Ensenada,formerly Ensenada de Todos Santoscity, northwestern Baja California Norte estado (state), northwestern Mexico. It The city is situated on Bahía (bay) Todos Santos Bay of the Pacific Ocean, 43 ft (13 m) above sea level. The climate is cool and dry. Ensenada, the third largest city in Baja California Norte, derives much of its income from tourism, for it is only about 75 mi (120 km) south of Tijuana, on the United States border. Attractions include excellent seafood, swimming, hunting, and deep-sea fishing.It is one of Mexico’s most important Pacific ports. Agriculture (wheat, barley, and wine grapes), livestock raising, and fishing (sardines and lobster) are also important. The city has experienced substantial growth since 1950. It is accessible by highway and air as well as by ocean. Pop. (1979 est.) 129,000.

Ensenada was a minor port during the Spanish colonial era. Local settlement did not expand significantly until 1870, when gold was discovered in the inland mountains. Ensenada was officially incorporated in 1882, and six years later it benefited from another brief gold rush. Prohibition in the United States led to an economic boom in the 1920s as hotels and casinos in Ensenada catered to Americans seeking alcoholic beverages and entertainment south of the border.

Agriculture (wheat, grapes, and olives) and livestock grazing also have contributed to the local economy. From the 1940s there was significant agricultural expansion in the nearby Mexicali Valley, and Ensenada developed into one of Mexico’s leading Pacific ports for agricultural exports (especially cotton) destined for the United States and Asian markets. Commercial tuna fishing, sportfishing, and shipyards also increased in importance. Since 1990 Ensenada has become a major container shipping port.

Ensenada is a popular weekend destination for visitors from southern California. Resort hotels, time-share condominiums, and weekend vacation homes line the shores of the bay north and south of the city. Attractions befitting the mild, arid climate include beach sports, boating, and fishing. Duty-free shopping and seafood restaurants are also popular among visitors. Cruise ships regularly call on the port, which is linked by a toll highway to Tijuana and the U.S. border, approximately 75 miles (120 km) north of the city. Pop. (2000) city, 223,492; (2005 prelim.) urban agglom., 413,481.