Sea of Cortez
Los Islotes is a group of rocks immediately north of Islas Partida and Espiritu Santo. They line up along the La Paz fault that passes next to La Paz and continues on to the Sierra de la Victoria mountains. This feature gives the tip of Baja California an offset look.The reddish rock in this photograph is boldly withstanding the pounding waves that roll down the gulf from the north. Resisting this one wave isn't a big deal for rock but this area has been defiant for millions of years. To be able to accomplish that task means it has to be really tough. A geologist would also say “it’s really tuff.”
When volcanoes blow their tops, fragmented pieces are hurled skyward. Some of these fiery shards finally settle back to earth as ash that becomes consolidated into beds. Sometimes during violent eruptions fragments can glide atop hot gases and careen down mountainsides at 100 mph. It is these fragments that press together to form the ash flow tuffs pictured here.
A large colony of sea lions resides at Los Islotes. We took Zodiac tours along the rocks and watched these endearing animals bark and growl as they crawled over each other and swam about. After lunch we snorkeled with younger animals. If you dive below the surface, the sea lions are attracted and love to come over and look in your face-mask, then twirl away with a few quick strokes. We could have played with them for hours, but our time was soon gone, and we were on to other adventures.
The late afternoon was spent on a small beach near Puerto Ballena. We combed the white coral sand, swam, hiked and drank tequila sunsets. A green flash was seen at sunset, but it didn't compare to the beautiful orange sky.
Los Islotes is a group of rocks immediately north of Islas Partida and Espiritu Santo. They line up along the La Paz fault that passes next to La Paz and continues on to the Sierra de la Victoria mountains. This feature gives the tip of Baja California an offset look.The reddish rock in this photograph is boldly withstanding the pounding waves that roll down the gulf from the north. Resisting this one wave isn't a big deal for rock but this area has been defiant for millions of years. To be able to accomplish that task means it has to be really tough. A geologist would also say “it’s really tuff.”
When volcanoes blow their tops, fragmented pieces are hurled skyward. Some of these fiery shards finally settle back to earth as ash that becomes consolidated into beds. Sometimes during violent eruptions fragments can glide atop hot gases and careen down mountainsides at 100 mph. It is these fragments that press together to form the ash flow tuffs pictured here.
A large colony of sea lions resides at Los Islotes. We took Zodiac tours along the rocks and watched these endearing animals bark and growl as they crawled over each other and swam about. After lunch we snorkeled with younger animals. If you dive below the surface, the sea lions are attracted and love to come over and look in your face-mask, then twirl away with a few quick strokes. We could have played with them for hours, but our time was soon gone, and we were on to other adventures.
The late afternoon was spent on a small beach near Puerto Ballena. We combed the white coral sand, swam, hiked and drank tequila sunsets. A green flash was seen at sunset, but it didn't compare to the beautiful orange sky.
