Isla Ángel de la Guarda

Isla Ángel de la Guarda, also called Archangel Island, is a large island in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) east of Bahía de los Ángeles in northwestern Mexico, separated from the Baja California Peninsula by the Canal de Ballenas (Whales Channel). It is the second largest of the eleven Midriff Islands or Islas Grandes. It is part of the state of Baja California, located northwest of Tiburón Island. The island is uninhabited, and is a biological reserve called Isla Angel de la Guarda National Park. The island is part of the Mexicali municipality.

The geologically active Ballenas Fault runs along the seabed of the linear Canal de Ballenas. A 6.9 magnitude earthquake occurred on this fault in 2009.

Geography

The island is extremely dry, with no sources of freshwater other than washes following rainfall. It has an area of 931 square kilometers (359 sq mi) and a chain of mountains runs along its 69 km length, reaching a maximum of 1,300 meters (4,300 feet) above sea level. It runs northwest to southeast. The west coast is roughly straight in that direction, but the east coast runs inward near the middle before heading outward until it reaches the island's widest point. The coast then runs south for a while before finally returning to its southeasterly direction.

File:Isla Tiburón.jpg

Middle and southern section of
Isla Ángel de la Guarda.

Much of the island is inaccessible due to mountains at or near the shore, especially on the west coast. There are a few flat areas on the coast at the outlets of washes that were created by sediment. These alluvial fans are mostly on the east coast, but a large one is found on the west coast where the island narrows in the middle.

Biology

Despite its extreme dryness, the island is relatively diverse in plant and animal life. There are many types of birds and reptiles, especially lizards. The Angel Island Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus angelensis) and Angel Island mouse (Peromyscus guardia) occur only on the island. The only mammals are bats, rodents, and introduced feral cats. Plants include cacti, grasses, shrubs, succulents and boojums.

See also

• History of the west coast of North America
• Shipwrecked
• Death in the Sea of Cortez

References

• The Columbia Gazetteer of North America
• Desert USA