Page 293 - Mexico Diving From the Caribbean to Pacific Isles
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he three general types of shores found of the land use around the Gulf of California Several islands, including Isla Coronado,
and water diversion for municipal and agri- are home to volcanoes. Depth soundings in
T in the Gulf of California include rocky cultural use, there are no longer many rivers the gulf have ranged from fording depth at
that freely empty into the Gulf of California. the estuary near Yuma, Arizona, to in excess
shore, sandy beach, and tidal flat. Some of The upper Colorado River Delta is one exam- of 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) in the deepest
the rich biodiversity and high endemism ple of a historically major estuary and wet- parts. The diversity of fishes and inverte-
that characterize the Gulf of California and lands ecosystem, that since the 20th century brates increases substantially as you head
make it such a hotspot for fishing can be at- construction of upriver dams and diversion down the Baja peninsula. The Pacific side
tributed to seemingly insignificant factors, aqueducts on the Colorado River, is now a is relatively uninteresting once you leave
such as the types of rocks that make up a small ephemeral remnant estuary. It is in- the kelp beds at the northern edge, be-
shore. Beaches with softer, more porous cluded in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. cause there are mostly sandy shores essen-
rocks (such as Coquina limestone, rhyolites, The remaining Gulf inlets still are important tially all the way down to just above Cabo
granite, or diorite) generally have a higher to several species of fishes, crustaceans, and San Lucas. In addition, the shore is open to
species richness than those with harder, shellfish that are commercially harvested. the oceanic swells and there is often large
smoother rocks (such as basalt or diabase). surf. While the beaches are beautiful, the
Porous rocks will naturally have more cracks T he Gulf of California contains 37 major surfing is great, and there are whales to
and crevices in them, making them ideal islands – the two largest being Isla Án- watch and fish to catch, the habitat variety
living spaces for many animals. The rocks gel de la Guarda and Tiburón Island. Most is low and snorkeling or diving is limited.
themselves, however, generally need to be of the islands are found on the peninsular
stable on the shore for a habitat to be stable. side of the gulf. Many of the islands are the
The northern Gulf of California experiences result of volcanic explosions that occurred
tidal ranges of up to 5 m (16 feet). Mixed during the early history of Baja California.
semidiurnal tides are the norm throughout
most of the Gulf. Due to human modification
