Download or read book The Desert Islands of Mexico s Sea of Cortez written by Stewart Aitchison and published by University of Arizona Press. This book was released on 2021-11-23 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The desert islands in the Sea of Cortez are little known except to a few intrepid tourists, sailors, and fishermen. Though at first glance these stark islands may appear barren, they are a refuge for an astounding variety of plants and animals. While many of the species are typical of the greater Sonoran Desert region, some are endemic or unique to one or two islands. For example, Isla Santa Catalina is home to the world’s only rattlesnake that has lost its ability to grow a rattle. Other islands host nesting birds, such as Isla Rasa, a tiny, flat flow of basalt lava that attracts nearly half a million elegant and royal terns and Heermann’s gulls each spring. The Desert Islands of Mexico’s Sea of Cortez is one of the few books devoted to the biogeography of this remarkable part of the world. The book explores the geologic origin of the gulf and its islands, presents some of the basics of island biogeography, details insular life—including residents of the intertidal zone —and provides a brief outlook for preserving this area. More than a simple guidebook, Aitchison’s writing will take both actual and armchair travelers through a gripping tale of natural history. Like the rest of our fragile planet, the Sea of Cortez and its islands are threatened by humans. Overfishing has eliminated or greatly diminished many fish stocks, and dams on rivers that once flowed into the gulf prevent certain nutrients from reaching the sea. The tenuousness of this area makes the book’s extraordinary photographs and the firsthand descriptions by a well-known teacher, writer, and photographer all the more compelling.
Download or read book A New Island Biogeography of the Sea of Cort es written by Ted J. Case and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2002-11-21 with total page 690 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This updated and expanded A New Island Biogeography of the Sea of Cort'es, first published nearly 20 years ago, integrates new and broader studies encompassing more taxa and more complete island coverage. The present synthesis provides a basis for further research and exploration in upcoming years of the biologically fascinating Sea of Cort'es region. The Gulf region is increasingly being exploited, for its natural resources by way of marine fisheries, and for its stunning natural beauty by way of a burgeoning tourism industry. Further, the region's human population is increasing apace. It is appropriate, therefore, that this volume discusses these evolving circumstances, and the efforts of the Mexican government to regulate and manage them. The new Biogeography includes a section on the conservation issues in the Sea of Cort'es, past accomplishments and conservation needs as yet outstanding. This book should be of strong interest to conservation biologists, ecologists, and evolutionary biologists more generally.
Download or read book Almost an Island written by Bruce Berger and published by University of Arizona Press. This book was released on 1998 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Eight hundred miles long, Baja California is the remotest region of the Sonoran desert, a land of volcanic cliffs, glistening beaches, fantastical boojum trees, and some of the greatest primitive murals in the Western Hemisphere. In this book, Berger recounts tales from his three decades in this extraordinary place, enriching his account with the peninsula's history, its politics, and its probable future--rendering a striking panorama of this land so close to the United States, so famous and so little known.
Download or read book Telling Our Way to the Sea written by Aaron Hirsh and published by Macmillan + ORM. This book was released on 2013-08-06 with total page 401 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A luminous and revelatory journey into the science of life and the depths of the human experience By turns epic and intimate, Telling Our Way to the Sea is both a staggering revelation of unraveling ecosystems and a profound meditation on our changing relationships with nature—and with one another. When the biologists Aaron Hirsh and Veronica Volny, along with their friend Graham Burnett, a historian of science, lead twelve college students to a remote fishing village on the Sea of Cortez, they come upon a bay of dazzling beauty and richness. But as the group pursues various threads of investigation—ecological and evolutionary studies of the sea, the desert, and their various species of animals and plants; the stories of local villagers; the journals of conquistadors and explorers—they recognize that the bay, spectacular and pristine though it seems, is but a ghost of what it once was. Life in the Sea of Cortez, they realize, has been reshaped by complex human ideas and decisions—the laws and economics of fishing, property, and water; the dreams of developers and the fantasies of tourists seeking the wild; even efforts to retrieve species from the brink of extinction—all of which have caused dramatic upheavals in the ecosystem. It is a painful realization, but the students discover a way forward. After weathering a hurricane and encountering a rare whale in its wake, they come to see that the bay's best chance of recovery may in fact reside in our own human stories, which can weave a compelling memory of the place. Glimpsing the intricate and ever-shifting web of human connections with the Sea of Cortez, the students comprehend anew their own place in the natural world—suspended between past and future, teetering between abundance and loss. The redemption in their difficult realization is that as they find their places in a profoundly altered environment, they also recognize their roles in the path ahead, and ultimately come to see one another, and themselves, in a new light. In Telling Our Way to the Sea, Hirsh's voice resounds with compassionate humanity, capturing the complex beauty of both the marine world he explores and the people he explores it with. Vibrantly alive with sensitivity and nuance, Telling Our Way to the Sea transcends its genre to become literature.
