La Quebrada (Acapulco) facts for kids
La Quebrada is a very famous place in Acapulco, Mexico. Its name means "the gulch" or "the ravine" in Spanish. People come here to watch amazing cliff divers.
These brave divers jump from two different spots on the cliff. One spot is about 40 feet (12 meters) high. The top spot is even higher, at 80 feet (24 meters). The divers have to be very careful. They must jump at just the right moment to land safely in an incoming wave. This helps them avoid getting hurt. Sometimes, divers even jump with a torch, especially at night! Many of the divers come from families who have been doing these jumps for a long time. The official group, called the La Quebrada Cliff Divers, was formed in 1934.
On one of the cliff walls, there is a special path and a restaurant. Tourists gather here to watch the divers. You can also see pelicans diving into the water to catch fish!
History
A long time ago, the city of Acapulco was very hot. This heat caused people to get sick. So, in 1799, people started a project to dig a channel. The idea was to let fresh air into the city. But they ran out of money, so the work stopped.
Later, in 1876, a soldier named Colonel José María Lopetegui continued the digging. His soldiers worked very hard to remove huge amounts of rock. It was a very difficult job! But again, the work had to stop because there wasn't enough money. The channel was never finished. This unfinished gap in the cliff is why it's called "La Quebrada," which means "the broken" or "the ravine."
See also
In Spanish: La Quebrada para niños
- La Quebrada Cliff Divers
