Baja California Sur,literally"South Lower California", officially theFree and Sovereign State of Baja California Sur, is the second-smallest Mexican state by population and the 31st admitted state of the 31 states which, with theMexico City, make up the32 Federal EntitiesofMexico.
Before becoming a state on October 8, 1974, the area was known as theSouth Territory of Baja California(El Territorio Sur de Baja California). It has an area of 73,909km2(28,536sqmi), or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico, and occupies the southern half of theBaja California Peninsula, south of the28th parallel, plus the uninhabitedRocas Alijosin the Pacific Ocean. It is bordered to the north by the state ofBaja California, to the west by thePacific Ocean, and to the east by theGulf of California, or the "Sea of Cortés". The state has maritime borders withSonoraandSinaloato the east, across the Gulf of California.
The state is home to the tourist resorts ofCabo San LucasandSan José del Cabo. Its largest city and capital isLa Paz.