Download or read book Island Biogeography in the Sea of Cort z written by Ted J. Case and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 1983-01-01 with total page 536 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Off Trail Adventures in Baja California written by Markes E. Johnson and published by University of Arizona Press. This book was released on 2014-03-13 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Off-Trail Adventures in Baja California describes--and maps and illustrates--nine hikes on islands, along coastal outcrops, and other special places where geography, geology, and ecology meet in singular ways"--Provided by publisher.
Download or read book Diving and Snorkeling Baja California s Sea of Cortez written by Susan Speck and published by AuthorHouse. This book was released on 2006-11 with total page 93 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: -91 dive sites described in detail - Depth range and conditions of the sites -Full color photos throughout - Marine life descriptions and behavior - Getting there; driving and flying - Dive facilities - Accommodations; hotels and campsites - Launch ramps - Easy to read Maps - History of the areas This book is the most complete and user friendly guide to diving and snorkeling alongBaja California''sSeaofCortez. Covering the terrain and marine life of 91 of Baja''s best dive sites, some of them little known, are described in detail. They include sites throughout the offshore islands along Baja''s peninsula and also shore diving along its coastline. Whether you are a serious diver or a holiday snorkeler,Diving and Snorkeling the Sea of Cortezwill prove an invaluable reference book. The1000 mileSeaofCortezhugs the Baja peninsula. Known for its desolate offshore islands and incredible marine life, it lures divers and snorkelers from all over the world. This great sea along with the Revillagigedos give divers chance encounters with the giant manta rays, hammerhead sharks, playful sea lions, wrecks and marine life endemic only to theSeaofCortez. Accommodations along this greatstretch of land range from luxury resorts to campsites with huge stretches of sparkling deserted beaches and unspoiled reefs. TheSeaofCortezis unique. It is a place where once you visit; you know you''ll be back.
Download or read book Todos Santos and Baja Bcs Mexico written by John P. Cross and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2017-09-12 with total page 70 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Todos Santos is a tiny coastal town at the foothills of the mountains on Mexicos Baja California Peninsula that is encircled by the Pacific Ocean on the west and Mar de Cortez on the east. Embraced by an artistic community, Todos Santos offers discoveries at the end of each road, a rich history, and exquisite natural beauty. In a comprehensive travel guide, seasoned traveler John P. Cross shares personal experiences while delving deep into the history and culture of Mexico in order to provide both intrepid and novice travelers with inspiration to seek adventure inside the borders of an inviting country known for its friendly residents and gorgeous scenery. Cross offers a plethora of information regarding Todos Santos and the Peninsula that include a planning and packing guide, a Spanish travel dictionary, a list of hotels and restaurants in a variety of price ranges, budget tips, and helpful hints on where to bird watch, whale watch, and observe the release of ocean turtles. Through it all, Cross encourages travelers to follow their dreams and find adventures that create lasting memories. Todos Santos and Baja BCS Mexico shares advice and tips that will help travelers adhere to a budget and find adventure while exploring one of Mexicos most inviting areas. This book shows you exotic world travel is possible for everyone if you plan and budget carefully. Ted Jenkins, CEO of Oxygen Financial, Atlanta, GA
Download or read book Vaquita written by Brooke Bessesen and published by Island Press. This book was released on 2018-09-11 with total page 318 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Intrepid conservation detective story." --Nature "A lucid, informed, and gripping account...a must-read." --Science "Passionate...a heartfelt and alarming tale." --Publishers Weekly "Gripping...a well-told and moving tale of environmentalism and conservation." --Kirkus "Compelling." --Library Journal In 2006, vaquita, a diminutive porpoise making its home in the Upper Gulf of California, inherited the dubious title of world's most endangered marine mammal. Vaquita have been in decline for decades, dying in illegal gillnets intended for a giant fish, totoaba. Author Brooke Bessesen takes us to the Upper Gulf region in search of answers to a heart-wrenching dilemma. When diplomatic efforts to save the porpoise failed, Bessesen followed a scientific team in a binational effort to capture remaining vaquita and breed them in captivity--the only hope for their survival. In this fast-paced, soul-searing tale, she learned that there are no easy answers when extinction is profitable.
