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VERA CRUZ

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Originally appearing in Volume V27, Page 1015 of the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.
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VERA CRUZ , a See also:city and seaport of See also:Mexico, in the See also:state of Vera Cruz, on a slight indentation of the See also:coast of the Gulf of Mexico, in 19° 11' so" N., 96° 2o' W., slightly sheltered by some small islands and reefs. Pop. (moo) 29,164. Vera Cruz is the most important See also:port of the See also:republic. It is 263 M. by See also:rail E. of the city of Mexico, with which it is connected by two lines of railway. It is built on a See also:flat, sandy, barren See also:beach, only a few feet above See also:sea-level. The See also:harbour is confined to a comparatively narrow channel inside a See also:line of reefs and small islands, which is exposed to the full force of See also:northern storms. New port See also:works were completed towards the end of the 19th See also:century, which, by means of breakwaters, afford See also:complete See also:protection. In 1905 the four railway companies having terminal stations in Vera Cruz See also:united in the organization of a See also:joint terminal association, with See also:union station, tracks, warehouses, quays, See also:cranes, &c. Vera Cruz See also:dates from 1520, soon after the first landing there of See also:Cortes. This See also:settlement was called See also:Villa Rica de Vera Cruz, but was soon after moved to the harbour of Bernal, in 1525 to a point now called Old Vera Cruz, and in 1599 to its See also:present site. It was pillaged by privateers in 1653 and 1712, and this led to the erection of the celebrated fort of See also:San Juan de Uliia, or Ulloa, on one of the reefs in front of the city.

In 1838 it was captured by the See also:

French, in 1847 (See also:March 29) by an See also:American See also:army under See also:General See also:Winfield See also:Scott, who made Vera Cruz a See also:base for his march upon the city of Mexico, and in 1861 by the French.

End of Article: VERA CRUZ

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