Baja California peninsula

Baja California Peninsula

The Baja California peninsula is a long, thin piece of land in northwestern Mexico. It stretches from Mexicali in the north all the way to Cabo San Lucas in the south. This land separates the Gulf of California from the Pacific Ocean.

People first thought this place was an island a long time ago! Explorers named it after a magical place called California that appeared in an old story. Later, they learned it was really a peninsula.

Today, the Baja California peninsula is split into two parts. The northern part is called Baja California, and its capital city is Mexicali. The southern part is called Baja California Sur, and its capital is La Paz. Both areas are loved by visitors for their beautiful beaches and many fish in the sea.

Many people come to see the wonderful whales that visit the area, especially the California gray whales. The peninsula is also famous for a big off-road race called the Baja 1000 that starts in Ensenada and finishes in La Paz.

The land here has many deserts and mountains. Some of the deserts are the San Felipe Desert, the Central Coast Desert, the Vizcaíno Desert, and the Magdalena Plain Desert. There are also cool pine and oak forests in the mountains.

Many different groups of people have lived here for a very long time. Each group has its own special way of dressing, using natural materials like leather, shells, and reeds to make beautiful clothes.