Download or read book Sea of Cortez written by John Steinbeck and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2009-07-08 with total page 656 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The collaboration of two friends—one a novelist, one a marine biologist—produced a volume in which fascinating popular science is woven into a narrative of man’s dreams, his ideals, and his accomplishments through the centuries. Sea of Cortez is one of those rare books that are all things to all readers. Actually the record of a brief collecting expedition in the lonely Gulf of California, it will be science to the scientist, philosophy to the philosopher, and to the average man an adventure in living and thinking. The teeming and wildly competitive world of the sand flats is seen in terms of history, politics, ethics, and sociology; a starfish is important, not only because it is a new variety, but because it is essential to the delicate balance of the whole region in which it is found. Steinbeck and Ricketts are the opposite of “pure” scientists: it is not only their work that fascinates them, but the complicated and enormously exciting implications of that work. Sea of Cortez is a book to be read and remembered on two levels. It is a journey through a remote and beautiful corner of the world, a diary filled with the daily excitements and triumphs of skillful and energetic men. It is also an invitation to see the world anew from a fresh vantage point and perhaps with a broader and more understanding spirit.
Download or read book The Green Planet written by Simon Barnes and published by Random House. This book was released on 2022-01-06 with total page 311 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Praise for The Green Planet (BBC One) 'David Attenborough's gobsmacking, awe-inspiring return' The Guardian 'The Green Planet reveals the secret lives of plants in the same way The Blue Planet opened our eyes to the oceans' New Scientist There's something new under the sun Plants live secret, unseen lives - hidden in their magical world and on their timescale. From the richest jungles to the harshest deserts, from the snowiest alpine forest to the remotest steaming swamp, Green Planet travels from one great habitat to the next, showing us that plants are as aggressive, competitive and dramatic as the animals on our planet. You will discover agents of death, who ruthlessly engulf their host plant, but also those that form deep and complex relationships with other species, such as the desert cacti who use nectar-loving bats to pollinate. Although plants are undoubtedly the stars of the show, a fascinating new light will be shed on the animals that interact with them. Using the latest technologies and showcasing over two decades of new discoveries, Green Planet reveals the strange and wonderful life of plants like never before - a life full of remarkable behaviour, emotional stories and surprising heroes.
Download or read book Epic Journeys written by National Geographic and published by National Geographic. This book was released on 2019 with total page 420 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With more than 300 vivid photographs, this inspirational guide reveals the planet's best destinations for hikers, skiers, divers, rafters, and more. Combining adventure with cultural experiences, this one-of-a-kind collection leads readers to new heights of exploration.
