Bahía de los Ángeles
Encyclopedia
is a coastal bay
on the Sea of Cortez, located along the eastern shore of the Baja California Peninsula
in the state of Baja California
, Mexico
. The town of the same name is located at the east end of Federal Highway 12
about 42 miles (68 km) from the Parador Punta Prieta junction on Federal Highway 1
.
In 1539 Francisco de Ulloa
was the first European to discover the in what was the last expedition financed by Hernán Cortés
. In 1752 a loading dock was built to explore Mission San Borja
, and the entire Baja California Peninsula. In 1900 it became an important loading dock to export gold and silver obtained from the mines of Sierra San Borja, San Juan, and Santa Martha. The value of the gold produced by the mine of San Juan is estimated to be about 2 million U.S. dollars.
Bahia is famous for its fabulous fishing. The most common game fish being Yellowtail
(Jurel), a type of sport fish that lives off the shore of California
and Mexico
. Yellowtail from this region can grow up to 5 feet long and can weigh up to 100 pounds. Other sport fish from this region include Seabass (Cabrilla), Snapper (Pargo), Grouper, Sierra, Bonito and the occasional Dorado. Non sport fish like Trigger, Barracuda and various others exist in abundance. The bay is also famous for its Whale Shark
s. There are colonies of sea lions near Isla Coronado
known locally as "Smith Island", and another South of Punta Animas.
The area has a desert climate
. At the north end of the bay lies Punta la Gringa and to the south is Playa Rincon. There are 16 islands off the coast. Bay of LA is popular for activities such as kayaking, wind surfing, and tourism in addition to being a sports fisherman's paradise. In 2007, power lines from Guerrero Negro
were finished, ending reliance on diesel generators. There is internet access via satellite. Every other year the Baja 1000
passes through town.
Headlands and bays
Headlands and bays are two related features of the coastal environment.- Geology and geography :Headlands and bays are often found on the same coastline. A bay is surrounded by land on three sides, whereas a headland is surrounded by water on three sides. Headlands are characterized by high,...
on the Sea of Cortez, located along the eastern shore of the Baja California Peninsula
Baja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
in the state of Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The town of the same name is located at the east end of Federal Highway 12
Mexican Federal Highway 12
Federal Highway 12 is a Federal Highway of Mexico. Federal Highway 12 travels from Mexican Federal Highway 1 in southern Baja California to Bahía de los Ángeles and its total length is 68 km ....
about 42 miles (68 km) from the Parador Punta Prieta junction on Federal Highway 1
Mexican Federal Highway 1
Mexican Federal Highway No. 1 follows the length of the Baja California Peninsula from Cabo San Lucas , at the southern end to Tijuana in the north...
.
In 1539 Francisco de Ulloa
Francisco de Ulloa
Francisco de Ulloa was a Spanish explorer who explored the west coast of present-day Mexico under the commission of Hernán Cortés...
was the first European to discover the in what was the last expedition financed by Hernán Cortés
Hernán Cortés
Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro, 1st Marquis of the Valley of Oaxaca was a Spanish Conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought large portions of mainland Mexico under the rule of the King of Castile in the early 16th century...
. In 1752 a loading dock was built to explore Mission San Borja
Misión San Francisco Borja
San Borja was a Spanish mission established in 1762 by the Jesuit Wenceslaus Linck at the Cochimí settlement of Adac, west of Bahía de los Ángeles....
, and the entire Baja California Peninsula. In 1900 it became an important loading dock to export gold and silver obtained from the mines of Sierra San Borja, San Juan, and Santa Martha. The value of the gold produced by the mine of San Juan is estimated to be about 2 million U.S. dollars.
Bahia is famous for its fabulous fishing. The most common game fish being Yellowtail
Yellowtail amberjack
The yellowtail amberjack or great amberjack, Seriola lalandi, is a large fish found in the Pacific and Indian oceans. It can be divided into three sub-species: The California yellowtail, Seriola lalandi dorsalis, the southern yellowtail, or in New Zealand and Australia the yellowtail kingfish or...
(Jurel), a type of sport fish that lives off the shore of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Yellowtail from this region can grow up to 5 feet long and can weigh up to 100 pounds. Other sport fish from this region include Seabass (Cabrilla), Snapper (Pargo), Grouper, Sierra, Bonito and the occasional Dorado. Non sport fish like Trigger, Barracuda and various others exist in abundance. The bay is also famous for its Whale Shark
Whale shark
The whale shark, Rhincodon typus, is a slow-moving filter feeding shark, the largest extant fish species. The largest confirmed individual had a length of and a weight of more than , but unconfirmed claims report considerably larger whale sharks...
s. There are colonies of sea lions near Isla Coronado
Coronado (volcano)
Coronado is a volcano on Isla Coronado, in the state of Baja California, Mexico.Located in the Bahia de los Angeles , Isla Coronado is just off the eastern shoreline of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, in the Gulf of California...
known locally as "Smith Island", and another South of Punta Animas.
The area has a desert climate
Desert climate
A desert climate , also known as an arid climate, is a climate that does not meet the criteria to be classified as a polar climate, and in which precipitation is too low to sustain any vegetation at all, or at most a very scanty scrub.An area that features this climate usually experiences less than...
. At the north end of the bay lies Punta la Gringa and to the south is Playa Rincon. There are 16 islands off the coast. Bay of LA is popular for activities such as kayaking, wind surfing, and tourism in addition to being a sports fisherman's paradise. In 2007, power lines from Guerrero Negro
Guerrero Negro
Guerrero Negro is the largest town located in the municipality of Mulegé in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur . It had a population of 13,054 in the 2010 census. Guerrero Negro is served by Guerrero Negro Airport.- Whale Festival :...
were finished, ending reliance on diesel generators. There is internet access via satellite. Every other year the Baja 1000
Baja 1000
SCORE Baja 1000 is an off-road race that takes place on Mexico's Baja California Peninsula in November. The Baja 1000 is part of the SCORE Championship Desert Racing Series that include the Baja 500, San Felipe 250 and the new San Felipe Challenge of Champions in place of the Primm 300 which had...
passes through town.
See also
- Bahía de los Ángeles AirportBahía de los Ángeles AirportBahía de los Ángeles Airport is a paved airstrip located 2 miles North of Bahía de los Ángeles, Baja California, Mexico. It handles general aviation service for the town of Bahía de los Ángeles...