterland to Catholicism to convert.

Officially, Mulege Heroica Mulege may call. This title goes back to the American - Mexican War of 1846-1848 years. General Santa Ana besieged the famous fortress Alamo in San Antonio ( Texas) and took this one also. The troops of the United States tried in turn the entire Baja California to conquer the United States. They besieged Mulege. The residents of Mulege and the surrounding villages defeated the U.S. army to flight. Mulege was not conquered. To reward this defense Mulege got the official title of Heroica Mulege.

Attractions

• Other attractions include Mission Santa Rosalia de Mulege, which was founded in 1705.
• The cave paintings of the Sierra de Guadalupe near Mulege are among the attractions. The pictures in the caves are very rich and are also found in the Sierre de San Borjita and La Trinidad.
• A special feature in Mulege is the old prison. Built in 1907, it was created entirely without bars. The prisoners were free to move only in the evening and had to re-appear. Escape attempts were rare, the state highway MEX 1 did not exist. In addition, all prisoners were obliged to re-enact fugitives and bring them back again. The prison is now a museum.

Economy

Mulege is known for its rich fishing grounds in the Mar de Cortés (Gulf of California ), named after the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés. On the coast of Mulege in the Gulf of California, a cold current from the north and a warm current from the south ( Pacific) come together and create an almost unrivaled abundance of fish. Fishing Industry of the locals and the tourists deep sea fishing is therefore also one of the economic fundamentals in Mulege. Of course, considerable tourism is connected to the Hochseeangelei.

Only in 1976 reached the main road MEX 1 Mulege. Until then, only a dirt road from the border with the United States led in the north to the southern tip of the peninsula. A truck ride from Tijuana ( border town on the border with the United States ) to Mulege, which lasts around 12 hours today, lasted up to 4 days before 1976. Mulege was done primarily by sea. By 1976, the population supplied mainly to Mulege from the vineyards and the fishing industry.

Climate and cultivation

Although Baja California is one in the whole length of over 1,600 kilometers to the driest parts of the world, Mulege is an exception. Mulege is located on the Río de Santa Rosalía which supplies the region around Mulege with water. The water resources has earned the region rich plant growth with all kinds of palms and bananas, lemons, limes and oranges, mangoes and all vegetables that are known from Europe. Cauliflower, spinach and carrots just to name a few, are thriving in the region around Mulege. The soil in this region is very fertile.

Special

• The county of Mulege ranges from the city limits of Guerrero Negro about 250 km north of Mulege to about 60 km south of Mulege. The district government is located in Santa Rosalía.
• The mission in Mulege called Misión Santa Rosalía. The Mission in Santa Rosalía, however, called Santa Bárbara.
• The flow through Mulege is officially called Río Santa Rosalía ( popularly known as Rio Mulege ).