San Pedro Sula is a city on the north coast of Honduras in Central America. It is the capital of the Cortés Department. The city is located on the banks of the Ulúa River, which flows into the Gulf of Honduras. San Pedro Sula is Honduras' second-largest city, with a population of 719,447 in the 2015 census. The city has a long and rich history, dating back to the early 16th century. The Spanish Conquistadors first arrived in the area in 1524. The city is home to one of the largest industrial parks in Central America, and is home to many multinationals, including Coca-Cola, Microsoft, and Nestlé. The city is also home to the largest shopping mall in Central America, the Megaplaza. The city is known for its high crime rate, and is often referred to as the "murder capital of the world".