Page 283 - Mexico Diving From the Caribbean to Pacific Isles

ther plant species include mesquite, tionally and internationally.[9] Commercial A number of these mission churches still sur-
vive. The important ones include the Loreto
O chironola, lechuguilla, nopal and barrel fishing harvests lobster, shrimp, tuna, abalo- Mission, the La Paz Cathedral, the San José
cactus, choyas, paloadan and pitahaya. The ne and clams. Major crops include garbanzo del Cabo Mission and the San Javier Mission.

higher elevations have forests of pine and beans, sorghum, tomatoes, alfalfa, wheat, T he southern peninsula’s isolation kept
it out of the fighting during the Mexi-
holm oak with some deciduous forests, with corn and green chili peppers. Livestock can War of Independence. Although this war
ended in 1821, the remoteness of the area
leaves falling in the dry season, generally no includes pigs, cattle, goats and chickens. allowed the Spanish to maintain control of
the southern peninsula until 1822. Loreto
taller than fifteen meters. Wildlife in the de- was the original capital of the peninsula un-
sert areas is restricted to birds, reptiles and til 1830, when destruction of the town by
espite various explorations, the re- heavy rains forced the government’s reloca-
Dsmall to medium mammals such as rabbits moteness of the region impeded efforts tion to La Paz, which has been the capital
since. The United States invaded the penin-
and coyotes. Upper elevations with more at colonization until the 17th century, with sula during the Mexican-American War and
wanted it as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe
vegetation can have wild rams, pumas, other in 1697, Jesuit missionary Juan María de Sal- Hidalgo, but the Mexican government suc-
ceeded in keeping control of the territory. In
wild cats, raccoons, deer, foxes and wild cats. vatierra established the Nuestra Señora de 1853, William Walker and 45 other American
captured the city of La Paz. However, they
N ational parks and other protected areas Loreto Conchó Mission, the first permanent did not have official U.S. support and were
include the Sebastian Vizcaino Bay, the one of its kind in Baja California Sur. From quickly driven out again by Mexican forces.
there the order spread through most of the

San Ignacio Lagoon, the Sierra la Laguna, current state, founding sixteen mission in

Laguna Ojo de Liebre and the islands in the territory of the current state to work with

Gulf of California. Traditionally based mostly the Pericú, Guaycura and Cochimí peoples.

on tourism, sport fishing, salt production During the 18th century, more colonists ar-

and mining, in 2012 the Today, agriculture, rived bringing diseases that caused a signifi-

fishing and forestry account for only 3.89% cant decrease in the indigenous population.

of the state GDP. Commercial species in- In 1768, the Jesuits were expelled from New

clude tuna, sardines, anchovies, clams, Spain and the Franciscans took over the mis-

snails, oysters, shark, lobsters, abalone, sions, continuing the expansion north. In

shrimp and crabs, which are sold both na- 1773 they were replaced by the Dominicans.