Have you ever had the good fortune to lose yourself in looking at the blue waters of the sea? Had the indulgent pleasure of gazing out at the azure calm and infinite continuity of a body of water for as long as you wanted? It's a privilege we should all be afforded, as much as possible.

The Sea of Cortez, also known as the Gulf of California boasts 2500 miles (4000 km) of coastline, approximately 62,000 sq mi of surface area, and many consider it to be one of the most diverse seas on the planet. This unique body of water, with its rich ecosystem is home to more than 5,000 different species of macroinvertibrates and reaches depths of up to 9800 ft.

Just some of the thousands of different creatures, including a large number of marine mammals are: the humpback whale, the California gray whale, the leatherback sea turtle, the manta ray and giant squid.

Sprinkled along coastlines are the Gulf's islands, providing essential nesting sites for thousands of seabirds, their waters nurturing breeding, feeding and providing nursery grounds for a significant amount of fish species.

244 of these islands, inlets and coastal areas have been designated as a World Heritage Site for their unique, rich and productive contributions to the surrounding ecosystems.

Directly from The World Heritage website:

"The Sea of Cortez and its islands have been called a natrual laboratory for the investigation of speciation. Moreover, almost all major oceanographic processes occuring in the planet's oceans are present in the property, giving it extraordinary importance for study. The site is one of striking natrual beauty in a dramatic setting formed by rugged islands with high cliffs and sandy beaches, which contrast with the brilliant reflection from the desert and the surrounding turquoise waters. It is home to 695 vascular plant species, more than in any marine and insular property on the World Heritage List. Equally exceptional is the number of fish species: 891, 90 of them endemic. The site, moreover, contains 39% of the world's total number of species of marine mammals and a third of the world's marine cetacean species."

The good fortune is ours to call these special waters our "backyard".

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