Baja California
is the northernmost state of Mexico. It has an area of 71,576
km² (27,636 sq mi), or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and
comprises the northern half of the Baja California peninsula,
north of the 28th parallel. The state is bordered on the west by
the Pacific Ocean, on the east by Sonora, the U.S. State of
Arizona, and the Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of
Cortez), and on the south by Baja California Sur. Its northern
limit is the U.S. state of California.
Baja California is the
twelfth state by area in Mexico.
Its geography ranks from
beaches to forests and deserts. The backbone of the state is the
Sierra de Baja California; where the Picacho Del Diablo, the
highest point of the peninsula, is located.
This mountain range
effectively divides the weather patterns in the state. In the
northwest, the weather is semi-dry, mediterranean.
In the narrow
center, the weather changes to be more humid due to altitude.
It
is in this area where a few valleys can be found, such as the
Valle de Guadalupe, the major wine producer area in Mexico. To
the east of the mountain range, the Sonoran Desert dominates the
landscape. In the south, the weather becomes drier and gives
place to the Vizcaino Desert. The state is also home to numerous
islands in both of its shores. In fact, the westernmost point in
Mexico, the Guadalupe Island, is part of Baja California. The
Coronado, Todos Santos and Cedros Islands are also on the
Pacific Shore. On the Gulf of California, the biggest island is
the Angel De La Guarda, separated from the peninsula by the deep
and narrow Canal de Ballenas.
The state's inhabitants are
known as "Cachanillas," after the wild cachanilla plant which
has a fresh aroma and was used by the original inhabitants to
make huts. Originally, the term "Cachanillas" was applied only
to the inhabitants of the Mexicali Valley, although there are
tales of the term being used for inhabitants of Santa Rosalía in
Baja California Sur.
Baja California has two sea shores. It borders
the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Gulf of California to the
east. Even though the state is not large in area, its geography
is very diverse. The Sierra de Baja California (also known as
the Peninsular Ranges) runs in the middle of the state with
different denominations. The two most important are the Sierra
de Juarez and the Sierra de San Pedro Martir. These ranges are
home to forests similar to those in Southern California. The
Picacho del Diablo is the highest peak in the whole peninsula,
offering spectacular views of the Gulf of California. Between
these mountain ranges, some valleys are suitable for agriculture
such as the Valle de Guadalupe and the Valle de Ojos Negros. The
mild weather makes this area excellent for the production of
citrus fruits and grapes. This area is also rich in minerals.
The mountain range gets closer to the Gulf of California towards
the south of the state and the western slope becomes wider,
forming the Llanos del Berrendo in the border with Baja
California Sur.
The cool winds from the Pacific Ocean and the cold California
Current make the weather along the northwestern coast pleasant
year round. The coastal cities of Playas de Rosarito and
Ensenada have the one of the nicest weather patterns in the
whole Mexico. But due to the California current, rains from the
north barely reach the peninsula and this makes the weather
drier towards the south. South of El Rosario river, the area
becomes a desert. This desert, however, is rich in succulents
such as the Cardon, Boojum tree, Ocotillo and others. These
plants can flourish in part due to the coastal fog. Driving
along MX-1 provides a good view of this area.