Isla Espíritu Santo

Aerial view of Espiritu Santo

Isla Espíritu Santo is an island in the Gulf of California, off the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. It is separated from Isla Partida by a narrow canal.[1]

It has a land area of 80.763 km² (31.183 sq mi), the 12th-largest island in Mexico. Isla Partida's land area is 15.495 km² (5.983 sq mi). They are part of the Municipality of La Paz and are both a short boat trip from La Paz on the Baja California peninsula.

Biosphere

The area is protected as part of the Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna - Islas del Golfo de California (APFF-IGC),[2] and is an important eco-tourism destination. It was declared part of a Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO in 1995.[3] Espíritu Santo is the only known habitat of the black jackrabbit.[4] The islands are both uninhabited. Ensenada Grande beach, on Isla Partida, was voted the most beautiful beach in Mexico by The Travel Magazine [5] and one of the top 12 beaches in the world. Sea kayaking is a popular activity around the island.

The surrounding reefs are home to parrotfish, angelfish,[6] trumpetfish, Moorish idols, and rainbow wrasse, while many other species pass nearby including sharks, rays, turtles, dolphins, and even whales. Birds include brown pelicans, great blue herons, snowy egrets, turkey vultures, and hummingbirds. A large sea lion colony resides on Los Islotes, off the north tip of the islands; snorkeling with the females and young is a highlight of many tours.[7][8]

See also

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ Áreas de Protección de Flora y Fauna - Islas del Golfo de California, Government of Mexico (Spanish)
  3. ↑ UNESCO, Islas del Golfo de California Biosphere Reserve, UNESCO Biosphere Programme.
  4. ↑ Romero Malpica, F. J. & Rangel Cordero, H. (2008). "Lepus insularis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  5. ↑ "Isla Espiritu Santo". Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  6. ↑ Goodson, Gar; Weisgerber, Phillip J. (1988). "Angelfishes". Fishes of the Pacific Coast. Stanford University Press. p. 92. Retrieved 19 August 2016 – via Google Books.
  7. ↑ "Baja Insider".
  8. ↑ "islaespiritusanto.com".

External links

Coordinates: 24°28′17″N 110°19′57″W / 24.47139°N 110.33250°W / 24.47139; -110.33250


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