Isla Espiritu Santo Panorama
May 23, 2011
Photographer: Giordano J. Cervera; Bruno Schalch
Summary Author: Giordano J. Cervera; Jim Foster
The panorama above shows a secluded beach flanked by barren ridges on the island of Espiritu Santo (Holy Spirit Island) in Baja California, Mexico. Note the striking contrast between the reddish, volcanic rock strata and the turquoise waters of the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez. This is one of the youngest seas on Earth, formed only about six million years ago when a strip of land (Baja California) separated from the rest of North America. Called the “World’s Aquarium” by famed oceanographer and naturalist Jacques Cousteau, this beautiful body of water is well known for being a sanctuary of reproduction and migration for a number of fish species and sea mammals, including the grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus). Espiritu Santo is one of the 12 islands that are part of the Mexican province of Baja California Sur. Panorama made from five different photos taken on April 30, 2011. Photos taken from atop a 300 ft (91 m) hill of this 14 mi (23 km) long island.
Photo details: Camera Maker: Canon; Camera Model: Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS; Lens: 6.2-18.6 mm; Focal Length: 6.2mm; Focus Distance: 6.76m; Aperture: f/8.0; Exposure Time: 0.0040 s (1/250); ISO equiv: 80; Exposure Bias: none; Metering Mode: Matrix; White Balance: Auto; Flash Fired: No (enforced); Orientation: Normal; Color Space: sRGB.