Mayaguez, Puerto Rico

Mayaguez,the eighth-largest municipality of Puerto Rico, is also known as "La Sultana del Oeste" (The Sultaness of the West). Tthe Spanish crown gave it the title of "La excelente ciudad de Mayagi¼ez". Located in the center of the western coast on the island of Puerto Rico. The name comes from the Indian name of its river, the Yagi¼ez River (the word means "clear water").
Famed for the size and depth of its harbor (the 2nd largest on the island, after San Juan's harbor), Mayaguez was built to control the Mona Passage, a route essential to the Spanish Empire when Puerto Rico and the nearby Dominican Republic were vital trade and defensive jewels in the Spanish crown.