Vaquita MountainThe Gulf of California’s hidden

gem

Aidan Bodeo-Lomicky

What and Where is Vaquita Mountain?

• Vaquita mountain is a huge rock formation that juts out of the sea in the Gulf of California, Mexico.

• It is located in the core range of the world’s most endangered marine mammal, the Vaquita porpoise.

• The approximate coordinates of the Mountain are 31° 07' 00" N, 114° 29' 00" W.

Rocks and Minerals

• Vaquita Mountain is made of Dacite, a volcanic, intrusive igneous rock, similar to Granite, which contains high amounts of quartz.

How it was Formed• Vaquita Mountain was formed by the collision of tectonic plates. The impact of

the plates pushed a large mass of intrusive igneous rock (previous slide) up to the

surface.

What to Do• Vaquita Mountain isn’t called that for nothing! The mountain is in the core range of

the Vaquita, the world’s most endangered marine mammal, so it is the best place on earth to see this endemic little porpoise. There are boating tours of the area, where you can marvel at the rock’s beauty, look at an abandoned lighthouse, and best of all, if you’re lucky, catch a glimpse of the world’s rarest marine mammal. The tour guides will also tell you all about the Vaquita and how they are being accidentally killed by fishermen’s nets. Locals have carved one side of the rock to look like a Vaquita, and when the sun sets, the whole sculpture sparkles because of the Dacite’s high densities of Quartz. The area is an ideal fishing spot, but please, no gillnets! They are what kill Vaquita, and the purpose of this monument is to help this endangered species.

Why You Should Come• It would be much quicker to

make a list of why you shouldn’t come, because it would be blank. Vaquita mountain is a regal rock in a serene sea, with aqua water and cyan skies. The tour guides are the nicest people you’ll ever meet, and are extremely reliable. Most importantly, you will get a chance to see and learn about the adorable and endangered Vaquita. Come to Vaquita Mountain today!

Sources

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

• http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312491/underwatermountains.htm

• http://www.geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=-2334275&fid=4060&c=mexico