Bahia Magdalena, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Whales! Whales! Gray whales everywhere! Today we had quite a few opportunities for seeing these lovely monsters. Bahia Magdalena is one of the coastal lagoons on the western coast of the Baja California peninsula chosen by these cetaceans for bringing their pregnancy to term and to give birth to their calves. The whales have most certainly been visiting them for this purpose for generations, and why not? These are calm, safe waters that are slightly warmer than the open ocean—a perfect place to raise a family! We are sometimes allowed by these whales to approach them and to enjoy their magnificence. Today was such a day. Frolicking among them were numerous bottlenose dolphins feasting on top smelt that in turn eat the dead skin of the whales.
On land, walking at the northern tip of Isla Magdalena, we enjoyed the serenity and grace of the great sand dunes. The sand was sun-warmed and fine and ran easily between our toes. The slightly brown color of it is due to the great amount of phosphorite, a mineral common in the area. In the calmer inner beach of the bay, we encountered extensive areas covered with black sand, not volcanic like that in other parts of the world, but consisting at least of 80% magnetite. This was a good opportunity of seeing these creatures from the land also!
Whales! Whales! Gray whales everywhere! Today we had quite a few opportunities for seeing these lovely monsters. Bahia Magdalena is one of the coastal lagoons on the western coast of the Baja California peninsula chosen by these cetaceans for bringing their pregnancy to term and to give birth to their calves. The whales have most certainly been visiting them for this purpose for generations, and why not? These are calm, safe waters that are slightly warmer than the open ocean—a perfect place to raise a family! We are sometimes allowed by these whales to approach them and to enjoy their magnificence. Today was such a day. Frolicking among them were numerous bottlenose dolphins feasting on top smelt that in turn eat the dead skin of the whales.
On land, walking at the northern tip of Isla Magdalena, we enjoyed the serenity and grace of the great sand dunes. The sand was sun-warmed and fine and ran easily between our toes. The slightly brown color of it is due to the great amount of phosphorite, a mineral common in the area. In the calmer inner beach of the bay, we encountered extensive areas covered with black sand, not volcanic like that in other parts of the world, but consisting at least of 80% magnetite. This was a good opportunity of seeing these creatures from the land also!
