Upper Gulf of California and Colorado River Delta biosphere reserve, Biosphere reserve in Sonora and Baja California, Mexico.
This biosphere reserve encompasses marine habitats, wetlands, and desert landscapes spread across the region where the Colorado River meets the Gulf of California. The area creates a patchwork of different ecosystems shaped by the interaction between freshwater and saltwater environments.
The Colorado River once flowed freely from the mountains and created vast wetlands before dams were built in the 20th century. These changes transformed the delta's landscape and the life it supported.
The Cucapá people shaped this place through their connection to the land, evident in traditional fishing and farming practices passed down through generations. Visitors can still see traces of this way of life in local communities around the waters.
Access to the reserve happens mainly through the towns of San Luis Río Colorado and Puerto Peñasco in Sonora. Guided tours and research programs help visitors explore the different habitats and understand why they matter.
The area is home to the vaquita, one of the world's rarest marine mammals, and desert fish found nowhere else on Earth. Spotting these creatures is challenging, but their presence makes it a destination for wildlife watchers and scientists.
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