The granite mountains of the Sierra la Laguna dominate the
terrestrial horizon of the Cape Region in southern Baja. Running north-south
about 100 km, they rise to over 2,100 m (7,000 ft) and cover 112,522 ha
(278,000 ac). Access to the mountains is on dirt roads that follow river
valleys and canyons from east to west on the Sea of Cortez side and west to
east on the Pacific side. Trails over the high ridges begin where the roads
end (link).
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| Looking down (east) Cañón San Dionisio |
Rande and I drove up Cañón de San Dionisio from the town of Santiago
on the east side of the mountains. The vegetation is arid scrub
(“matorrales”) from sea level up to about 250 m (800 ft), dry forests up to 800
m (2,600 ft), evergreen oak woodlands (“encino”) up to 1,200 m (4,000 ft),
oak-pine forests at the higher elevations and palm oases along the river
channels (link). The variety of habitats and the area's isolation are reflected in its biodiversity – nearly 1,000 plant species have been
recorded and 23% are endemics, including five endemic genera (link). Eight of the 42 species of reptiles and amphibians and eight of the 59 resident
bird species are endemics (link).
