9781422286906

Mountain peaks rise above the landscape in Baja California. The states of Mexico’s Pacific North region— Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, Sinaloa, and Nayarit—feature a wide range of terrains, from dry desert to beautiful coastal beaches and fertile valleys.

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The Land T he northwest corner of Mexico has some of the most fascinating geography found on the continent. The states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, Sinaloa, and Nayarit form the Pacific North region of Mexico, and these states contain a wide variety of landforms and climates. Wild, untamed mountain ranges, miles of arid , barren desert, beautiful inviting beaches, volcanic terrain, and fertile valleys are all found in this region. It is a land of contrast where startling differences exist side by side. The geographic features of the area, formed before the coming of modern human civilization, have not been tamed by progress. Instead, progress has attempted to adapt to the ancient, timeless terrain of the Pacific North region of Mexico. Baja California is the most western part of this region, a large peninsula that stretches south for 800 narrow miles (1287 kilometers). It lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California, which is also called the Sea of Cortés. The inlets , lagoons , and twists and turns of the land give Baja more than 2,000 miles (3,225 kilometers) of coastline. Many of the beautiful beaches, however, cannot be easily reached. In many instances, a four-wheel drive vehicle is needed. And in spite of this large coastline area, most of the Baja Peninsula is dry, hot, and rocky.

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