CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS
Attractions include the San Diego Fort, originally built in the
16th century to protect the young city from pirates. In the 20th
century it was converted into Acapulco's History Museum. An added
plus - the Mask Museum (Museo de la Mascara) is located
next door.
CLIFF DIVERS
Since 1934 the La Quebrada Cliff Divers have performed impressive
jumps into the shallow stream of water of dangerous tides that forms
in the bottom part of La Quebrada. Trained divers plunge 130 feet
(40 meters) into a narrow cove. It's only safe to dive when a wave
comes in, so the timing must be perfect.
As of October 2009, shows take place at 1pm, 7:30pm, 8:30pm, 9:30pm
and 10:30pm. At each show usually about four or five divers take
the plunge. During the evening shows, the drivers carry torches
and at the 9:30 peformance -- the fogata -- lights are
turned off and newspapers are burned near the rocks by the sea.
There is viewing with a modest charge in the public area or you
can watch from the bar at the Hotel El Mirador Acapulco and its
restaurant La Perla.
TOURISM INDUSTRY
The city has some 640,000 residents and hosts an estimated 6 million
visitors a year from Mexico and abroad. The Acapulco Convention
Center, one of Mexico's most important convention venues is home
to Mexico's famous annual tourism trade show, the Tourism Tianguis
held each spring.
CLEANING UP THE WATER
In 2008 Mexican President Felipe Calderon launched a megaplan to
clean up beaches on Acapulco Bay, one of the country's main tourist
attractions. Calderon said he would spend 440 million pesos over
four years to improve sanitation services. The new investment will
improve infrastructure and help to prevent flooding, particularly
in the hurricane
season. National Water Commission
Director Jose Luis Luege Tamargo explained that Acapulco generates
2,010 liters of sewage per second and only 15 per cent, some 310
liters per second, currently receive treatment.
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