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Baja California Peninsula

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	Topics Baja California Peninsula Topic Home The Baja California peninsula is a peninsulaPeninsula Overview A peninsula is a geographical formation consisting of an extension of land from a larger body, surrounded by water on three... in North AmericaNorth America Overview North America is a continent in the Earth's northern hemisphere and almost fully in the western hemisphere.... in western MexicoMexico Summary The United Mexican States, generally known as Mexico is a country located in North America, bordered at the north by t... . It extends some 1250 km (775 miles) from MexicaliMexicali Mexicali is the capital of the state of Baja California, Mexico as well as the capital of the municipality of Mexicali.... , Baja CaliforniaBaja California Baja California is the northernmost state of Mexico.... in the north to Cabo San LucasCabo San Lucas Cabo San Lucas is a small city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula at , in the municipality of Los Cabos i... , Baja California SurBaja California Sur Baja California Sur is one of the 31 States of Mexico, occupying the part of the Baja California Peninsula south of the 28th... in the south, separating the Pacific OceanPacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the world's largest body of water. ... from the Gulf of CaliforniaGulf of California Summary The Gulf of California is a body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland.... (or "Sea of Cortés"). History In the minds of European explorers California existed as an idea before it was discovered. The earliest known mention of the idea of California was in the 1510 romance novel Las Sergas de Esplandián by Spanish author Garci Rodríguez de MontalvoGarci Rodríguez de Montalvo Garci Rodrguez de Montalvo was a Spanish author who arranged the modern version of the chivalric romance Amadis of Gaul,... . The book described the Island of CaliforniaIsland of California The Island of California refers to a long-held European misconception, dating from the 16th century, that California was not... as being west of the Indies, "very close to the side of the Terrestrial Paradise; and it is peopled by black women, without any man among them, for they live in the manner of AmazonsAmazons Summary In Greek mythology, the Amazons were either an ancient legendary nation of female warriors or a land dominated by women at ... ." Following Hernán CortésHernán Cortés Hernn Corts, Marqus del Valle de Oaxaca was the conquistador who conquered the Aztec empire.... conquest of Mexico, the lure of an earthly paradise as well as the search for the fabled Strait of AniánStrait of Anián The Strait of Anin was the 16th century Spanish name for the Northwest Passage that supposedly connected the Pacific Ocean a... , helped motivate him to send several expeditions to the west coast of New SpainNew Spain Viceroyalty of New Spain was the name of the viceroy-ruled territories of the Spanish Empire in North America and its perip... in the 1530s and early 1540s. The first expedition reached the Gulf of California and Baja California, and proved the Island of California was in fact a peninsula. Nevertheless, the idea of the island persisted for well over a century and was included in many maps. The Spaniards gave the name "California" to the peninsula and to the lands north, including both Baja California and Alta CaliforniaAlta California Alta California was formed in 1804 when the province of California, then a part of the Spanish colony of New Spain, was div... , the region that became parts of the present-day U.S. states of CaliforniaCalifornia California is a state spanning the southern half of the west coast of the contiguous United States.... , NevadaNevada Nevada is a state located in the western United States, best known for its widespread legalization of gambling and gaming in... , and others. Partition New Spain's province of CaliforniaCalifornia (province) The province of California was a colony of Spain in North America, part of that European power's vast American empire of New... was divided into Alta CaliforniaAlta California Alta California was formed in 1804 when the province of California, then a part of the Spanish colony of New Spain, was div... and Baja California on May 19, 1773 near San Juan Bautista Creek by Fray Francisco PalóuFrancisco Palóu Francisco Pal?u was a Franciscan missionary, administrator, and historian on the Baja California peninsula and in Alta Cali... . A marker is erected in the place where the dividing committee began the measurements for the province's partition. The marker is behind the Misión San Miguel Arcángel de la FronteraMisión San Miguel Arcángel de la Frontera Mission San Miguel was established on 28 March, 1787 by the Dominican missionary Luis Sales among the Kumeyaay Indians of no... , near Ensenada, Baja CaliforniaEnsenada, Baja California Ensenada is a city in the Mexican state of... . Translated into EnglishEnglish language English is a widely distributed language that originated in England but is now the primary language in numerous countries.... , the inscription on the marker reads: San Juan Bautista Creek (Crespi, May 1769) This was the starting point for the setting of the first international division line between Old or Lower California (Dominicans) and New or Upper California (Franciscans) five leagues to the north (Valley of the Medanos) being established by: Priest Francisco Palou on 19 August 1773 (Mojonera of Palou) in compliance with the instructions put forth on the April 7 1772 Concordato. Rosarito Historical Society, Baja California A.C. at The Mission, Baja California, on 20 May 1990. Fieldwork and research: Mario Reyes Meléndez. Monument donation: Christenson - Carrozo Family. Construction: Students of the School of Tourism at U.A.B.C.