La Punta is the favorite bathing resort of Callao and of the capital, its beach being thronged throughout the summer season. Its situation marks the southern limit of the harbor, to which it forms a protection from the southeast winds, stretching out for more than a mile into the sea. The harbor is usually entered from the north, the narrow passage between La Punta and the island of San Lorenzo, on the south, being seldom frequented. The bay is large and affords safe anchorage for ships at all times of the year. The only islands in the vicinity are San Lorenzo, Fronton, Palominos, and a few small rocks. San Lorenzo is used as a depository for explosives, and from its quarries are taken stones for paving and other purposes; besides which it provides a good cement for construction work. On the little island of Palominos, south of San Lorenzo, stands a lighthouse, with a revolving light visible eighteen miles distant. The government of Peru is putting up new lighthouses all along its coast, thus meeting an urgent need. Another demand which is being met with especial endeavor is the improvement of all the docks and landing-places of the various ports of the republic. Callao’s dock and wharf, called the Muelle Darsena, is built so that ships may disembark passengers and cargo directly on shore, without requiring, as in nearly all other ports of the Pacific, canoes and lighters to transfer them. In some ports of the West Coast, both in North and South America, the passengers are swung over the ship’s side in baskets; but, though the novelty of the experience may have its charm, this is not a very comfortable mode of landing. The Muelle Darsena at Callao permits of ships of large tonnage anchoring close to its wharf. It encloses a space covering more than fifty thousand square metres, has a pier one hundred and eighty metres long, formed by the extension of one of its side walls, and connects with the shore by means of a bridge nine hundred metres long, constructed on iron piles. In addition to the Muelle Darsena, the port of Callao has a floating dock with capacity to admit vessels drawing twenty-one feet of water and registering five thousand tons; and another floating dock is under construction which will admit vessels of up to seven thousand tons’ register. During the past year many improvements have been initiated, one of the most important being the plan of fortifying the port, in accordance with the best modern system. A new embankment, or breakwater, the “Malecon Figueredo,” is under construction, which will add greatly to the attractiveness as well as the protection of that part of the city which overlooks the harbor. In this work, the supreme government coöperates with the Junta Departmental and the municipality, all being benefited by its results. In giving attention to the improvements that contribute to make Callao a better port, the government believes that the commerce of the country will be greatly advanced thereby.