Travel blog
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The Angel of Independence is by far concerning historical, urban and symbolic in the collective consciousness of Mexico. Several characters were involved in the work; Antonio Rivas Mercado main promoter of the project, Enrique Alciati responsible for the sculptures are made and Roberto Gayol was …
The territory of the Baja California Peninsula, between the Gulf of California and the Sierra de San Pedro Martir, is inhabited by majestic cactus over 17 meters high. Meet them is to contemplate facing one of the most expensive living desert.
One of the best kept promises of Baja California is the Valley of the Giants. His name, which sounds like mystery entry seduces travelers seeking contact with the extreme nature. Therefore, to travel the roads of the northern part of the peninsula is a must to visit the place where the great reign cacti, majestic cactus over 17 meters high and a life told in hundreds of years.
To get there, it is best to take the road from Mexicali, number five, taking the road to San Felipe, and rent a four wheel drive vehicle. Do not neglect this last recommendation, especially if you want to discover the secrets that lie at the end of the ways of the desert; a temptation for intrepid adventurers. And that curiosity can be the best ally in this journey.
The Mexicali-San Felipe road is in very good condition, so the two hour drive becomes a gentle introduction to these dry areas living with the Gulf of California. Before meeting with the giants, it is pertinent to stop at San Felipe, experienced fishermen and people in the region known as one of the places where you can eat the best shrimp on the peninsula. On the boardwalk the simple-but-sold famous shrimp tacos from San Felipe, and the restaurants near the square you can find a more refined shrimp stew.
Decades ago, San Felipe was only visited by a few fans sport fishing. Many were in search of tatoaba, species of fish that can only be found in the Gulf of California, and reaches two meters and weighing 130 kilos. Now is endangered and, therefore, its fishing it is illegal, so the tatoabas only to be seen in San Felipe are those found in the photographs of La Hacienda restaurant Red Lobster, one of the best to try traditional dishes, which are the protagonists huge shrimp and lobsters-and also international cuisine.
There, in the Hacienda de la Langosta, we find Ephrem. With 20 years behind him, this smiling young native of Hidalgo decided to make a stop on his trip to the United States. His reward has been watching from the beach for months, gray whales and manta rays. His description of this natural phenomenon is limited to a single sentence: «It’s an experience.»
In search of that experience, dozens of Canadian and American tourists have made San Felipe place of refuge during the winter. They are retired couples or families who leave the kids play on the boardwalk or the beach, although it is not very suitable for swimming, in winter the water is very cold, and they come in the morning to observe tens of pelicans; or to watch splendid sunsets. In addition, this beach is ideal for kayaking. But the most beautiful beach is located north of San Felipe, near the dunes. There, the waves make temporary tattoos on the sand.
The tranquility that prevails during January and February in contrast to the festive air that you breathe during the summer, when American teenagers use their vacation to make San Felipe a permanent dance floor.
IN DESERT
Although the Valley of the Giants is just 20 minutes from San Felipe, many of the villagers do not know, and this is one of the greatest natural treasures of Baja California. There are two main reasons: first, and most significant, is that the valley is on land that is privately owned, the Rancho Punta Estrella, so the place is fenced and must pay $ five-or around your equivalent in pesos, for each vehicle type. The second is that for many of the citizens of San Felipe, especially for those who were born here, cacti are part of everyday life; the majority does not cause great excitement venture into the desert to see cactus and other species of unique flora in the world.What is to lose our sense of wonder!
To meet the giants of the desert, you have to bring water, hiking boots and clothing that allows covered the sun. The road to be taken is San Felipe-Puertecitos; at kilometer 14 of the right side is a dirt road that ends just where an old fence indicates the beginning of Rancho Punta Estrella. Do not give up if the door is closed. Anytime you will be responsible for open and collect the fee allowed to enter the kingdom of cactus.
It is best to take the first miles on the car and when they begin to appear the first giant cacti, continue the walking tour. As one enters the valley, the landscape is transformed into a forest of cacti that look like thin backlit hands of a giant. Its trunk, elongated and earthy, is a living, thin column, which displays at the top branches, like cadaveric fingers that giant living in the bowels of the Earth. When standing next to him, inevitably look up to look at how the coffee that covers most of its trunk, green leaves room for painting the newer parts of the old full of lines that run from the bottom up, as if were wrinkled.
