Page 77 - Mexico Diving From the Caribbean to Pacific Isles

Quintana Roo

Q uintana Roo is one of the 31 states and The area that makes up modern Quintana Roo
with the Federal District, comprises the was long part of Yucatán, sharing its history. With

32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided the Caste War of Yucatán starting in the 1840s,

in 10 municipalities and its capital city is all non-natives were driven from the region and

Chetumal. the independent Maya nation of Chan Santa Cruz

It is located in Southeastern Mexico, on the was centered on what is now the town of Felipe
eastern part of the Yucatán Peninsula. It Carrillo Puerto.
is bordered by the states of Yucatán to the
northwest and Campeche to the west. To Quintana Roo was made a territory of Mexico
by decree of President Porfirio Díaz in 1902.
the north, Quintana Roo borders the Gulf of It was named after an early patriot of the Mexican

Mexico and to the south, Belize. Quintana Republic, Andrés Quintana Roo. The Mexican army

Roo is home of the world famous cities of succeeded in defeating most of the Maya popula-

Cancún and Playa Del Carmen, the islands of tion of the region during the 1910s, and in 1915

Cozumel, Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy, as well the area was again declared to be legally part of

as the ancient Maya ruins of Coba and Tulum. the state of Yucatán. Quintana Roo was granted

The statewide population is expanding at a rap- statehood within the United Mexican States in
id rate due to the construction of hotels and 1974. It is the Mexican Republic’s youngest state.

the demand for workers. The state is frequently hit

by severe hurricanes due to its exposed location.