La Bufadora facts for kids
La Bufadora is a super cool natural wonder in Baja California, Mexico. It's a special kind of sea cave called a blowhole. You can find it on the Punta Banda Peninsula, about 17 miles south of a city called Ensenada. It's a very popular spot for tourists to visit!
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What is a Blowhole?
La Bufadora is often called a "marine geyser." But it's not quite the same as a real geyser. Regular geysers shoot hot water from deep underground. They get their power from heat inside the Earth.
How La Bufadora Works
La Bufadora is different because it uses the power of the ocean! Here's how it works:
- Waves crash into a hidden sea cave.
- This traps a lot of air inside the cave.
- When the water pulls back, the trapped air has nowhere to go but up!
- It explodes out of a narrow opening, shooting a huge spray of seawater high into the air.
- This amazing spray can go up to 100 feet (about 30 meters) high!
- It also makes a loud, thunderous noise, like a giant sneeze from the ocean.
How Often Does it Blow?
The blowhole erupts pretty regularly. The timing depends on the ocean's waves, called the "swell." The swell is like the rhythm of the ocean. Between 2005 and 2011, La Bufadora would erupt every 13 to 17 seconds. It's one of the biggest blowholes in the entire world!
The Legend of La Bufadora
There's a fun story about how La Bufadora came to be. The legend says that a baby whale got stuck in the rocky coastline. It blew water into the air to try and get its family's attention. Eventually, the whale turned into stone, and it's still there today, blowing water forever!
Visiting La Bufadora
La Bufadora is one of the main reasons people visit Ensenada. It's a fantastic place to see nature in action. When you visit, you'll find lots of shops and food stalls. These businesses are set up right near the blowhole. In 2017, there were about 150 different shops and vendors there, selling souvenirs and tasty snacks. It's a lively and exciting place for families and travelers!
See also
In Spanish: La Bufadora para niños
