 Notable features include Latin America's oldest stock exchange, the continent's first volunteer fire department, Chile's first public library, and the oldest Spanish language newspaper in continuous publication in the world, "El Mercurio de Valparaíso".The second half of the twentieth century was unfavorable to Valparaíso, as many wealthy families abandoned the city.The opening of the Panama Canal and reduction in ship traffic dealt a serious blow to Valparaíso's port-based economy.