Page 273 - Mexico Diving From the Caribbean to Pacific Isles

Baja California

B aja California, officially Free and Sover- Before becoming a state in 1953, the area parallel. The state is bordered on the west
eign State of Baja California (Spanish: was known as the North Territory of Baja by the Pacific Ocean, on the east by Sono-
Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California), California (El Territorio Norte de Baja Califor- ra, the U.S. State of Arizona, and the Gulf of
is the northernmost and westernmost of the nia). It has an area of 70,113 km2 (27,071 sq California (also known as the Sea of Cortez),
31 states which, with the Federal District, mi), and comprises the northern half of the and on the south by Baja California Sur. Its
comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Baja California peninsula, north of the 28th northern limit is the U.S. state of California.