Isla Todos Santos facts for kids
Isla Todos Santos is a pair of islands located off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico. These islands are about 19.3 kilometers (12 miles) from the mainland. They are most famous for their incredible surfing waves.
You can only reach the islands by boat. You can rent a boat in Ensenada or from a place called La Bufadora. The waves near the smaller island are some of the biggest in all of North America! There are no big buildings or shops on the islands. You will only find two lighthouses and a fish farm there.
Wildlife on the Islands
The Todos Santos Islands are home to some special animals. Some of these animals are found nowhere else in the world. This is called being endemic.
Birds and Other Animals
The islands used to be home to a special kind of bird called the rufous-crowned sparrow. This bird was unique to the islands. Sadly, it is now probably extinct, meaning it no longer exists. Another animal that used to live here was Anthony's woodrat, which is also now extinct.
But there is still a very rare animal living on the islands today! It is a type of snake called the Todos Santos Island kingsnake. This snake is a subspecies of the California mountain kingsnake. It is critically endangered, which means it is in great danger of disappearing forever. Scientists are working hard to protect it.
In 1911, during a deep-sea trip by the USS Albatross ship, a new type of fish was found near the islands. This fish was named Bajacalifornia burragei. It was the first fish discovered for its group, the Bajacalifornia genus.
