Sea of Cortez
| Gulf of California | |
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The Gulf of California (highlighted)
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| Coordinates | 28°0′N 112°0′W / 28.000°N 112.000°WCoordinates: 28°0′N 112°0′W / 28.000°N 112.000°W |
| River sources | Colorado, Fuerte, Mayo, Sinaloa, Sonora, and the Yaqui |
| Ocean/sea sources | Pacific Ocean |
| Basin countries | Mexico |
| Max. length | 1,126 km (700 mi) |
| Max. width | 48–241 km (30–150 mi) |
| Surface area | 160,000 km2 (62,000 sq mi) |
| Islands | 37 |
| References | |
| Official name | Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California |
| Type | Natural |
| Criteria | vii, ix, x |
| Designated | 2005 |
| Reference no. | 1182 |
| State Party | Mexico |
| Region | Latin America and the Caribbean |
The Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez, Sea of Cortés or Vermilion Sea; locally known in the Spanish language as Mar de Cortés or Mar Bermejo or Golfo de California) is a body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland. It is bordered by the states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, and Sinaloa with a coastline of approximately 4,000 km (2,500 mi). Rivers which flow into the Gulf of California include the Colorado, Fuerte, Mayo, Sinaloa, Sonora, and the Yaqui. The gulf's surface area is about 160,000 km2 (62,000 sq mi).
The Gulf is thought to be one of the most diverse seas on the planet, and is home to more than 5,000 species of micro-invertebrates. Home to over a million people, Baja California is the second-longest peninsula in the world, after the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Parts of the Gulf of California are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The International Hydrographic Organization defines the southern limit of the Gulf of California as: "A line joining Piastla Point (23°38'N) in Mexico, and the southern extreme of Lower California".
The Gulf of California is 1,126 km (700 mi) long and 48–241 km (30–150 mi) wide, with an area of 177,000 km2 (68,000 sq mi), a mean depth of 818.08 m (2,684.0 ft), and a volume of 145,000 km3 (35,000 cu mi).
The Gulf of California includes three faunal regions:
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