Page 337 - Mexico Diving From the Caribbean to Pacific Isles

Loreto

Loreto was the first Spanish settlement on north of the state capital, La Paz. The town over the Baja missions to the Dominican
the Baja California Peninsula. It served as was founded in 1697 by Jesuit missionar- order and accompany the expedition of
the capital of Las Californias from 1697 to ies, who found a steady spring of fresh Gaspar de Portola to establish new mis-
1777, and is the current seat of the munici- water on this site, as the Misión Nuestra sions in the unexplored northern frontier
pality of Loreto in the Mexican state of Baja Señora de Loreto. The Jesuits were expelled that became Alta California. The expedition
California Sur. The city of 14,724 people in 1767, and control of the Baja California departed from Loreto on March 24, 1769.
(2010 census) is located on the coast of the missions was given to the Franciscans. In
Gulf of California, about 350 km (220 mi) 1769, the Franciscans were ordered to turn