The wonder grows as it is by the first and you look at the second or third. Then multiply the cacti and it is impossible to count them. The thrill to be with them is as large as its size and history, which can be synthesized with some data that will shake the unbelievers: giant cacti only grow in the desert of Baja California, its roots extend approximately 30 meters; the seed is less than a millimeter; when they turn 15 their average height is 30 inches and it is not until age 75 when they begin to flower and produce seeds. So the huge living sculptures that live in this valley are over 200 years old.
You can you spend hours admiring them, guarded by small mountain ranges, and sharing their space with other plants in the region, such as jasmine, those cactus-ball, inhabited by thorns which confirm that nature also known geometry. In this valley are of all sizes, from tiny specimens to half a meter in diameter. Also the governor bush that lives up to its name as master spread in the area; branches provide shelter and umbrella several desert dwellers.
The silence of the area only breaks when, from the small bushes, leaves a hare or a roadrunner, a small sample of the wildlife starts to wake up when dusk arrives. Well here is timed differently; Cacti are reluctant to go fast, and as the men of the desert, take in their brand skin from the sun, wind and sand.
WHITE BACK
Road to San Felipe, you should stop in the area known as «The Dunes», a few minutes before reaching the town; Hence, the wind draws thin lines in the mounds of fine sand are just a few steps from the beach.
A second must is on the way back to Mexicali. A little more than thirty minutes of leaving San Felipe is an exit to the salt Juárez year 1972. The small and narrow path may discourage some, but after a few minutes the drive to continue will find a sea of white . It is necessary to seek permission from the salt workers to meet more than three thousand acres of salt fields, most of them still virgins.
PRACTICAL GUIDE
WHERE TO SLEEP
Ideally, spend nights in San Felipe. The town has all the necessary services, especially if traveling with children (ideally over the age of eight years for the walk in the Valley of the Giants).
CORTEZ HOTEL
Avenida Mar de Cortés s / n
T. 52 (686) 577 1055
F. 52 (686) 577 1752
You are on the beach of the bay of San Felipe, so their views are outstanding at any time of day. Also has a pool and restaurant.
HACIENDA RED LOBSTER
125 Calzada Chetumal
T. 52 (686) 577 0483
F. 52 (686) 577 0484
www.sanfelipelodging.com / contact.htm
Double rooms at $ 85 plus tax.
It offers good service, quiet and good dining in their restaurant.
CAMPING SITES
FIELD NUMBER ONE
Sea of Cortez Avenue North s / n
T. 52 (686) 577 1139
KIKI’S RV CAMPING
703 California Avenue Gulf
T. 52 (686) 577 1442
WHERE TO EAT
In San Felipe can be found from fish tacos (highly recommended), in positions that are on the boardwalk, to very good Italian food. But it is best to try the traditional food of Baja California, as the crushed lobster.
RESTAURANT ROSITA
381 Avenida Mar de Cortés
T. 52 (686) 540 6218
HACIENDA RED LOBSTER
Chetumal 398
T. 52 (686) 577 0483
From 7 to 23 hours.
www.sanfelipelodging.com
GEORGE’S RESTAURANT-BAR
336 Avenida Mar de Cortés
T. 52 (686) 577 1057
6 to 22 hours.
DIRECTIONS
Mexicali take Highway No. 5, reaching the town of San Felipe. There, go south on the road to Puertecitos. About 15 miles later, near Punta Estrella del Campo, is the way that leads to the Valley of the Giants.
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Perhaps you have never seen pictures of this place. It is one of the most inaccessible regions of the planet, is called Ennedi Plateau and is surrounded by sand.
In such desolation Deep Canyons to only ancient caravans and expeditions dare open.
The scenery is all a fantasy Arcos Giants and corners as Guelta of Archei, where guns and Wild Camels survive on Water Mirrors, outcropping of groundwater basins.
The Ennedi plateau is one of the few rock outcrops that divide the seas of sands of the Sahara, more commonly known as Ergs. Ennedi is composed of sandstone rocks that have been eroded and therefore spectacular formations that attract tourists to this very remote location, only accessible by 4×4 routes without demand made and 5 day cruise to get generated. There lay the only desert crocodiles left in the Sahara and there too recent Atlas Lions found before its extinction.
