Isla Espíritu Santo

Isla Espíritu Santo
Aerial view of Isla Espíritu Santo (right) and Isla Partida (left)
Isla Espíritu Santo
Geography
Location Gulf of California
Coordinates 24°28′17″N 110°19′57″W / 24.47139°N 110.33250°W / 24.47139; -110.33250Coordinates: 24°28′17″N 110°19′57″W / 24.47139°N 110.33250°W / 24.47139; -110.33250
Adjacent bodies of water Pacific Ocean
Area 80.763 km2 (31.183 sq mi)
Administration
Mexico
State Baja California Sur
Municipality La Paz
Demographics
Population Uninhabited

Isla Espíritu Santo is an island in the Gulf of California, off the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. It is separated from Isla Partida by a narrow canal.[1]

It has a land area of 80.763 square kilometres (31.183 sq mi), the 12th-largest island in Mexico. Isla Partida's land area is 15.495 square kilometres (5.983 sq mi). They are part of La Paz Municipality and are both a short boat trip from La Paz on the Baja California Peninsula.

Biosphere

The beach on Espíritu Santo

The area is protected as part of the Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna - Islas del Golfo de California (APFF-IGC),[2] and is an important eco-tourism destination. It was declared part of a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1995.[3] Espíritu Santo is the only known habitat of the black jackrabbit.[4] The islands are both uninhabited. Ensenada Grande beach, on Isla Partida, was voted the most beautiful beach in Mexico by The Travel Magazine [5] and one of the top 12 beaches in the world. Sea kayaking is a popular activity around the island.

The surrounding reefs are home to parrotfish, angelfish,[6] trumpetfish, Moorish idols, and rainbow wrasse, while many other species pass nearby including sharks, rays, turtles, dolphins, and even whales. Birds include brown pelicans, great blue herons, snowy egrets, turkey vultures, and hummingbirds. A large sea lion colony resides on Los Islotes, off the north tip of the islands; snorkeling with the females and young is a highlight of many tours.[7][8]

See also

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ Áreas de Protección de Flora y Fauna - Islas del Golfo de California, Government of Mexico (in Spanish)
  3. ↑ UNESCO, Islas del Golfo de California Biosphere Reserve, UNESCO Biosphere Programme.
  4. ↑ Romero Malpica, F.J. & Rangel Cordero, H. (2008). "Lepus insularis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2008: e.T11794A3308250. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T11794A3308250.en. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  5. ↑ "Isla Espiritu Santo". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  6. ↑ Goodson, Gar; Weisgerber, Phillip J. (1988). "Angelfishes". Fishes of the Pacific Coast. Stanford University Press. p. 92. ISBN 9780804713856. Retrieved 19 August 2016 – via Google Books.
  7. ↑ "Baja Insider".
  8. ↑ "islaespiritusanto.com".


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