Partida Island
Does this picture look like the classical photo of a desert? Does this landscape of Isla Partida show the barrenness one assumes is typical for a desert?
This is not precisely what most people expect, but certainly the central gulf coast of California is a true desert. The average annual rainfall is less than 10 inches, and a year with no rain is not rare. It is located east of the cold California Current and near a persisting high-pressure zone. Water is a limiting factor. So it is indeed a desert.
However this is considered, by many, one of the most beautiful deserts in the world. It is lush in comparison to other deserts, and several plants and animals have evolved to cope with the severe conditions of intense heat and minimal moisture.
So during today’s morning walk on the desert, we found many different species. The dominant plants were legume trees and large columnar cacti; like those gigantic Cardons that seem to reign over the volcanic rocks of Isla Partida. There were “jumping” chollas and prickly pear cactus, both kinds of Opuntia cacti. The Palo Adan, a famous deciduous tree of the islands, was proudly showing its leaves. We also had a few encounters with ground squirrels and several kinds of birds, like the verdin black-throated sparrow and the green-tailed towhee. We unveiled a desert crowded with life, and not only above water, but also beneath the sea. While snorkeling we spotted beautiful marine invertebrates, like the “sweet” chocolate chip sea star, and several colorful fish.
Kayakers had their communion with the impressive geology of the area and with an eared grebe that fearlessly swam around the boats.
To end our glorious day in the desert, we had a barbecue on the beach. As the twilight colors faded we could feel the coolness of the night setting over the land. Then the stars showed up and we enjoyed a cloudless sky in the silence of the desert.
Does this picture look like the classical photo of a desert? Does this landscape of Isla Partida show the barrenness one assumes is typical for a desert?
This is not precisely what most people expect, but certainly the central gulf coast of California is a true desert. The average annual rainfall is less than 10 inches, and a year with no rain is not rare. It is located east of the cold California Current and near a persisting high-pressure zone. Water is a limiting factor. So it is indeed a desert.
However this is considered, by many, one of the most beautiful deserts in the world. It is lush in comparison to other deserts, and several plants and animals have evolved to cope with the severe conditions of intense heat and minimal moisture.
So during today’s morning walk on the desert, we found many different species. The dominant plants were legume trees and large columnar cacti; like those gigantic Cardons that seem to reign over the volcanic rocks of Isla Partida. There were “jumping” chollas and prickly pear cactus, both kinds of Opuntia cacti. The Palo Adan, a famous deciduous tree of the islands, was proudly showing its leaves. We also had a few encounters with ground squirrels and several kinds of birds, like the verdin black-throated sparrow and the green-tailed towhee. We unveiled a desert crowded with life, and not only above water, but also beneath the sea. While snorkeling we spotted beautiful marine invertebrates, like the “sweet” chocolate chip sea star, and several colorful fish.
Kayakers had their communion with the impressive geology of the area and with an eared grebe that fearlessly swam around the boats.
To end our glorious day in the desert, we had a barbecue on the beach. As the twilight colors faded we could feel the coolness of the night setting over the land. Then the stars showed up and we enjoyed a cloudless sky in the silence of the desert.