(Autonomous University of Baja California). Territory of Baja California A former Spanish/Mexican territory since 1804 until 1931 and comprised the whole peninsula of Baja California. Timeline 1532: Hernán CortésHernán Cortés Hernn Corts, Marqus del Valle de Oaxaca was the conquistador who conquered the Aztec empire.... sends three ships north along the coast of MexicoMexico The United Mexican States, generally known as Mexico is a country located in North America, bordered at the north by t... in search of the Island of CaliforniaIsland of California The Island of California refers to a long-held European misconception, dating from the 16th century, that California was not... . The three ships disappear without a trace. 1533: Cortés sends a follow-up mission to search for the lost ships. Pilot Fortún XiménezFortún Ximénez Fortn Ximnez was Spanish sailor who led a mutiny during an early expedition along the coast of Mexico and founded the first ... leads a mutiny and founds a settlement in the Bay of La Paz before being killed. 1539: Francisco de UlloaFrancisco de Ulloa Francisco de Ulloa was a Spanish explorer who explored the west coast of present-day Mexico under the commission of Hernn Co... explores both coasts. 1690s–1700s: Spanish settlement in California 1804: The Spanish colony of California is divided into Alta ("Upper") and Baja ("Lower") California. In 1850, after Alta CaliforniaAlta California Summary Alta California was formed in 1804 when the province of California, then a part of the Spanish colony of New Spain, was div... has been annexed by the United States, Baja California is further divided into northern and southern territories. 1853: William WalkerWilliam Walker (soldier) William Walker was a U.S. physician, lawyer, journalist, adventurer, and soldier of fortune who attempted to conquer several... , with 45 men, captures the capital city of La PazLa Paz, Baja California Sur La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur, Mexico, and an important regional commercial center.... and declares himself President of the Republic of Lower California. Mexico forces him to retreat a few months later. 1930: Baja California is further divided into Northern and Southern territories. 1952: The North Territory of Baja California becomes the 29th state of Mexico, Baja CaliforniaBaja California Baja California is the northernmost state of Mexico.... . The southern portion, below 28°N, remains a federally administered territory. 1973: The 1700km (1060 miles) long Trans-Peninsular Highway, is finished. It is the first paved road that spans the entire peninsula. The highway was built by the Mexican government to improve Baja's economy and increase tourism. 1974: The South Territory of Baja California becomes the 31st state, Baja California SurBaja California Sur Baja California Sur is one of the 31 States of Mexico, occupying the part of the Baja California Peninsula south of the 28th... . Political divisions The peninsula is divided into two parts: The northern part is the stateStates of Mexico The United Mexican States or Mexico is a federal republic made up of 31 states ' and one Federal District, ', w... of Baja CaliforniaBaja California Baja California is the northernmost state of Mexico.... . The citizens of Baja California are named Baja-Californiano (Lower-Californian in English). The southern part, below 28° north, is the state of Baja California SurBaja California Sur Baja California Sur is one of the 31 States of Mexico, occupying the part of the Baja California Peninsula south of the 28th... . The citizens of Baja California Sur are named Sud-Californiano (South-Californian in English). MexicaliMexicali Mexicali is the capital of the state of Baja California, Mexico as well as the capital of the municipality of Mexicali.... is the capital of the state of Baja CaliforniaBaja California Baja California is the northernmost state of Mexico.... . La PazLa Paz, Baja California Sur La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur, Mexico, and an important regional commercial center.... is the capital of the state of Baja California SurBaja California Sur Baja California Sur is one of the 31 States of Mexico, occupying the part of the Baja California Peninsula south of the 28th... . Geographic features A series of mountain ranges runs the length of the peninsula, which are known as the Peninsular RangesPeninsular Ranges The Peninsular Ranges are a group of mountain ranges which stretch 1500 km from southern California in the United States to ... , and extend into Southern CaliforniaSouthern California Southern California, sometimes abbreviated SoCal or colloquially, the Southland, is an informal name for the meg... . The Sierra JuárezSierra Juárez The Sierra Ju?rez is a mountain range on the Baja California Peninsula, in northern Mexico.... is the northernmost range in Mexico. The Sierra San Pedro MártirSierra San Pedro Mártir The Sierra San Pedro Mrtir is a mountain chain that runs north-south along the northern part of Baja California in northwest... lies south of the Sierra Juárez, and is higher. The highest point is Cerro de la Encantada, 3096 m. The volcanic complex of Tres VirgenesTres Virgenes Tres Virgenes is a complex of volcanoes located in