Driving along MX-1 provides a good view of this area. These plants can flourish in part due to the coastal fog. This desert, however, is rich in succulents such as the Cardon, Boojum tree, Ocotillo and others. The area becomes a desert south of El Rosario River. But due to the California current, rains from the north barely reach the peninsula and this makes the weather drier towards the south. The coastal cities of Playas de Rosarito and Ensenada have the one of the nicest weather patterns in the whole Mexico. The cool winds from the Pacific Ocean and the cold California Current make the weather along the northwestern coast pleasant year round. 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 mild weather makes this area excellent for the production of citrus fruits and grapes. Lying in between these mountain ranges, there are some valleys that are suitable for agriculture such as the Valle de Guadalupe and the Valle de Ojos Negros.
The Picacho del Diablo is the highest peak in the whole peninsula, offering spectacular views of the Gulf of California. These ranges are home to forests similar to those in Southern California. The two most important are the Sierra de Juarez and the Sierra de San Pedro Martir. The Sierra de Baja California (also known as the Peninsular Ranges) runs in the middle of the state with different denominations. Even though the state is not large in area, its geography is very diverse. It borders the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Gulf of California to the east. 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.īaja California has two sea shores. The Coronado, Todos Santos and Cedros Islands are also on the Pacific Shore.
In fact, the westernmost point in Mexico, the Guadalupe Island, is part of Baja California. The state is also home to numerous islands in both of its shores. In the south, the weather becomes drier and gives place to the Vizcaino Desert. To the east of the mountain range, the Sonoran Desert dominates the landscape. 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. In the narrow center, the weather changes to be more humid due to altitude. In the northwest, the weather is semi-dry, mediterranean. This mountain range effectively divides the weather patterns in the state. The backbone of the state is the Sierra de Baja California where the Picacho Del Diablo, the highest point of the peninsula, is located. Its geography ranks from beaches to forests and deserts. Many immigrants moved to Baja California for a better quality of life and the number of higher paying jobs in comparison to the rest of Mexico and Latin America.īaja California is the twelfth state by area in Mexico. There is also a significant population from Central America.
Additionally, there is a large immigrant population from the United States due to its proximity to San Diego and the cheaper cost of life compared to San Diego. The population of the state is composed of Mestizos, mostly immigrants from other parts of Mexico, and, as with most northern Mexican states, a large population of Mexicans of European ancestry, and also a large minority group of East Asian, Middle Eastern and Indigenous descent. Other important cities include Ensenada, San Felipe, Playas de Rosarito and Tecate. Over 75% of the population lives in the capital city, Mexicali, or in Tijuana. The state has a population of 2,844,469 (2005 census), much more than the sparsely populated Baja California Sur to the south. State of Arizona, and the Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez), and on the south by Baja California Sur. The state is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the east by Sonora, the U.S. It has an area of convert|71576|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on, or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises the northern half of the Baja California peninsula, north of the 28th parallel. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North Territory of Baja California. Population_total = 2,844,469 ( Ranked 14th)īaja California (pronounced IPAEng|ˈbɑːhɑː kælɨˈfɔrnjə in English) is the northernmost state of Mexico. Leader_name = José Guadalupe Osuna Millán ( PAN) Map_caption1 = Municipalities of Baja California Image_shield = Escudo Baja California.png shield_size = 80px Native_name = Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California