Guerrero Negro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Guerrero Negro
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Salt production in Guerrero Negro.
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 Guerrero Negro
Location in Mexico
Guerrero Negro
Location in Baja California Sur
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| Country |  Mexico |
| State | Baja California Sur |
| Municipality | Mulegé |
| Elevation | 30 ft (9 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 13,596 |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Pacific (US Mountain)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (Pacific) |
Guerrero Negro is a town in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. It is the largest town in the Mulegé area. In 2020, about 13,596 people lived there. The town has its own airport, Guerrero Negro Airport, making it easy to visit.
Contents
Whale Festival: Celebrating Gray Whales
Every year, Guerrero Negro holds a special celebration. This festival welcomes the gray whales that come to the lagoons of Baja California Sur. These whales come to have their babies in the warm waters. The festival usually happens in the first half of February. It's a great time to see these amazing creatures up close!
Salt Production: The World's Largest Salt Mine
Guerrero Negro was started in 1957 by a man named Daniel Ludwig. He built a huge salt works here. This was to provide salt to the western United States. The salt mine was built near the Ojo de Liebre coastal lagoon. This lagoon has very salty water, which is perfect for making salt.
The company, called Exportadora de Sal, S.A., of C.V., grew to be the biggest salt mine in the world. It produces about seven million tons of salt each year! This salt is sent to many countries around the Pacific Ocean. These include Japan, Korea, the United States, Canada, Taiwan, and New Zealand.
In 1973, Daniel Ludwig sold the salt company. The Mexican government bought 51% of it, and the Mitsubishi company bought 49%. This salt company is known for its growth and success. It has also helped over a thousand employees and their families. The salt works are in a very beautiful area, inside a special nature reserve. This business has helped protect the environment. Every winter, whales gather here, and many kinds of birds visit. These birds come from places like the United States and Europe.
Community and Whale Watching
The town of Guerrero Negro got its name in 1957. It was named after a U.S. American whaling ship called the Black Warrior. This ship crashed in a lagoon nearby on December 20, 1858. The bay was later renamed after the ship. Some people think it was named after a Mexican hero, Vicente Guerrero, but that is not correct. There is another town named Vicente Guerrero much farther north.
During the time of the Black Warrior ship, a captain named Charles Melville Scammon found a lagoon where many gray whales came to have their babies. This lagoon became a popular hunting spot for whalers. Today, this lagoon is known as "Laguna Ojo de Liebre" (which means "jackrabbit's eye"). However, English-speaking whale watchers often call it "Scammon's Lagoon."
Since the 1900s, watching whales has become a big activity here. The whales in this lagoon are very friendly. They often come close to the whale-watching boats. Sometimes, the whales, especially the baby ones, even let people pet them!
The town is located right on Federal Highway 1, which is a main road. In 1995, the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur opened a campus in Guerrero Negro. This means students can study subjects like economics and agricultural engineering right in town.
See also
In Spanish: Guerrero Negro para niños
