Tortuga Island, Baja California Sur facts for kids
 Isla Tortuga
Location in Mexico
|
|
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Gulf of California |
| Coordinates | 27°26′42″N 111°52′51″W / 27.44500°N 111.88083°W |
| Administration | |
|
Mexico
|
|
| State | Baja California Sur |
| Demographics | |
| Population | uninhabited |
Isla Tortuga, which means "Turtle Island" in Spanish, is a fascinating island located in the Gulf of California. This island is quite young in terms of Earth's history, as it was created by volcanic activity. It lies off the coast of Mexico, specifically to the east-northeast of the city of Santa Rosalía in the area known as Mulegé Municipality. The island covers an area of about 11.374 square kilometers (which is about 4.39 square miles).
Contents
How Isla Tortuga Was Formed
Isla Tortuga was formed by something called volcanism. This means it was created by volcanoes erupting and pushing new land up from under the sea. This volcanic activity is linked to a large underwater mountain range called the East Pacific Rise. Think of it like a giant crack in the Earth's crust where new land is constantly being made. Because of this, Isla Tortuga is essentially a volcano that has risen out of the ocean!
Amazing Animals of Isla Tortuga
Isla Tortuga is home to a very special animal: the Tortuga Island rattlesnake (Crotalus tortugensis). This snake is an endemic species, which means it lives only on Isla Tortuga and nowhere else in the world! It's super important to protect this island because it's the only place these unique snakes can be found.
The Tortuga Island Rattlesnake
The Tortuga Island rattlesnake is very common on the island. You can find it almost everywhere, except inside the main crater, also known as the caldera, of the island's volcano. These snakes are an important part of the island's ecosystem. They help keep the balance of nature on Isla Tortuga.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Tortuga (Baja California Sur) para niños