northern Baja California Sur state, on the Baja California Peninsula in n... lies in Baja California Sur, near the border with Baja California state. The Sierra de la GigantaSierra de la Giganta The Sierra de la Giganta is a mountain range of Baja California Sur state in northwestern Mexico.... runs along the shore of the Gulf of California south of Tres Virgenes. At the south end of Baja California Sur, the Sierra de la LagunaSierra de la Laguna The Sierra de la Laguna is a mountain range on the Baja California Peninsula of Mexico.... forms an isolated mountain range rising to 2406 m. The Bahía de los ÁngelesBahía de los Ángeles The Baha de los ngeles is a bay located along the east side of the Baja California Peninsula, in the state of Baja Californi... is a bayHeadlands and bays A headland is an area of land adjacent to water on three sides.... located on the east side of the peninsula facing the Gulf of California. Geology The Baja California peninsula was once a part of the North American PlateNorth American Plate The North American Plate is a tectonic plate covering most of North America, extending eastward to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge an... , the tectonic plate of which mainland Mexico remains a part. About 5 million years ago, the East Pacific RiseEast Pacific Rise The East Pacific Rise is a long north-south welt of seafloor spreading under the eastern Pacific Ocean from near Antarctica ... began cutting into the margin of the North American Plate, initiating the separation of the peninsula from it. Thereafter, the East Pacific Rise continued to propagate northward, up through what is now the Gulf of California. The propagating tip of the spreading center is now located somewhere in the Salton SeaSalton Sea Overview The Salton Sea is an inland saline lake, located in the Colorado Desert in Southern California, north of the Imperial Valley... basin. The Baja California peninsula is now part of the Pacific PlatePacific Plate The Pacific Plate is an oceanic tectonic plate beneath the Pacific Ocean.... and is moving with it away from the East Pacific Rise in a north northwestward direction. It is an ongoing example of a type of crustal block known as a terraneTerrane A terrane in paleogeography is an accretion that has collided with a continental nucleus, or "craton" but can be recognized ... . Ecoregions The peninsula is home to several distinct ecoregions. Most of the peninsula is deserts and xeric shrublandsDeserts and xeric shrublands Deserts and xeric shrublands is a biome characterized by a dry climate.... , although pine-oak forests are found in the mountains at the northern and southern ends of the peninsula. The southern tip of the peninsula, which was formerly an island, has many species with affinities to tropical Mexico. California chaparral and woodlandsCalifornia chaparral and woodlands The California chaparral and woodlands is a terrestrial ecoregion of central and southern California and northwestern Baja C... , which covers the Mediterranean climateMediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate is one that resembles those of the lands bordering the Mediterranean Sea.... northwestern corner of the peninsula, as well as CedrosCedros Island Cedros Island lies in the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of the Mexican state of Baja California.... and GuadalupeGuadalupe Island Guadalupe Island, or *Isla Guadalupe, is a volcanic island located 241 kilometers off the west coast of Mexico's Ba... islands. Sierra Juarez and San Pedro Martir pine-oak forestsSierra Juarez and San Pedro Martir pine-oak forests The Sierra Juárez and San Pedro Mártir pine-oak forests* is a small ecoregion that covers the higher elevations of the Sierra... in the upper reaches of the Sierra Juárez and Sierra San Pedro Mártir ranges in the northern peninsula. The Sonoran DesertSonoran Desert The Sonoran Desert is a North American desert which straddles part of the U.S.-Mexico border and covers large parts of the U... extends into the northeastern portion of the state, east of the Sierra Juárez and Sierra San Pedro Mártir. The Baja California DesertBaja California Desert The Baja California desert is a Desert ecoregion of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula.... extends along the Pacific side of the peninsula for most of its length. The Gulf of California xeric scrubGulf of California xeric scrub The Gulf of California xeric scrub is a xeric shrubland ecoregion of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula.... extends along the Gulf of California side of the peninsula for most of its length. San Lucan xeric scrubSan Lucan xeric scrub The San Lucan xeric scrub is a xeric shrubland ecoregion of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula.... lies in the lowlands of the peninsula's southern tip. Sierra de la Laguna dry forestsSierra de la Laguna dry forests The Sierra de la Laguna dry forests are a subtropical dry forest ecoregion of the southern Baja California Peninsula in Mexi... are found on the lower slopes of the Sierra de la Laguna. Sierra de la Laguna pine-oak forestsSierra de la Laguna pine-oak forests Summary The Sierra de la Laguna pine-oak forests is a subtropical coniferous forest ecoregion, found in the Sierra de la Laguna at t... are found at higher elevations in the Sierra de la Laguna. See also Spanish missions in CaliforniaSpanish missions in California Overview The Spanish Missions in California comprise a series of religious outposts established by Spanish Catholic Dominicans, Jesu... Sources External links