Hardy was commissioned by the General Pearl and Coral Fishery Association of England to search the Gulf of California and negotiate the appropriate concessions from the Mexican government.Īfter six months in Mexico City meeting with important government officials, Hardy set out by land for Guaymas, via Morelia, Guadalajara, Tepic and Mazatlán. Lieutenant Robert William Hale Hardy entered Mexico shortly after its independence from Spain, leaving it relatively free for travel by foreigners. Hardy's map illustrates his journal of his travels in Mexico in 1825 to 1828, one of the earliest English-language accounts of the Gulf of California and Baja California Hardy in Sonora and the Gulf of California All of Baja is included with only a few towns - La Paz, Loreto and Muleje. Hardy's sailing tracks and sounding in the Gulf of California are shown. Scores of villages are named in the northwest. The legend locates Hardy's route, Ranchos, Gold and Silver Spots, Real di Minas, Mines, Presidio, and Missions Curiously, the town "Arizona" is shown south of the Gila River in today's New Mexico. Juan del Rio, Guanaxuato, Guadalaxara, Durango, Chihuahua and much of the Rio Grande River. Most of the eastern portion is blank and shows only western towns, including S. The map is bounded by the Gila River in the North, the Rio Grande in the Northeast and Baja California on the west, extending south to Mexico City and Toluca. African Islands, including Madagascar (79)įinely executed map of Northwestern Mexico, shortly after Mexican Independence.In these areas, tourism infrastructure is more developed with hotels and restaurants. In the wider transition zones, various activities are carried out, especially related to agriculture and fishing. In the buffer zones, they make their living mostly out ot fishing and tourism, especially related to sport fishing. Roughly 1,6 million people live in the three zones of the Biosphere Reserve. Approximately 50% of the total number of species of land, beach and water birds are migratory. Among these no endemic species are found because of their ability to move between the islands and the continent, thus not forming populations differing from those found in the peninsula or in the continent. There are approximately 154 species of land birds representing 30 families. Large colonies of California Sea Lions are among the marine mammals living in the coastal zone of the islands. Coyotes and Mule Deer are among the larger mammals. There are 115 species of reptiles representing close on 10% of Mexico’s herpetological diversity. The reptile group is the most relevant of the land vertebrates with a high level of endemic species. Some of the islands with sandy beaches have coastal dune vegetation, protecting the soil from erosion. Some of the islands with swampy areas or protected bays, such as along the east coast of Isla Tiburon, contain low mangroves.
Cactus and other succulent plants prevail and are the most notorious island flora. They are included in the Sonora Desert and approximately 665 species of plants have been identified. The islands are arid and abrupt, with irregular coastlines, steep cliffs of varying heights and some of their beaches are sandy, gravelly or pebbly but most of them are rocky. Presently the average rate of separation is between 4 and 6 cm per year. The Gulf comprises a series of extended basins arising from the separation of the Baja California Peninsula from the mainland. The Gulf of California and its present features are geologically recent: it is thought that they are approximately 4.5 million years old. 23004, La Paz, Baja California Sur Reserva de Biosfera Islas del Golfo de California, Baja California SurĬalle 5 de mayo No. States of Baja California Baja California Sur Sonora and SinaloaĪrea de Protección de Flora y Fauna Islas del Golfo de California en Baja California Sur Altamirano #650, entre Torre Iglesias y República, Col.
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