Baja California peninsula

Geographical location

Baja California (Spanish Baja California) is a narrow and elongated peninsula in western Mexico of 1,200 kilometers in length and 80 to 220 miles wide. On it the Mexican states are Baja California (Lower California ) and Baja California Sur (South Lower California). It is larger than the Apennine peninsula of Italy and about twice as long as the U.S. state of Florida. Most of the area is determined by the desert vegetation of Sonora. The origin of the name " California " is unclear, it is probably taken from the novel of chivalry Las Sergas de Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo Esplandian of or derived from the name calida forna - " hot stove" - ago. The region around the peninsula is tectonically active, the Caldera Aguajito originated in a volcanic eruption about 760,000 years ago.

In the north, the Peninsula of the U.S. state of California and the western foothills of the Mexican state of Sonora, bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the east by the Gulf of California. The two coasts are very different. In the cold, from the north and from the depths of upcoming trends of the Pacific coast is observed whales who move from and to their southern breeding sites.

The Gulf is, however, more to the Mediterranean comparable, since there is the water warmer. In the north of the Gulf of California, the Colorado River empties. In the northern Gulf prevail by the high tides ebb and flow strong currents in shallow water. Further south, the Golf is, however, very quiet part. In some places you can see there at night interesting phenomena of bioluminescence, and you can see seals and dolphins in the fish hunting. Especially the Pacific coast major fishing grounds are offshore.

The peninsula has a unique flora and fauna. These are, the hand rooting, lateral spot iguanas, Frans toes iguanas, diamond rattlesnakes, sidewinder rattlesnakes, the Kit Fox, the Hoskins - pygmy owl and the Cardon cactus, Ocotillos, the Boojum and the Saguaro Cactus. It also breed the Craveri and the Lummenalk on islands off Baja California. Both Auks are among the most endangered bird species. There are also breeding colonies of Aleutenalks, one of the slightly more frequent Alkenvögeln.

On the Pacific coast, the sky is often overcast clouds. Right on the Pacific, the mist, the middle of the day also keeps the summer often to beyond.

Since 1976, combines the only main road - the transpeninsular - the north and the south. It extends from the border with the United States to the southernmost point of the peninsula in Cabo San Lucas, the fourth largest seaside resort in Mexico to Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco.

On the history of the region before the partition in Upper and Lower California, see California ( historical region ).

• Views

Forest in Baja California

Mountains between Ensenada and Real de Castillo

Coast on the Gulf of California