La Bufadora facts for kids
La Bufadora is an amazing natural water spout, also known as a blowhole. It's a very popular place for tourists to visit in Baja California, Mexico. You can find it on the Punta Banda Peninsula, which is about 17 miles south of the city of Ensenada.
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How La Bufadora Works
La Bufadora is often called a "marine geyser," but it's not really a geyser. Real geysers shoot out hot water because of heat from deep inside the Earth. La Bufadora is different because it doesn't use heat.
The Science Behind the Spout
So, how does this giant water spout happen? It's all about air and ocean waves!
- When a big ocean wave crashes into the cliff, it forces air into a hidden sea cave.
- This air gets trapped inside the cave.
- As the wave pulls back, the trapped air has nowhere to go but up!
- It explodes upwards, pushing a huge column of seawater high into the air.
This powerful burst can send water up to 100 feet (about 30 meters) above the ocean! It also makes a loud, thunder-like noise.
Spout Timing and Size
The time between each spout of water is pretty regular. It matches the rhythm of the ocean waves. This shows that the waves are the main reason La Bufadora works. Between 2005 and 2011, a new spout happened every 13 to 17 seconds. La Bufadora is known as one of the biggest blowholes in the entire world!
The Legend of La Bufadora
There's a cool old story about how La Bufadora came to be. The legend says that a whale got stuck in the rocky point. It started blowing water to try and get the attention of its whale family. Eventually, the whale turned into stone and stayed there forever, still blowing water!
Visiting La Bufadora
La Bufadora is one of the main reasons tourists come to Ensenada. It's a lively spot with lots of things to see and do. You'll find many shops selling souvenirs and places to buy food and snacks right next to the blowhole. In 2017, there were about 150 different businesses operating in the area around La Bufadora, making it a bustling place to visit.
See also
In Spanish: La Bufadora para niños
