Montague Island (Baja California) facts for kids
Montague Island, known in Spanish as Isla Montague, is an island located at the very end of the Colorado River. It's in Baja California, Mexico. This island is part of the larger Colorado River Delta area. It stretches about 32 kilometers (20 miles) long.
The area around Montague Island has some of the biggest tides on Earth, sometimes reaching up to 10 meters (33 feet)! When the tides are super high, the island can even be completely covered by water. Montague Island doesn't have any people living on it. It's very hot and dry, and it floods sometimes. The closest town where people live is El Golfo de Santa Clara.
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Island Climate and Environment
The weather on Montague Island is extremely hot and dry. On average, it only gets about 60 millimeters (2.4 inches) of rain each year.
The environment of Montague Island, like the rest of the Colorado River Delta, has changed a lot. This is because most of the river's water is used by people upstream. Now, the only water that usually reaches the delta is water that has been used for farming.
Wildlife and Ecology
Montague Island is an important home for many animals. At least seven different kinds of water birds are known to build their nests and raise their young here.
Bird Breeding on Montague Island
The island is one of only two places in Mexico where elegant terns are known to breed. Sometimes, many nests are washed away by high tides. However, only a few nests are lost to predators.
Birds on Montague Island react strongly to El Niño weather patterns. For example, during El Niño, brown boobies might be replaced by blue-footed boobies. Also, more least terns, elegant terns, royal terns, and black skimmers might build their nests.
Endangered Clam Species
Montague Island is one of the few places where an endangered species of clam called Mulinia coloradoensis can be found. This type of clam used to be very common near the mouth of the Colorado River.
However, its numbers have dropped a lot. This is mainly because the water has become saltier. This happened because less fresh water from the Colorado River reaches the area due to human use.
Island Resources
Montague Island and the surrounding area have some interesting natural resources.
Natural Gas Discovery
In 1981, a company called Pemex found natural gas near the island. This discovery led to a rush for oil and gas exploration in nearby areas like Yuma, Arizona.
Tidal Power Potential
Scientists have also studied the area around Montague Island for its potential to create tidal power. This means using the strong ocean tides to generate electricity.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Montague (México) para niños
