^{(Photograph = Ferocactus gracilis coloratus, Christian Defferrard)}

Introduction

Baja California is the peninsula the extends south from California. The peninsula is comprised of two Mexican states, Baja California del Norte and Baja California del Sur. The coasts of these two states are deserts with plants not found anywhere else in the world.

The Details

Baja California is about 1000-miles long. The deserts gain some humidity from the adjacent Ocean/Gulf. Moreover, these waters provide cooling effects so the deserts are not as extremely dry as other nearby deserts (e.g., the Mojave Desert).

The predominant plants of the western desert are drought adapted shrubs, the type of growth that is found in many deserts around the world. But, the dramatic and special plants are the endemic cacti and succulents. These are often large, have fantastic shapes, or exotic flowers. Many of these plants are related to desert plants of California and Arizona, but many are unique. Even some mammal and bird species are unique to the peninsula.

Additional Reading: Baja California Map Guide