Download or read book Coves of Departure written by John Seibert Farnsworth and published by Cornell University Press. This book was released on 2018-11-15 with total page 269 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In a book that has been called "a love song to nature," the author documents the latest decade of his explorations of the Baja peninsula and the Sea of Cortez. While much of the book narrates his experience as a writing professor taking undergraduates on sea kayak expeditions to the Isla Espiritu Santo archipelago each year during spring break, the book also reflects on experiences with a condor restoration project in the Sierra San Pedro Martir, and an altogether different teaching experience based in a field station on Bahia de los Angeles. While the author’s intent is to evoke Baja ecologies in fresh ways, the reader comes to realize that he’s also describing how education can become a transformational experience. A retired scuba instructor who turned to academics and went on to receive his college’s highest teaching award, Dr. Farnsworth believes that education should be a lifelong adventure, and that explorations of the natural world should be animated by reverence and delight.
Download or read book Amphibians and Reptiles of Baja California Including Its Pacific Islands and the Islands in the Sea of Cort s written by L. Lee Grismer and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2002-09-16 with total page 416 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Baja California peninsula is home to many forms of life found nowhere else on earth. This, combined with the peninsula's rugged and inaccessible terrain, has made the area one of the last true biological frontiers of North America. L. Lee Grismer is not only the foremost authority on the amphibians and reptiles of Baja California, but also an outstanding photographer. He has produced the most comprehensive work on the herpetofauna of the peninsula and its islands ever published. With its stunning color images, detailed accounts of many little-known species, and descriptions of the region's diverse environment, this is the definitive guide to the amphibians and reptiles of a fascinating and remote region. The culmination of Grismer's quarter century of fieldwork on the Baja peninsula and his exploration of more than one hundred of its islands in the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortés, this book gives information on the identification, distribution, natural history, and taxonomy of each species of amphibian and reptile found there. Preliminary accounts of the life history of many of the salamanders, frogs, toads, turtles, lizards, and snakes are reported here for the first time, and several species that were almost unknown to science are illustrated in full color. The book also contains new data on species distribution and on the effect of the isolated landscape of the peninsula and its islands on the evolutionary process. Much of the information gathered here is presented in biogeographical overviews that consider the extremely varied environments of Baja California in both a contemporary and a historical framework. An original and important contribution to science, this book will generate further research for years to come as it becomes a benchmark reference for both professionals and amateurs.
Download or read book Riding the Hulahula to the Arctic Ocean written by Donald A. Mankin and published by National Geographic Books. This book was released on 2008 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Both an inspiring collection of experiences and a practical how-to guide, the book details 50 of the world's best adventures, as selected in a survey by the Adventure Trade Travel Association (ATTA) for people over 40.
Download or read book Pearl written by Fiona Lindsay Shen and published by Reaktion Books. This book was released on 2022-10-24 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From their creation in the maw of mollusks to lustrous objects of infatuation and conflict, a revealing look at pearls’ dark history. This book is a beautifully illustrated account of pearls through millennia, from fossils to contemporary jewelry. Pearls are the most human of gems, both miraculous and familiar. Uniquely organic in origin, they are as intimate as our bodies, created through the same process as we grow bones and teeth. They have long been described as an animal’s sacrifice, but until recently their retrieval often entailed the sacrifices of enslaved and indentured divers and laborers. While the shimmer of the pearl has enticed Roman noblewomen, Mughal princes, Hollywood royalty, mavericks, and renegades, encoded in its surface is a history of human endeavor, abuse, and aspiration—pain locked in the layers of a gleaming gem.
Download or read book The People s Guide to Mexico written by Carl Franz and published by Rick Steves. This book was released on 2012-12-11 with total page 770 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over the past 35 years, hundreds of thousands of readers have agreed: This is the classic guide to "living, traveling, and taking things as they come" in Mexico. Now in its updated 14th edition, The People's Guide to Mexico still offers the ideal combination of basic travel information, entertaining stories, and friendly guidance about everything from driving in Mexico City to hanging a hammock to bartering at the local mercado. Features include: • Advice on planning your trip, where to go, and how to get around once you're there • Practical tips to help you stay healthy and safe, deal with red tape, change money, send email, letters and packages, use the telephone, do laundry, order food, speak like a local, and more • Well-informed insight into Mexican culture, and hints for enjoying traditional fiestas and celebrations • The most complete information available on Mexican Internet resources, book and map reviews, and other info sources for travelers
