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The Gulf of California (highlighted)
The Gulf of California (Sp: Golfo de
California, also known as the Sea of Cortez or Sea of Cortés) is a body of water that
separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland. It is borded by the states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, Sinaloa, and Nayarit.
It was named el Mar de Cortez in honor of Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés by Francisco de Ulloa in
1539. Ulloa originally believed that the gulf led to the mythical Strait
of Anian, which connected the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean.
Melchior Diaz made extensive explorations in the area in 1540, including surveying the Colorado River, which at that time flowed into the upper gulf.
The name "Gulf of California" predominates on most maps in English today. The name "Sea of Cortés" tends to be the name used
by local residents.
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