According to Lonely Planet, is Africa Chad hardcore level. It is also another example of disastrous decolonization dragging the country going from bad to worse. However, this huge piece of the continent, recently won first list your property as a World Heritage Site in UNESCO: Lakes Ounianga already in the voluminous list of world’s most important official wonders. The lakes are part of the vast Ennedi Plateau in southeastern Sahara. In turn, this area numerous sandstone rock formations unusual, rising above the desert like giant sculptures, millennia after being subjected to erosion are draconian.
In desert areas there are two things abound: sand and wind. When combined, the wind carries the sand in suspension and by creeping wind erosion occurring. This in Creole, the wind blows the sand and occasional crashes any obstacle, and believe that what seems an innocent phenomenon in geological scale patterns produce the most impressive I’ve ever seen. To the north of the plateau are Ennedi Tibesti volcanoes, hosting the greatest height of the Sahara, the volcano Emi Koussi (3445m). Basically intracratónicos are a succession of volcanoes, they all consist of basalt, one of the hardest and most resistant to erosion than rocks there. All of this introduction is to show the southern region, exposed to constant winds from the northwest. Erosion was and is so phenomenal that literally ate basalt, creating stretch marks as if they had spent a rake to the ground. Even an old volcano was also torn and swallowed by the sand.
In Ennedi Plateau are some of the most impressive natural arches in the world, both as to deserve a place in the list as a landmark. The world’s largest arch is 120 meters high and is called Arch Aloba (its width is 77 meters).
The Ennedi region has an area similar to Britain. To venture into the desert so you have to plan your moves and your supplies, if you want to get out of it alive, bringing you photos of your adventures back to civilization.
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Lake Hillier is a Lake of pinkness in the Middle Island, the largest island of the archipelago Recherche, near the coast of Esperance. Esperance also is the gateway to the national parks Cape Le Grand, Stokes and Cape Arid.
Esperance is about 720 kilometers southeast of Perth on the South coast of Western Australia. From Perth, it is two hours by plane or eight hours of travel by car.
Western Australia Rose Lake known as Lake Hillier is a mystery, although there have been several investigations of time not been able to explain why its color pink.
From above, the Lake is from a Bubblegum pink uniform. The Lake is about 600 meters long and is surrounded by a border of sand and a leafy forest from bark of paper and eucalyptus trees. A narrow strip of sand dunes covered with vegetation separates it from the Southern Ocean Blue.
The Lake Hillier located to the West Of Australia does not contain algae that secrete substances pink or reddish staining the water as other lakes located elsewhere in the world and who also have the characteristic pink color. Lake Hillier to take a glass of water from the Lake liquid remains pink, so this color on all the water of the Lake, not only on the bottom that also could give this tone pink as other lakes with the same characteristics of color, as for example the pink Lake in Senegal.
The pink Lake of the Middle Island registered already appears in the journals of the Explorer Matthew Flinders in 1802. Flinders had escalated to the Summit higher than the Middle Island (now known as mount Flinders) to inspect the area waters, when he discovered this incredible Lake. The Middle Island and its pink Lake are located in the middle of a jungle area intact. The only way to see the Lake is from the air. In addition, you can explore the abundant wildlife of the archipelago and the Islands research cruise leaving Esperance.
Investigations have not given with the explanation, although for many years is known the existence of this pink Lake in Australia.
One of the only likely explanations, or one of the more acceptable theories, although it was not proven, is that pink tone of the water in Lake Hillier is produced by a microalgae difficult to detect the so-called Dunaliella salina, it could also be a result of the existence of some microorganisms in water called Halobacterium, but as I said earlier it was not proven.
BirdLife International has identified the Lake as an important bird area (IBA, Important Bird Area) because it contains significant amounts of native birds and migratory.
At the moment color pink Lake Hillier, or better known as pink Lake of Australia, still hiding the reason for its peculiar and Strange tone of color, so it joins the list of enigmas and mysteries of this site. You can add also this pink Lake is one of the natural wonders of Western Australia.
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