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:Alternative use: Baja California (state)Baja California or Lower California is a peninsula in the west of Mexico. It extends some 1250 km from Tijuana in the north to Cabo San Lucas in the south, separating the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California (or "Sea of Cortés").
1 The "Island of California"
In the minds of European explorers, California existed as an idea before it was ever discovered. The earliest known mention of the idea of California was in the 1510 romance novel Las Sergas de Esplandián by Spanish author García Ordóñez de Montalvo. The book described the Island of California as being west of the Indies, "very close to the side of the Terrestrial Paradise; and it is peopled by black women, without any man among them, for they live in the manner of Amazons."
The lure of an earthly paradise, as well as the search for the fabled Strait of Anián, helped motivate Hernán Cortés, following his conquest of Mexico, to send several expeditions in the late 1530sCenturies: 15th century 16th century 17th century Decades: 1480s 1490s 1500s 1510s 1520s 1530s 1540s 1550s 1560s 1570s 1580s Years: 1530 1531 1532 1533 1534 1535 1536 1537 1538 1539 Events and Trends Spanish conquest of Peru Beginning of colonization of B and early 1540sCenturies: 15th century 16th century 17th century Decades: 1490s 1500s 1510s 1520s 1530s 1540s 1550s 1560s 1570s 1580s 1590s Years: 1540 1541 1542 1543 1544 1545 1546 1547 1548 1549 Events and Trends 1541 Hernando de Soto is the first European to see the to the west coast of New SpainFlag of New Spain New Spain (in the Spanish language Nueva Espana was the name given to the Spanish colonial territory in North America from c. 1525 to 1821. The Capital of New Spain was Mexico City. New Spain was ruled by a Viceroy appointed by the King. The first of several expeditions reached the Gulf of California and Baja California, and proved that the Island of California was in fact a peninsula. Nevertheless, the idea of the island persisted for well over a century and was included on many maps. The Spanish gave the name "California" to the peninsula and to the lands north, including both Baja California and Alta CaliforniaAlta California ("Upper California") was formed in 1804 when the province of California, then a part of the Spanish colony of New Spain, was divided in two along the line separating the Franciscan missions in the north from the Dominican missions in the s, the region that became the present-day U.S. state.
2 Regions
The peninsula is divided into two parts:
- The northern part is the State of Baja California. To avoid confusion, this state is often referred to as "Baja California Norte".
- The southern part, below 28° North, is the State of Baja California SurESTADO DE BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR Other Mexican States Capital La Paz Other major cities Cabo San Lucas list of municipalities Area73,475 km² Ranked 9th Population(2000 census)423,500 Ranked 32nd Governor(1999-2005) Leonel E. Cota Montano ( PRD) Federal Deput.
3 Geographic Features
- The Sierra San Pedro MártirThe Sierra San Pedro Martir is a mountain chain that runs north-south along the northern part of Baja California in northwest Mexico. The highest point is Cerro de la Encantada, 3096 m. The mountains are connected to the Laguna Mountains and San Jacinto M is a major mountainThis article is about the landform. For other meanings, see Mountain (disambiguation). Mount Cook, a mountain in New Zealand A mountain is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain in a limited area. A mountain is generally much higher and ste range in the northern part of the state. The highest point is Cerro de la Encantada, 3096 m. It is connected to the Californian Peninsular Ranges by the lower Sierra Juárez .
- At the south end of Baja California Sur, the Sierra de la Laguna forms an isolated mountain range rising to 2406 m.
- The Bahía de los Ángeles is a bay located on the east side of the peninsula, which faces the Sea of Cortez.
