Isla Del Carmen and Danzante, Golfo de California, México
Early in the seventeenth century, a Spanish missionary from Loreto, who founded the first mission of Alta and Baja California, discovered a small lake in the northern tip of Isla del Carmen, where salt crystallized on the surface. Pure salt without sand or soil! He managed to get himself a ship, loaded it with salt, and crossed the Gulf of California to Guaymas, where he sold it at a great profit. With that money, he purchased mortar and took it back to Loreto, where he had the mission built in a more solid form, as we know it today.
We hiked along an arroyo on the southeastern side, called Arroyo Rojo, where we admired the sheer cliff walls in red volcanic tuff, and despite the long draught, enjoyed the vegetation, some even with flowers! Around midday, we returned to the ship, and repositioned to the western side of Isla Danzante (when the Spaniards discovered this island, they saw people jumping up and down on the beach, and surmised that they were dancing). Here we snorkeled to our heart’s content and kayaked in the bay. As we were walking around in the vicinity of the beach, we discovered this interesting coachwhip snake, who allowed us to photograph it well. Of course, as soon as we approached too much, she simply slithered back into her burrow.
Early in the seventeenth century, a Spanish missionary from Loreto, who founded the first mission of Alta and Baja California, discovered a small lake in the northern tip of Isla del Carmen, where salt crystallized on the surface. Pure salt without sand or soil! He managed to get himself a ship, loaded it with salt, and crossed the Gulf of California to Guaymas, where he sold it at a great profit. With that money, he purchased mortar and took it back to Loreto, where he had the mission built in a more solid form, as we know it today.
We hiked along an arroyo on the southeastern side, called Arroyo Rojo, where we admired the sheer cliff walls in red volcanic tuff, and despite the long draught, enjoyed the vegetation, some even with flowers! Around midday, we returned to the ship, and repositioned to the western side of Isla Danzante (when the Spaniards discovered this island, they saw people jumping up and down on the beach, and surmised that they were dancing). Here we snorkeled to our heart’s content and kayaked in the bay. As we were walking around in the vicinity of the beach, we discovered this interesting coachwhip snake, who allowed us to photograph it well. Of course, as soon as we approached too much, she simply slithered back into her burrow.
