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BAJA'S WILD SIDE by Alex Navarro – Eco-tourism expert
Some History About the Baja Peninsula The name California existed before the discovery of America and was used by Europeans to describe a mythical or fictitious island of pure paradise. The word Calafia likely came from Khalifa , an Arabic word meaning religious state leader, and the Spanish word California meant “Land of the Leader.” Part of the legend says that a powerful black woman queen named Calafia ruled over the island of California. She is said to have been an Amazon, a strong women of great size and the most beautiful and courageous. There were no men in this kingdom and it was said to be the most powerful of the earth at the time. All their weapons were made of gold because it was the only metal available in the land. She is said to have had an amazing fleet. These stories are written in the book “Las Sergas de Esplandian” by the Spanish writer Garci Rodriguez de Montalvo in 1521. The first humans arrived to the peninsula about 14,000 years ago using the Pacific Ocean coastal routes. They were nomads and three main tribal groups are completely defined from this pre-hispanic era. The Cochimies in the north, the Guaycuras in the middle of the peninsula, and the Pericues in the south. As well as the Yumano and other indigenous families like the Kumiai, Cucapa, Paipai, Kiliwa, Cahilla and Akula. Most of these groups lived in family ranches of about 250 individuals. The peninsula holds two states from Mexico, Baja California which became a state in 1952 and Baja California Sur which became a state of the Mexican Republic in 1974. Before, they were known as The North Territory of Baja California and The South Territory of Baja California. Hernan Cortez is considered as the conqueror of the peninsula, which was thought of as an island, but the first European to set foot was Fortun Jimenez arriving on the “Concepcion” ship in 1534. When Cortez arrived he thought he had found the island of the mythical Queen Calafia. It is estimated that at the time of the first contact between Europeans and Aboriginals the population was 40,000 – 50,000. The peninsula has approximately 3000 km. of coastline, not including all its surrounding islands, which add another 1500 km. It is approximately 1200 km. long and from 45 to 250 km. wide. Its highest point is the Devil’s Peak at 3096 m. The first mission in Baja, Our Lady of Loreto which still exists, was established in 1697 by the jesuit Juan Ma. Salvatierra, by license of the Virrey Don Jose Sarmiento y Valladares. Today, Baja is still a paradise. Full of wonderful places to visit and history to discover. And as always, and not a myth, there are amazing modern women warriors among us still today. Not forgetting, all us great guys too! 24
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